What happened to disabled people -Rhodes wildfires

[askmeonemoretime]

I keep reading about holidaymakers walking a few miles to the beach to be evacuated and then a mad scramble to get on the boats. But what happened to disabled people?
My DP could not walk a couple of miles or be safe in a crowd of people scrambling to get on a boat. So what happened to people like this?

In emergencies, you’d be surprised what you and others around you can achieve. I’m not a physically strong person and have severe spinal issues that sometimes limit walking and standing, but in an emergency can drag a grown man and lift debris. Do I need medical care afterwards? Yes, but I’m alive.

Mental health is important, but comes second in life or death situations. Your relative or neighbour doesn’t need to understand, they do need to move - or be moved. You do it, and fix the damage afterwards.

Over 100 people died in a wildfire in Greece in 2018 😢 Wildfires aren't uncommon in Greece unfortunately, some of them make the news over here but smaller ones don't. I have family there and have been to areas where they have previously had a smaller wildfire which has been brought under control relatively quickly, I only knew because I had seen the damage, I'd not heard anything on the news here.

OP I was wondering this too. I have two children with complex special needs so it would be literally a nightmare. We don't tend to go away in main school holidays as the busyness alone os too difficult to cope with. Very scary indeed.

What would you do with someone who lacks the capacity to understand this and who would fight you every step of the way?

What happened last year in the viillage outside London, Uk's largest urban area?
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/firefighter-wennington-fire-we-had-no-chance-completely-understaffed/

Yes in theory local areas have disaster plans but most of them are recovery plans

Preventiom plans are well and good but if it is a proactive plan someone has to be given the authority to make a call and not be blamed for the wrong one. Its great if the evacuation saves lives but what happens when the risk event never happens?

Do you know what the disaster risks are in your local area, whos job is it to write the plan, whos job is it to have the various organisations do test runs?

Drag them kicking and screaming and fighting me to safety, if I need to, I will restrain them to do so. It's what you do in an emergency, your job is to help others survive not be nice. I'd do that for any relative, and for any stranger who needs it too.

I'm not surprised to learn that, be sure to take care of yourself at this time. I'm very glad you all got out it of safely.

The Red Cross have a humanitarian team who are in constant standby for worldwide emergencies. A team would have been deployed within hours to assist the evacuation.

This is a real and perennial concern for people with disabilities:

Article here

@giggly

A one of the as hotels weren't absolutely five in literally one moment and nearly enflamed the next.

People were running in understanding wear. I'm struggling to understand how the red cross could have got in so fast.... With people fleeing empty handed from pools...

Arghhhhhhh.

Were absolutely fine

As I said they have staff on emergency standby, as in they cannot travel x amount of miles from their nearest airport and have a case/ Red Cross kit in the boot of their car ready to go on the next flight.
They would go where directed by the International control centre.
or are you just being obtuse?

My DH is on dialysis. His dialysis machine (needed every night) and other medication would be back at the hotel.

Yes he could evacuate the hotel & walk to the beach, but spending nights in an airport / rescue centre without dialysis would not be good. No idea what would happen then, I guess he'd be prioritised for a flight home or die.

Hi, I live in magnesia, which is burning right now. I have a disability, friends and other people have been supporting me and helping me with what I need. For locals, there are lots of bulletins with guards on what to do, and local newspapers have lots of information for us as well. I speak Greek, thankfully but again I’ve had a lot of supportive friends tonight. I am visually impaired and was absolutely terrified as I’ve never been through this. I live here, it’s very scary to go through but it happens and what’s important at the end of the day is that you’re safe and you’re out of there. If you need help, people are there to help

Forgot to add that the taxi company in my area was taking people if they needed to get away from the fires and had no way to get transport. So he will be fine, medication, again there are people around to help, just ask. It’s tough on everyone, remember people do live here and have to cope with it so you will be fine

Wildfires are massively unpredictable. I think people are hugely overestimating our ability to predict and control them. Lots of the med will be a bad idea in summer for those who aren't able bodied from here on out.

The more terrifying thought I'd just how woeful British firefighting capabilities are. Wildfires here would be devastating.

There are wildfires in Scotland most years, there has been at least 3 this year including one so big it could be seen from space! Possibly it didn’t get reported on the UK news though.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65765053.amp

Wildfires have happened in Scotland for years but are usually farmers burning fields that get out of control. They rarely affect people.

@askmeonemoretime Yes the difference is that now it's getting drier and hotter. The reason we have been able to control previous fires is because it's been cooler and wetter....the uk isn't going to be immune.

I know we will not be immune. But this year we have had loads of rain. Just constant.

I absolutely wouldn’t go if elderly or disabled. I go to Greek islands in August every year but I’m thinking twice after this. Will be going to Kos in a few weeks just me and my daughter and for the first time I’m a bit worried.