A Voice in the Storm: Natalie Murphy’s Call for Disability-Inclusive Disaster Planning

For Natalie Murphy, disasters are not just national events—they are deeply personal trials that demand resilience, resourcefulness, and, above all, inclusion. As a blind disability rights advocate, Murphy has survived both Hurricane David in 1979 and Hurricane Maria in 2017, two of the most catastrophic storms to ever strike Dominica. Her experience has become a powerful reminder of the urgent need for disability-inclusive disaster preparedness.

Murphy, who has long championed equal access and rights for persons with disabilities, recalled the challenges she faced when Maria devastated the island. “You don’t think about how you’re going to get out—you think about how you’re going to survive inside,” she said, describing the moment her home began to collapse around her.

During Maria, I didn’t have access to emergency alerts. I didn’t know where the shelters were. I couldn’t even find anyone to guide me because everyone was running for their own life.

Natalie Murphy

Her story sheds light on the often-overlooked reality that emergency systems—alerts, evacuations, shelters—are not always accessible to people with disabilities. Whether it’s a lack of communication tools for the hearing impaired, inaccessible buildings, or the absence of trained responders, the gaps can be life-threatening.

Murphy believes that while progress has been made in areas like housing and food security, more must be done to integrate the needs of vulnerable populations into disaster policy and infrastructure.

Preparedness cannot be one-size-fits-all. We need evacuation plans that work for the blind. We need shelters that can accommodate wheelchair users. And we need people with disabilities to be involved in the planning process—not just included as an afterthought.

Natalie Murphy

As Dominica continues to build its climate resilience agenda, Murphy hopes her voice can contribute to shaping a more inclusive approach—one where no one is left behind in the next storm.

“Resilience,” she said, “isn’t just about concrete walls. It’s about protecting every single life.”

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