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Home > Monthly Updates > August 2007 Monthly Update
Monthly Updates - August 2007In This Issue
Category of Linkswww.disabilitypreparedness.gov Contact Usdisability.preparedness@dhs.gov ICC Monthly HighlightsFEMA Issues "Accommodating People With Disabilities in Disasters: A Reference Guide to Federal Law"In accordance with Section 689 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, FEMA has released a new reference guide that outlines existing legal requirements and standards relating to access for people with disabilities. A Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing and Human Services is the first of a series of disability-related guidelines to be produced by FEMA for disaster preparedness and response planners and service providers at all levels. "Federal law is very clear about accommodating people with disabilities in emergencies and disasters. Everyone involved in emergency management needs to understand and know what their responsibilities are in preparedness, response and recovery operations," FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison said. "This Reference Guide is an important tool for emergency planners, responders and government agencies as they work toward meeting the needs of people affected by emergencies and disasters. FEMA is committed to ensuring that its programs and emergency operations meet the needs of people with disabilities." The Reference Guide summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities within Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services functions. The Guide explains how applicable Federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector and religious organizations. A full copy of the Guide may be accessed at www.fema.gov/oer/reference. A Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services was developed by FEMA's Office of Equal Rights in coordination with the members of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC), led by the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Contributing agencies include the: Federal Communications Commission, United States Access Board, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Department of Justice. September is National Preparedness MonthNational Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. National Preparedness Month 2007 is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through Ready.gov. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action. For the first time, National Preparedness Month is focusing on different areas of emergency preparedness.
So far, 1,600 national, regional, and state organizations have joined the National Preparedness Month Coalition through www.ready.gov, and hundreds of events have been posted to Citizen Corps' event calendar. Here are just a few of the 274 events already posted for the month of September:
If your Council or organization has not yet posted an event, make sure do so as soon as possible, so you can be counted: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/showEvent.do?submitCalendar. Even if your event falls in late August or early October, we encourage you to post it. If you need technical assistance posting your events, please contact the Citizen Corps regional program manager for your area:
ICC Monthly UpdatesUS Department of EducationNational Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)Proposed Priority and Funding Announcements The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) FY 2008 Notice of Proposed Priority for Combined Priorities -- 84.133A (DRRPs), 84.133B (RRTCs) & 84.133E (RERCs) will publish in the Federal Register on Friday, August 31, 2007. In this notice, we are announcing priorities for DRRPs, RRTCs, and RERCs. In this notice, we are proposing 10 priorities for DRRPs, 11 priorities for RRTCs, and 6 priorities for RERCs. At least two of these priorities contain components related to emergency preparedness and people with disabilities. These are Priority 15 (Personal Assistance Services (PAS) in the 21st Century) and Priority 16 (Participation and Community Living for Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities). You can access the final priority notice on the Department's website at: http://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister/index.html. This will get you directly to the site. You'll need to click on proposed. The notices are posted the next day from the date of the register. Comments must be received by close of business, Monday, October 1 in order to be considered. US Department of Health and Human ServicesContinued Collaboration with the American Red CrossThe Shelter Intake Tool and the Memorandum of Agreement to use the Tool developed by the ICC Health Subcommittee is currently being used by the American Red Cross and the Department of Health and Human Services Federal Medical Stations. This Intake Tool is intended to ensure that all persons are assigned to the shelter option that provides the best supports for maintaining independence. HHS is encouraging the use of this tool by other entities as appropriate. As an aid to States, the Office on Disabilities has created a Concept of Operations for implementation of the Tool. The HHS Office on Intergovernmental Affairs in concert with the Office on Disabilities is making the Concept of Operations and the Shelter Intake Tool available to their Regional Directors for distribution to States. In addition, an Evacuation Matrix is in development to assist Federal and State emergency managers in determining appropriate means of transport for individuals impacted by disaster. This matrix is based on the Shelter Intake tool and considers such factors as the individual's ability to function over the period of transport and the accessibility of the transportation. US Department of Homeland SecurityDHS-Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Outreach Activities and EventsThroughout the month of August CRCL and along with the FEMA Disability Coordinator, Ms. Cindy Daniel, have been actively participating in the increasing number of the Top Official 4 (TOPOFF 4) exercise meetings and conferences to ensure individuals with disabilities and other special needs populations are appropriately incorporated into the exercise design. In addition to participation in a two-day Final Planning Conference (August 21 and 22), and meetings with venue specific exercise developers and representatives of the human service components, CRCL staff contributed disability specific exercise injects for application at all three venues: Guam, Portland, OR, and Phoenix, AZ. Representatives from Portland Community Outreach, in collaboration with CRCL are seeking to increase the level of participation by individuals with disabilities and organizations that represent disability and senior populations. We anticipate a continuing the partnership between CRCL, FEMA, and local Portland community outreach beyond the TOPOFF exercise. Planning for the TOPOFF 4 Long Term Recovery Tabletop Exercise, scheduled for December 2007 in Washington, DC, is now also underway. CRCL and FEMA Disability Coordinator are involved in the initial exercise development strategy. TOPOFF 4 Full-Scale Exercise, scheduled for October 15-20 in Guam, Portland and Phoenix, will feature thousands of Federal, State, tribal, territorial, and local officials. These officials will engage in various activities as part of a robust, full-scale simulated response to a multi-faceted threat. The exercise addresses policy and strategic issues that mobilize prevention and response systems, require participants to make difficult decisions, carry out essential functions, and challenge their ability to maintain a common operating picture during an incident of national significance. Planning and preparation for the exercise is strengthening working relationships between departments and agencies that are critical to successful prevention and response in real emergencies. Recently Released ResourcesDepartment of Homeland Security Releases New Preparedness Resources for Seniors, People with Disabilities, and Pet Owners The severe weather experienced this summer in parts of the country, and the continuing threat of terrorism, are reminders of how critical it is for all Americans to prepare for emergencies. