In August, Tropical Storm Debby brought record rainfall and widespread flooding to the southeastern US. High winds downed power lines, leaving more than 350,000 people in Georgia and Florida’s sparsely populated Big Bend region without electricity.

For rural residents, the storm underscored a critical vulnerability in their communities: the lack of reliable disaster communication channels. This left many people unable to receive emergency alerts or call for help.

During climate emergencies, unreliable communication systems can be particularly life-threatening for the roughly one-third of rural adults living with a disability.

To ensure everyone—regardless of their location or abilities—has access to the information and resources they need to stay safe during emergencies, policymakers and emergency planners need to address the connectivity challenges faced by people with disabilities in rural areas.

Here we highlight key challenges rural communities and people with disabilities experience following disasters and outline three ways policymakers and emergency planners can address them.

Climate disasters exacerbate inequities faced by disabled people and rural communities

Compared with more-populated areas, rural communities in the US often have fewer essential services and limited infrastructure.

According to the Pew Research Center, there is still a digital divide between rural and urban areas. Many rural communities lack the infrastructure necessary to support high-speed internet and reliable phone service. Only 73 percent of adults in rural areas have access to home-based broadband internet connection, compared with 86 percent and 77 percent in suburban and urban communities.

Further, when power outages occur, power is often first restored in more densely populated areas.

These disparities in broadband and power access in rural areas have significant implications during emergencies, especially for people with disabilities.

During a disaster, communication tools such as video relay services that help disabled people access life-saving emergency information may become unreliable. Damaged cellular and electricity infrastructure can also prevent disabled people from calling emergency services or coordinating with caregivers and support networks when they need to most.

A lack of connectivity and access to communication during emergencies can also have significant mental health implications. When communication channels are disrupted, the resulting isolation can exacerbate anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder—all conditions people with disabilities experience at higher rates.

As the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted, communication technology can reduce social isolation during prolonged crises. Maintaining connectivity during disasters is important not only for rural disabled people’s physical safety but also for their mental well-being.

How policymakers and emergency managers can better support rural disabled people during climate disasters

To mitigate the challenges and risks rural disabled people face in wake of disasters, emergency managers and policymakers at federal, state, and local levels can prioritize the following:

1. Continue to invest in broadband infrastructure for rural communities.

   In recent years, billions of dollars have been invested in rural broadband access and availability. Programs like the Broadband Infrastructure Program and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program are working to enhance communication infrastructure in areas lacking broadband, including rural communities.

   But these programs are still being implemented, so gaps in broadband quality persist. To close these gaps, policymakers should continue to invest in improving high-speed, reliable internet service and infrastructure in rural areas.

   They can also incentivize the development and deployment of satellite-based internet services. As their quality and reliability improves, satellite internet technologies could provide stable connectivity during emergencies. Ensuring these technologies are accessible and affordable for the most vulnerable communities, including people with disabilities, would be crucial.

2. Create alert systems that are more accessible.

   Federal law requires local and state governments to ensure emergency management programs and services are accessible to people with disabilities. This includes emergency communication systems. Alert systems must be designed to accommodate the diverse needs of people with disabilities and must be available in several formats, such as audio, visual, and text-based messages, that can be delivered through multiple channels. However, many emergency communications still are not accessible.

   In 2023, Colorado passed H.B. 23-1237 to make the state’s disaster alert systems more inclusive and accessible based on research from the Natural Hazards Center. Other states can consider Colorado’s practices for inclusive alerting and recommendations to improve their current alert systems.

   3) Develop emergency response systems that are more inclusive in collaboration with community members.

   Meaningful community engagement is vital for building resilient communities, especially in rural areas. Programs like the Community Emergency Response Team equip residents with the skills needed to educate their neighbors about disaster preparedness. But states and local governments can do more to tap into local knowledge when creating emergency response systems.

   Most rural communities already have first responders and disabled leaders who are deeply embedded within the community and know what type of assistance disabled residents may require during a disaster. Incorporating the expertise and feedback of disabled community members in disaster planning and communication strategies can help create emergency responses that are more inclusive, ensuring the most vulnerable are better protected during crises.

As the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters continues to increase, these steps could help policymakers and emergency planners save lives and support outcomes that are more equitable for rural disabled people.