When I worked for a fire service, I enquired about disability issues and 
information sharing with social services (who have addresses of vulnerable 
people).  I hit a brick wall because of data protection act and if taken 
from a health route, then it's patient confidentiality.  The information 
could have been used for risk planning/mapping.  Of course, this was before 
the Civil Continguencies Bill was implemented at the time so information 
sharing may be on a new level.

Having said that, I agree with Ben, it would be more effective for a 
bottoms-up approach to ensure neighbours are being good neighbours and help 
each other out, which would benefit disabled/elderly people at the same time 
increasing community ties, this would place less reliance on authorities to 
do anything and take the pressure off them somewhat especially with disabled 
people becoming more dispersed in the community, moving away from a 
"clustered" living.  This do have limitations however as people may not have 
the means to move/evacuate a severly disabled resident to safety.

Another approach is for authorities such as Social Services/Health 
Authorities to take a more proactive mitigative role, highlighting potential 
problems to patients (without scaring them!).  This can be as simple as a 
checklist with relevant contact details in case of emergency, eg, "If you 
want to evacuate, you have this ..... requirement, and you will need to 
contact ...... to arrange for transport/alternative accommodation".  A 
nurse, Patti Moss, from a Texan University has put together a very useful 
document with such a checklist which I would think is useful for 
health/social workers - unfortunately this is at my old address and I've 
just moved to London.

Kyle Sterry,
www.sterry.me.uk -- www.4x4jamboree.co.uk
Civil Protection Officer and GIS Support.
MSc Researcher in Disaster Management & Sustainable Development, University 
of Northumbria.  UK.
BSc (Hons) Geoscience, University of Aberdeen.  UK.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ben Wisner" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 3:52 PM
Subject: Re: Disability Issues...


> That kind of list exists in some of Tokyo's central wards, but, as David 
> suggests, they need to be updated.  Also, the problem exists in greater 
> Tokyo that there will be so much rubble in the narrow streets and 
> transportation will be so difficult after a large earthquake (e.g. 
> something like 1923), no one from the Ward office will be able to get to 
> the affected person.  What is more important is for people in apartment 
> blocks and neighborhoods to work out preparedness plans and know where 
> elderly and disabled people are and be prepared to provide assistance at 
> that highly local scale.  Furthermore, the elderly and people living with 
> disabilities should be part of that planning process.
>
> Ben Wisner
> [log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Crichton <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sep 7, 2005 4:43 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Disability Issues...
>
> In an earlier email I mentioned the importance of having lists of 
> addresses of people with disabilities etc so that they could be given 
> physical assistance in evacuation.  There were such lists in London before 
> the Thames Barrier was completed, but since then I don't know if the plans 
> have been updated.
>
> Interestingly, in the UK it is quite common to see wheelchair and guide 
> dog users shopping in our cities, but I have never once seen them on any 
> of my trips to the USA.  I also cannot recall seeing any wheelchair ramps 
> or doors or toilets designed for the disabled in any public places, while 
> in the UK they are everywhere.  Why is there such a difference, or am I 
> mistaken?
>
>
> David Crichton, Visiting Professor, Benfield Hazard Research Centre, UCL
>
>
> If you have received this in error, please let me know.
> I use the latest firewall and virus checking software, but you should not 
> rely on this, or on any advice contained in this email or its attachments.
>  ----- Original Message ----- 
>  From: Kyle Sterry