Understanding the Impact of Disasters on Domestic Violence - Hawai‘i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Natural Disasters and Gender-Based Violence

There is a direct link between disasters and gender-based violence. External factors that add stress and financial strain negatively impact survivors and create circumstances where their safety is further compromised. Their environments become more dangerous and isolation increases as support and local services are overwhelmed. Natural disasters do not cause domestic violence, but the physical, mental, and socioeconomic effects of disaster can escalate abusive tactics. Abuse is about power and control, an abuser can use any tool to exert control over their victim, including a natural disaster.

Disaster Impacts on Survivors of Domestic Violence

Impact on Survivors:

Survivors and their children are more vulnerable to violence due the focus on providing first response to disaster, then to competition for limited resources and infrastructure and the overall need for survival.
Families affected by interpersonal violence face additional trauma due to forced displacement and exposure to adverse effects (e.g. flooding, mass destruction).
DV survivors often suffer from re-traumatization or re-victimization following a disaster. Many issues faced post-disaster are similar to leaving a DV relationship such as decrease in wages, loss of support systems, reduced transportation, and lost childcare. (For example, two-thirds of New Orleans childcare was lost for two years post-Hurricane Katrina.)
Some survivors may be forced to flee and evacuate to the same shelters as abusive partners.

Impact on Domestic Violence Service Providers:

Staff of DV programs and their survivors may be facing the same needs such as housing, transportation, immigration, adjustment of insurance claims, and community outreach.
Staff may report burnout and trauma following a community disaster.
Organizational infrastructure may also be damaged that limits their ability to perform services for survivors.
There may be an increased need for protection orders but depending on courthouse and law enforcement operations, some operations may change as a result of natural disaster damage. Programs and advocates must be in contact with judiciary officials and be up-to-date on legal procedures.

Sources:

American Counseling Association, 2020
Texas Council on Family Violence, 2019

Resources:

Cybersecurity: https://www.techsafety.org/disaster-cybersecurity

The Barriers for Survivors in Disaster

Domestic violence WILL continue post-disaster and may escalate.
Social networks that provide support are disrupted or destroyed.
Local providers will be challenged to respond.
There is lack of privacy to talk and speak out for help.
Isolation is increased.
Language barriers to accessing essential and DV specific services.
Having pets can also serve as a barrier for survivors to leave the home, some shelters don’t allow pets.
Confidentiality and privacy breach: For example, (even with the best of intentions) trying to locate individuals with a goal to reunite families by publicly displaying someone’s name and location may not be helpful for survivors whose safety may be threatened once their name and location is outsourced.
Lack of access to protective orders.
Lack of access to trauma informed counselors.
Lack of immediate and long-term housing.
Limited and complex transportation systems.
Lack of access to childcare.

Source:

“Domestic Violence Advocacy: A Disaster Response”

Authors: Melissa Kaufmann, Volunteer and Training Manager – National Domestic Violence Hotline. Michelle Emery, Training Specialist – National Domestic Violence Hotline