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign has released three new demonstration videos designed to highlight the specific steps older Americans, individuals with disabilities and special needs, and pet owners should take to prepare for emergencies. "All Americans have a responsibility to take steps now to be prepared for emergencies whether they are caused by nature or by man," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "These new demonstration videos detail some of the unique steps seniors, people with disabilities and pet owners should take to keep themselves and their families safe and prepared for the unexpected." The Department of Homeland Security worked with AARP, National Organization on Disability and The Humane Society of the United States to develop these new emergency preparedness resources. The videos, available online at www.ready.gov, remind individuals to get an emergency supply kit, make a family emergency plan and be informed about the different types of emergencies while considering the needs of these individuals, their families and caregivers. OneStorm OneStorm is a site created as a one-stop shop for resources regarding preparing for a hurricane. The site allows users to create a customized hurricane plan in about 20 minutes and incorporates recommendations from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross, and state and local emergency management agencies. Users are provided with a useful disaster plan, a list of the nearest evacuation locations, and e-mail reminders to purchase supplies for their emergency kits. Information is available at: www.onestorm.org. Disaster Mental Health Primer: Key Principles, Issues and Questions This brief document from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presents a primer on disaster mental health information that may be useful in a disaster. In only four pages, this resource presents basic information on the impact pyramid, guiding principles of disaster mental health, the psychological phases of disasters, stressors seen during disaster, and a list of Web resources. The Primer is available at: www.bt.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/pdf/primer.pdf. Healthcare Disaster Preparedness Survey If you are responsible for disaster preparedness/emergency management at your medical center, hospital, health center, health clinic, long term care facility, or healthcare system, the Business Continuity Planning Workgroup for Healthcare Organizations (www.bcpwho.org) urges you to take the time to complete this Survey on Healthcare Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. A summary of survey results will be made available to organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Public Health Association to support their efforts to improve healthcare preparedness and response, and to every respondent and those who assisted in the notification process. The survey questionnaire is accessible at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=%2frZh9BOD%2bf7tXaZkGZHMDA%3d%3d. The survey is open through Friday, September 7, 2007. Connecticut Universal Access Workgroup Sheltering Exercise Report Connecticut Universal Access Workgroup held an exercise to configure space requirements that accommodate individuals with disabilities in shelters. To see the report from the exercise, go to: http://www.ct.gov/demhs/lib/demhs/space__layout_considerations.pdf Harvard University Releases Hurricane Evacuation Study A Harvard School of Public Health survey released last week found that nearly one-third (31 percent) of residents in high-risk hurricane areas would not leave if government officials issued an evacuation order due to the threat of a major hurricane. Reasons for choosing not to evacuate included concerns over medical care at shelters and refusal to leave pets. The report also found that while minorities and low income respondents reported a willingness to evacuate, many need help to evacuate. These findings are based on interviews conducted June 18 – July 10, 2007 with 5,046 adults in high hurricane risk counties in eight states. To view the report, go to: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/2007-releases/press07242007.html CDC Releases American Sign Language Versions of Hurricane Preparedness PSAs The CDC has produced videos in American Sign Language (ASL) on the several emergency preparedness topics, including hurricane preparedness. To view the videos, go to: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/psa.asp Call for Papers: Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication for Pandemic Influenza Health Promotion Practice, an official journal of the Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE), announces a call for original manuscripts for a theme issue on crisis and emergency risk communication and pandemic influenza. This issue provides an opportunity to examine current efforts and prepare health educators to address future needs in crisis and emergency risk communication. Manuscripts can be either research or descriptive in format (noting the journal's mission of focusing on implications for practice), including policy analyses, intervention descriptions and evaluations, case studies, ethical issues, historical perspectives, point-counterpoint dialogues, or interviews with policy and community experts. Authors should follow the "Instructions to Authors" found at: www.sophe.org/public/docs/Guidelines3.rtf. Manuscripts should not exceed 30 typed pages, including figures and references. The deadline for all manuscripts is October 1, 2007. Upcoming EventsSeptember 16-19, 2007 September 19, 2007 September 19, 2007 September 24-25, 2007 September 27-28, 2007 October 10-11, 2007 November 11-14, 2007 April 1-2, 2008 Join the ICC Listserv!The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) has created a listserv. Please join our listserv to receive the ICC's Monthly Updates and Quarterly Newsletter, Emergency Preparedness NOW, and access other information pertinent to emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities. To join please visit http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/archives/icc-dispreppubs-l.html or go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/ and click "Online Mailing List Archives," then select "ICC-DISPREPPUBS-L" and complete the subscription form. For more information about the ICC please visit www.disabilitypreparedness.gov. About the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with DisabilitiesThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties oversees the implementation of Executive Order 13347, Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, which was signed by President Bush in July 2004. This Executive Order is designed to ensure the safety and security of individuals with disabilities in all-hazard emergency and disaster situations. To this end, the Executive Order created an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The ICC is comprised of senior leadership from more than 20 Federal departments and agencies. Its mission is to ensure that people with disabilities and their specific needs are fully integrated into all aspects of our nation's emergency management system; including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Secretary of Homeland Security is the Chair of the ICC, and he has delegated that role to Mr. Daniel Sutherland, the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The Council has concentrated its work in eight major areas:
For more information about the ICC please visit http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov. |
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