Monthly Updates - June, 2006 - ICC Monthly Highlights

Working Conference on Emergency Management and Individuals with Disabilities and the Elderly
On June 28-30, 2006 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly sponsored the first ever working conference for State emergency management officials and key disability and aging experts entitled "Federal Conference on Emergency Management and the Disability and Aging Populations." The purpose of the conference was to connect Governor-appointed State teams with key disability and aging experts in order to: 1) work toward integration of efforts within their jurisdiction's emergency management framework; 2) facilitate cooperative planning with senior officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency regions; and 3) identify and institute measurable outcomes and systems for tracking results.

Senior officials from both HHS and DHS made keynote presentations including: Alex Azar, Deputy Secretary, HHS; Wade Horn, Assistant Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, HHS; and Josefina Carbonell, Assistant Secretary, Administration on Aging, HHS; Michael Chertoff, Secretary, DHS; David Paulison, Director of FEMA, DHS; and Robert Zitz, Deputy Under Secretary for Preparedness, DHS. These officials were joined by colleagues from other federal agencies and departments as well as top experts from state and local governments and the private sector.

A comprehensive report on the conference including presentations and conference outcomes will be available in the upcoming months

DHS Releases Nationwide Plan Review: Phase II Report
On June 16, 2006, DHS released the findings from its national assessment of the nation's catastrophic planning capabilities. Responding to directives from President Bush and Congress, following Hurricane Katrina, the Nationwide Plan Review looked at whether existing emergency operations plans for States and urban areas are sufficient for managing a catastrophic event. The review also presents conclusions on actions needed by the federal government to improve and coordinate planning.

Conducted in all 50 States, six U.S. territories and 75 urban areas over six months, the Nationwide Plan Review was the most comprehensive assessment of emergency operations plans to date regarding planning for a catastrophic event. Reviewers examined nearly 2,800 emergency operations plans and related documents, with participation from more than 1,000 emergency managers and homeland security officials.

Recently, Under Secretary George Foresman commented on the results stating that while states and urban areas have done a good job of preparing for a variety of emergencies, their plans are lacking in preparation for a catastrophic event. DHS has established a National Preparedness Task Force that will oversee the Department's efforts to strengthen and systematize catastrophic planning among all levels of government by ensuring lessons from recent disasters and the Nationwide Plan Review findings and conclusions are translated into nationwide enhancements for catastrophic planning.

Notably, the Nationwide Plan Review included rigorous examination of how State and urban areas plan to prepare, inform, and evacuate, and care for people with disabilities. A team of 11 disability subject matter experts led by CRCL conducted comprehensive review of selected State and urban area emergency operation plans. The findings of the disability subject matter expert reviewers including recommendations are incorporated in the Report as an Area of Special Focus. Additionally, disability and special needs topic is well integrated throughout the entire report.

Department of Transportation Releases Evacuation Plan Report
The U.S. Congress requested the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to "review and assess Federal and State evacuation plans (including the costs of the plans) for catastrophic hurricanes and other catastrophic events impacting the Gulf Coast region and report its findings and recommendations to Congress." In Section 10204 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) (P.L. 109-59) and Section 187 of the FY 2006 Department of Transportation Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-115), Congress specified that this assessment should include: (1) all safe and practical modes of transportation available for evacuations; (2) the extent to which evacuation plans are coordinated with neighboring States and adjoining jurisdictions; (3) methods of communicating evacuation plans and preparing citizens in advance of evacuations; (4) methods of coordinating communication with evacuees during plan execution; (5) the availability of food, water, restrooms, fueling stations, and shelter opportunities along the evacuation routes; (6) the time required to evacuate under the plan; and (7) the physical and mental strains associated with the evacuation. The assessment also includes issues and lessons learned from evacuations associated with Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other recent hurricanes.

This U.S. DOT study of evacuation plans for the Gulf Coast region has been closely coordinated with the DHS study of emergency operations plans in States, territories, and 75 major urban areas. The U.S. DOT study focuses more attention on the evacuation component of emergency operations planning, and is limited to the Gulf Coast region.

The Department of Transportation Report to Congress is available at: www.fhwa.dot.gov/reports/hurricanevacuation

ICC Private Sector Coordination

Collaboration with Salvation Army
DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the Salvation Army USA are actively engaged in discussions to develop a simple, yet innovative project to assist individuals with disabilities and senior citizens with personal preparedness efforts. This project will utilize the Salvation Army's vast corps of volunteers to personally walk individuals through emergency preparedness planning. As a result people will be better equipped for whatever disaster may impact them and their communities. The Salvation Army has received extremely positive feedback on their concept from faith based and community service organizations. This grassroots concept has the potential to contact many people who may not be receptive to traditional outreach methods such as ad campaigns, web based information or community meetings. CRCL looks forward to this collaboration and the impact it could have on local communities.

Participation in Mass Care Policy Seminar
On June 29, a CRCL staff member participated in the Mass Care Policy Seminar hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and the American Red Cross (ARC). Key members from Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) provided a briefing on their organizations. Representatives included: ARC, Salvation Army, Southern Baptists, Adventist Community Services, Second Harvest and NVOAD. The afternoon consisted of a tabletop hurricane scenario providing the impetus for discussion around how and when the VOADs and states interact and how needs are communicated to FEMA. The group was in consensus that, with respect to general population and medical needs shelters, people with disabilities should be placed according to functional and/or medical needs.

