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Disability & disaster reduction - Focus on flood-proofing accessible essentials http://www.trust.org/item/20130924122921-xieya/ Source: CBM International On 13 October, CBM celebrates International Day for Disaster Reduction. Before this date, we are highlighting stories from the DiDRR network's publication 'Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Management'. This week, we focus on accessibility to flood proofing essentials: easy and cost effective solutions inside! Flood-proofing accessible water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure The Center for Disability and Development (CDD) is a partner of CBM in Bangladesh. They develop a more inclusive society for persons with a disability. CDD’s assessment in Sreepur Union showed that the daily challenge for persons with disabilities to access to safe drinking water and proper latrines was exacerbated during floods and emergencies. 97 per cent reported that they faced difficulties accessing safe drinking water during floods. With regard to using latrines, 96 per cent reported that it becomes extremely difficult during this time. The project supported 18 persons with disabilities from six wards of Sreepur union to reconstruct accessible and flood proofed housing with latrines and tube wells designed to continue functioning during flooding disasters. Flood-proofing included raising the plinth, planting trees and grasses around the house to prevent soil from washing away in a flood and installing a concrete floor. To ensure sustainability, families were encouraged to make the person with disability owner of the land or at least part of the house and only then where the house constructed or renovated. This was done because typically persons with disabilities are discriminated against, and sometimes overlooked by their families in ownership of land or rooms in a house. The cost of one flood risk universally accessible house along with installation of one accessible tube well and latrine was approximately US${esc.dollar}{esc.dollar} 1,212. Apart from the tube wells and latrines installed in homes, 30 existing tube wells from the community were reinstalled above flood level and made accessible in locations that would benefit the total community. Adaptations included the installation of ramps, increased size of platforms sufficient to manoeuvre and turn a wheelchair, raised place to wash clothes and use of colour contrast to assist people with low vision. On average, the cost of reinstalling one tube well in the community was US${esc.dollar}{esc.dollar} 92. In partnership with local school management committees, local government and the community, the ground levels of two schools were also adapted to serve as accessible flood shelters, with raised areas. Accessible escape floods boat Recognising the challenge persons with disabilities face in quickly evacuating flooded areas; the project also built a steel-bodied rescue boat with 60 person capacity and modified it for disabled access. People can safely board the accessible boat using the ramp, move independently within the boat and use the accessible latrine and water source. A storage tank was fitted on the roof where safe drinking water is kept. One solar panel was installed to allow light in the accessible boat at all times and people are able to charge their mobile phones to ensure that they remain within the communication network. The construction cost for the steel bodied boat with all accessibility features was US${esc.dollar}{esc.dollar} 10,100. More details on http://www.cbm.org/ Visit CBM partner website: the Centre for Disability and Development (CDD)