Providing Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault Servic 'n Disasters

Jerry Lane, MS

DeKalb County Domestic Abuse Program of Safe Passage, Inc.

431 Charles St.

Sycamore, IL 60178

(815) 756-5054

jlane@safepaggagedv.org

Domestic Violence anti Sexual Assault service providers face unique challenges in disasters. Even if the agency is not directly affected, studies have shown that demand for services increase dramatically post impact. Meanwhile, civic infrastructure such as law enforcement and courts may be diminished or unavailable. When afency staff and facilities are directly affected, the problems multiply.

Without facilities, communication and transportation, working with reduced staffing levels and facing skyrocketing demand, agencies can quickly be overwhelmed. If DV & SA agencies are going to sustain their vital services during and after al saster, it is critical ,that they undertake a disaster preparedness program .

Disasters not only produce new cases of domestic violence and sex assault but also compound the consequences of past and present violence on victi Services providers need to learn about the impact of catastrophic events on individuals who are dealing with personal violence and how this changes the way crisis intervention is delivered.

Making disaster preparedness and training a priority is a challenge for agencies which are often underfunded and understaffed. However, much of the disaster preparedness effort can benefit routine operations. Many of the resources developed and skills learned have aplication to the day-to-day delivery of services. The business community aspects also help dead with agency specific events such as a facility fire or loss of utilities.

Like insurance, you can not get disaster preparedness after a catastrophe occurs. You hope you never need it, but if you do, having it can be a life saver.

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