Disability Integration Update: FEMA & Emergency Preparedness
Thanks to Dan Johnson for sharing this info with us!
Disability Integration Update
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region V
July 2011
Hello and welcome to the first edition of the FEMA Region V Disability Integration Update. This publication will be a monthly compilation of news, events and resources that affect disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities by and for people with disabilities or access and functional needs. I hope that this publication will not only serve as a source of up-to-date information for FEMA Region V partners interested in inclusive emergency management, but will also serve as a vehicle for you to share your promising practices, events and information as well. I look forward to hearing from you regarding the value of this publication and what types of information you would like to see in future versions. My contact information is listed at the bottom of this email.
Please feel free to forward this update to anyone that may be interested.
Comments, questions and requests for alternate formats can be directed to Jessica Mitchell, Region V Disability Integration Specialist, at 312-408-5499 or Jessica.mitchell@dhs.gov.
Table of Contents
Stay Safe When its Hot Outside
Planning for the Whole Community Video
Integrating Disability Access and Functional Needs Efforts in Grant Applications
Upcoming Events
Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community
National Preparedness Month 2011
Resources
DOJ Best Practices Toolkit
DOJ Service Animal Document
World Health Organization: World Report on Disability
Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
Feeling Safe Being Safe
HHS Toolkit of Public Health Emergency Text Messages
Stay Safe When its Hot Outside
Know what to do during a heat emergency. Many parts of FEMA Region V have experienced very high temperatures this summer, and will be experiencing them again in the next few days. The combination of high temperatures and high humidity creates a dangerous situation in which heat illnesses are likely.
To avoid heat illnesses, drink plenty of fluids, spend time in air-conditioned locations, stay out of direct sunlight, limit strenuous physical activities and check on relatives, friends and neighbors. Please visit FEMAs Are You Ready- Extreme Heat web page- http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/heat.shtm for more information and tips.
Planning for the Whole Community Video
On June 22, 2011 St. Petersburg College's National Terrorism Preparedness Institute (NTPI), a division of the Center for Public Safety Innovation, hosted a Webcast/Satellite Broadcast on the FEMA/DHS initiative, Planning for the Whole Community. This broadcast can be viewed by visiting the http://terrorism.spcollege.edu/Broadcasts/LRBroadcast0611.aspx" rel="noreferrer noopener">Live Response website. The program highlighted FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) and explained the importance of including people with access and functional needs in emergency and disaster planning. Guests included Marcie Roth, Director of the ODIC; Richard Devylder, Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation; and June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant/Associate Director at Western University in California.
Integrating Disability Access and Functional Needs Efforts in Grant Applications
This Information Bulletin (IB) emphasizes the importance and heightens the awareness of integrating those with disabilities, and others with access and functional needs into local and state government homeland security and emergency preparedness programs. Last year marked the 20th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As required by the ADA, Homeland security and emergency managers at all levels are to plan for the whole community by integrating and coordinating emergency preparedness, response and recovery for children and adults with disabilities and others with access and functional needs. The Grant Programs Directorate supports FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) efforts in this area. Please visit the following link in order to access the information Bulletin (http://www.fema.gov/pdf/government/grant/bulletins/info361.pdf).
UPCOMING EVENTS
Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community
On September 12-14, 2011 join FEMAs Office of Disability Integration and Coordination for Getting Real II Promising Practices in Inclusive Emergency Management for the Whole Community. This 3 day training conference will focus on building partnerships and sharing promising practices. The application period to attend or present at the conference is open from July 8, 2011 to August 1, 2011. Applications submitted after this date may still be considered depending on availability. See the conference application for more details. Application (PDF 210KB, TXT 21KB)
National Preparedness Month 2011
This September marks the 8th annual National Preparedness Month, sponsored by the Ready Campaign, Citizen Corps and the Ad Council. The purpose of National Preparedness month is to encourage individuals, businesses and communities to be prepared for disasters and emergencies. This September will serve as an especially potent reminder of the need for preparedness because it is also the 10th anniversary of the September 11th, 2011 terrorist attacks. This years theme is This September: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare.
Visit www.ready.gov and click on the National Preparedness Month banner to become a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member. Members are able to share preparedness information and find events and volunteer opportunities where they can spread the preparedness message. There is also information about how to create a preparedness event of your own.
RESOURCES
The following links are provided for reference purposes only. FEMA does not endorse any non-Federal Government websites, companies or applications.
Department of Justice Best Practices Toolkit
July 26, 2011 is the 21st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). To mark this anniversary, go online and learn more about how the ADA applies to emergency management practices. The Department of Justice publishes a toolkit for state and local governments on how to comply with the ADA. Chapter 7 of this toolkit focuses on emergency management activities. Visit this link (http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm) to learn more.
Technical Assistance Document on Service Animals
A new technical assistance document on the http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">2010 revised ADA requirements for service animals has been added to ADA.gov and is now available. The document is http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener">available in HTML and http://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">in PDF.
World Health Organization (WHO): World Report on Disability
The first ever World report on disability, produced jointly by WHO and the World Bank, suggests that more than a billion people in the world today experience disability. For more information and to download the report, visit the World Health Organization's website (http://www.who.int/disabilities/world_report/2011/en/index.html).
Functional Needs Support Services Toolkit
To provide planning guidance to local emergency management and shelter planners, the State of Texas FNSS Integration Committee has created a toolkit that can be incorporated into existing shelter plansto meet access and functional needs in general population shelters. This toolkit provides guidance to assist planners in understanding the requirements related to sheltering children and adults with and without disabilities who have access and functional needs in the state of Texas.FNSS and provided guidance are designed to assist in planning and resource allocation for sheltering operations whether government, Non Governmental Organization (NGO), faith- or private-based to meet the access and functional needs of children and adults. This toolkit is designed to provide first responders and emergency management professionals basic information about interacting with Texans with disabilities during a disaster and to identify disability leaders in the local communities.Questions or comments regarding the State of Texas Functional Needs Support Services Tool Kit can be sent to TDEM.FNSS@txdps.state.tx.us
Feeling Safe Being Safe
The Feeling Safe Being Safe program, developed by the State of California Department of Developmental Services Consumer Advisory Committee includes tools developed by people with disabilities for the whole community. Resources include a workbook that will help individuals to make an emergency plan, a video that demonstrates how to complete the workbook and put together a home emergency kit, and a printable magnet to post important emergency contact information on the refrigerator for first responders. More information can be found at http://www.dds.ca.gov/consumercorner/EmergencyPreparedness.cfm
HHS Toolkit of Public Health Emergency Text Messages Now Available
A new toolkit of prepared cell phone text messages advising people how to protect their health after a disaster is available now through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Cell phone usage and texting is widespread in the United States and many communities have text alert systems for emergency notification. During a disaster, the state or local agency can download and distribute the new public health messages using their existing cell-phone emergency message distribution systems. Community residents should contact their local emergency management agency to learn whether text message alerts are available in their community and to register if available. These messages support state and local emergency managers in disaster response and are available online at http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa" rel="noreferrer noopener">http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/psa.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Jessica Mitchell
Regional Disability Integration Specialist
FEMA Region V
536 S. Clark St., 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 606065
312-408-5499 (office)
312-576-2624 (cell)
FEMA's mission is to suport our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
