A 34-year-old vineyard worker left behind everything when he fled the flames that consumed his apartment in Santa Rosa, California, last month. With no warning of the approaching blaze he had time to grab only his wallet before driving his wife, her son and her granddaughter to safety at 1 a.m. Afterward, a friend offered the family a room short-term and he worries about where they will go and how they will pay for it. “It’s very difficult,” he said. “We’re starting over from scratch.” Vineyards across California’s wine country mostly were spared when the fires raced through at the beginning of October, but not so many of the agricultural workers. They have lost homes and what possessions they had and in some cases, because they are undocumented, they are ineligible for federal assistance.
First responders got some first-hand tips Friday on how to help disabled people during a disaster.
The man leading the Long Beach conference was a senior adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and has turned his physical challenges into a national challenge.
He has neither arms nor legs, but he’s proud of what he’s been able to accomplish. Richard Devylder developed a course to help emergency crews assist the disabled.
“We developed this course not to be California-centric,” he said.
Devylder said he wants those crews, community groups and even the media to be more aware of the special needs of the disabled during a disaster.
California is no stranger to disasters, so Devylder believes first responders and others should be prepared in advance.
He also said that the physically challenged should be prepared not to be helped.
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“As an individual with a special need, you need to be prepared because the reality is – as I used to say when I worked for the California Emergency Management team – ‘I’m from the government and we’re not coming to help any time soon,’” he said. “If you’re waiting for help to come you’re going to lose your life or be injured.”
His advice to the news media was simple: make sure this message gets out on every platform.
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