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EMERGENCY PLANNING INTEGRATION PROJECT
"Involving the total community in
emergency preparedness" |
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| SUMMARY:
Emergency preparedness programs must address the unique needs of persons
with disabilities. These citizens are disproportionately vulnerable,
and require reasonable accommodation in all elements of the program.
Examples of these conditions include provisions to notify people with
auditory impairments or cognitive disabilities, assistance with evacuation
and transportation, provision of ADA shelter or temporary housing, and
assistance with recovery after an emergency or disaster.
Limited resources make such
accommodation challenging, and the Jefferson County Emergency
Planning Integration Project aims to attempt to meet those
challenges by acquiring a better picture of the need in the community,
including a disabilities component in all future emergency planning, and
involving people with different types of disabilities in an ongoing
planning process. |
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| GOAL:
Integrate the diverse elements of the community into a single,
comprehensive emergency planning and response strategy. |
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| OBJECTIVES: |
- Develop a sound working
knowledge of the accessibility and nondiscrimination requirements
applicable under Federal disability rights laws;
- Become familiar with the
demographics of the population of people with disabilities and other
vulnerable persons who live in
this community;
- Involve people with
different types of disabilities in identifying the communication and
transportation needs, accommodations, support systems, equipment,
services, and supplies that residents and visitors with disabilities
will need during an emergency; and
- Identify existing and
develop new resources within the community that meet the needs of
residents and visitors with disabilities during emergencies
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IMPLEMENTATION:
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- Convene an Emergency
Planning Integration Task Force to oversee meeting project objectives.
(No later than July 2011).
- Establish a Special
Needs Unit under the Operations Section of the EOC Incident Management
Team to assume coordination of assistance to persons with disabilities
in an emergency. (Complete).
- Include a "persons with
disabilities/special needs" component in all training, drills, and
exercises. (Ongoing).
- Develop outreach and
public education materials specifically designed to assist persons with
disabilities in planning for emergencies. (Ongoing)
- Seek resources where
needed to fill the program gaps identified by the EPI task force.
(Ongoing).
- Assess if the emergency
response partner agencies have the capacity reasonably accommodate the
needs of persons with disabilities, and develop ways to improve that
capability where resources permit.
- Document these
implementation activities, and periodically review progress at the administrative
level.
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RWH |
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Planning Resources for Persons with
Disabilities . . .
General emergency
planning information for persons with disabilities
FEMA guidance for
preparing for disaster
The "Ready America"
guide for persons with disabilities
Special Training in Emergency Preparedness for
Unique People (STEPUP) program
Information for Emergency
Response Partner Agencies . . .
Summary of non-discrimination
principles of the law
ADA Guide for Local Government - Making Emergency Response
Accessible
FEMA Office of Disability Integration and
Coordination |
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