Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which swept through Florida in September and October of 2024, left the state devastated. Marianne Dhenin, an Atmos journalist, points out that such disasters confirm the harsh reality that disabled communities are disproportionately affected due to poor disaster planning. Persistent shortcomings—and the lack or absence of consideration for disabled people in emergency response—leave 61 million disabled individuals nationwide at high risk of fatality or critical injury during disasters. This has serious implications as climate change-fueled weather events become more intense and widespread. Dhenin emphasizes that despite the establishment of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination in 2010, federal-level action—particularly by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)—has been slow to reach and support those affected. With too little governmental assistance, disabled people impacted by the hurricanes are turning to disability-led organizations such as New Disabled South and the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies.
