Mapping the Urban and Rural Divide in Deaf & Disability-Accessible Climate Risk Communication Methods in California's Offices of Emergency Services

Due to geography, structural, and economic factors, California has been the site of multiple climate crises. Deaf and disabled Californians face especially high health risks in crises, partly due to inaccessible risk communications before, during, and after disasters. California's Offices of Emergency Services (OES) play an important role in ensuring inclusive emergency communication for disabled people. This study examines accessibility of climate-related risk communications in California's OES for deaf and disabled people and is intended to provide guidance to the cities, counties, and the state to improve risk communication plans for disabled people. Key informants from county (n = 44) and city (n = 13) OES offices were surveyed about whether their OES provided accessible emergency communications, had barriers, and had needs to improve accessible communications. Findings reveal that urban OES offices more frequently report using or being aware of accessible communication strategies, while rural offices face challenges due to limited resources and infrastructure. Rural OES have fewer partnerships with deaf-serving organizations and are less likely to have resources to provide captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, compared to urban OES. The study highlights the need for improved training, resource allocation, and policy integration to address accessible communication gaps, especially in rural areas. Recommendations include increased training and funding for rural OES offices, stronger partnerships with disability advocacy groups, and the adoption of universal design principles in climate risk communications. This would ensure that all Californians—regardless of location or ability—receive the information they need to prepare for and respond to climate disasters.