“All three of our countries—the Philippines, Indonesia, and Laos—are affected by strong storms, heavy rains, and flooding.

• The Philippines and Indonesia experience powerful tropical storms and typhoons every year.

• Laos, though landlocked, faces severe river flooding and landslides during the rainy season.

• Climate change is making these hazards more intense and more unpredictable across the region.

Recent large disasters in our region include:

• Supertyphoon Haiyan/Yolanda (Philippines)
• Severe flooding from tropical storms in Indonesia
• Widespread Mekong River flooding in Laos

These hazards bring:

✔ Strong winds

✔ Heavy rain

✔ Floods

✔ Storm surges (for coastal areas)

✔ Landslides

But the real danger increases when barriers exist.

Barriers During Typhoons & Floods

For persons with disabilities and many vulnerable groups, these hazards expose:

• Evacuation centers on upper floors with no ramps
• Flooded streets without tactile guidance
• Narrow village pathways
• Audio-only warnings with no captions or visuals
• Noise, crowds, and chaos that overwhelm neurodivergent youth

Storms and floods show us an important truth:

Hazards become deadly when systems are not designed for everyone.