ICC Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace Subcommittee

"Preparing the Workplace for Everyone" Council Announces Availability of Guidance on Preparedness and Disability
The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities announces the nation-wide roll-out of "Preparing the Workplace for Everyone," a publication containing best practice guidelines regarding employees with disabilities. Pursuant to Executive Order 13347, federal agencies are charged with assessing the adequacy of emergency plans and procedures. The Council's guidelines are designed to facilitate the full involvement and inclusion of employees and visitors with disabilities in workplace emergency plans. The guidelines address the full range of topics, from evacuation, to sheltering, to working with first responders, to the shared responsibilities of employers and employees. Each topic is presented with an overview, points for consideration, actual examples from over 20 federal agencies, and critical questions for the reader.

The guidelines are being hosted by the Department of Labor which serves as Chair of the Council's Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace. To access the html and PDF versions of "Preparing the Workplace for Everyone," visit http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/emergency.htm. To obtain print copies of the publication send an e-mail to preparingtheworkplace@dol.gov

ICC Health Subcommittee

Preparing Persons with Disabilities for Pandemic Flu The Office on Mass Casualty Planning (OMCP) was invited to start a series of monthly presentations on emergency preparedness planning for a pandemic flu event. The Health Subcommittee is represented by four members who serve on the Pandemic Flu Workgroup to write the "playbook" (action steps).

The first presentation identified the steps that will be taken to prevent the flu from spreading at a rapid rate. An event requiring the kind of mass care and possible quarantine that has not been experienced in many years. OMCP will look to the Health Subcommittee to contribute briefing papers on the specific needs of persons with disabilities and medical conditions during such an event.

Participation by Health Subcommittee Members in the Office on Mass Casualty Planning and the Secretary's Transition Action Team Planning Groups
Participation has resulted in training for Office on Disability staff to participate in Top Official 4 Exercise (TOPOFF4) and as members of the Joint Field Office (JFO) assessment teams and the Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG). Through collaboration with the Office on Disability; the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness has included disability subject experts as required members of core disaster management teams

Continued Collaboration with the American Red Cross
Discussions continue between the American Red Cross and the Office on Disability to sign a Memorandum of Agreement to use the Guidelines developed by the Subcommittee for identifying persons with disabilities and medical conditions as a triage and shelter intake tool to ensure that all persons are assigned to the shelter option that provides the best supports for maintaining independence. The Guidelines are in the clearance process to become HHS policy for shelter triage.

ICC State, Local and Tribal Government Subcommittee

Hurricane Preparedness Exercises
The devastation caused by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma has initiated a series of plan, policy and procedural revisions at all levels of government to be completed by June 1, 2006. In support of this initiative, at the direction of DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, the DHS Preparedness Directorate, Office of Grants and Trainings (G&T) in coordination with FEMA, is spearheading five tabletop Hurricane Preparedness Exercises encompassing all of the Gulf Coast and Eastern Seaboard States and Territories structured by FEMA regions I, II, III, IV and VI. Participation includes appropriate Federal, State, Territory and Tribal representatives, in addition to nongovernmental organizations and private sector partners.

Consistent with Secretary's commitment to examine how communities plan to prepare, inform, evacuate and care for people with disabilities, G&T requested CRCL's disability subject matter expertise in the exercise development, as well as participation in the actual Regional exercises. In May, CRCL teamed up with selected disability advocacy representatives and participated in the exercises held in Philadelphia, PA (Region III) and New Orleans, LA (Region IV). During the month of June CRCL representatives participated in the exercises for Region IV in Atlanta and Regions I/II in New London, CT.

The Office of Grants and Training Information Bulletin No. 203 is available at:
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp//docs/info203.pdf.

FEMA Training, Emittsburg, MD
On June 22, staff from the Disability Rights Section of the Department of Justice's Office for Civil Rights provided an Americans with Disabilities Act training session at the Emergency Management Institute in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The primary audience consisted of 35 Equal Rights Officers from the FEMA regional offices. DOJ trainers focused their presentations on applying the principles and requirements of the ADA to emergency response and recovery activities affecting individuals with disabilities. A staff member from the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties also participated and provided the audience with updates on the array of disability-related activities going on within the ICC federal agencies and the non-governmental sector.

ICC Emergency Communications Subcommittee

Inclusion of Senior Counsel for Disabilities Matters in FCC Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
The FCC has included in its Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) Emergency Response Group (ERG), a Senior Counsel for Disabilities Matters. The CGB ERG Plan is designed to maintain FCC operations during major events such as a powerful hurricane causing significant damage to U.S. assets, or in which FCC headquarters become inaccessible or uninhabitable and the FCC has activated its COOP. CGB will implement the CGB COOP when the FCC's COOP has been activated by the Defense Commissioner (Chairman Kevin Martin), in consultation with the Managing Director (OMD). The Senior Counsel for Disabilities Matters will keep abreast of developments affecting the disabilities community and assist in the establishment and implementation of policies and procedures to maintain or restore access to telecommunications services for people with disabilities. In particular, the Senior Counsel for Disabilities Matters will do the following:

• Consult and coordinate with State utility commission staffs, local government representatives and representatives of Indian tribes.
• Maintain a list of contacts for purposes of gathering or disseminating information to the disability community.
• Apprise the Bureau Chief of contacts or communications from or on behalf of persons with disabilities related to the event.
• Coordinate with other FCC Bureaus and Offices as needed to address issues or concerns impacting the disabilities community.
• Drafts, as directed by the Bureau Chief or Chairman, waiver orders, STAs and other documents required to facilitate the maintenance or restoration of telecommunications relay service or emergency captioning services in affected areas.
• In consultation with the CGB Bureau Chief, develop and implement effective outreach initiatives designed to educate and/or assist persons with disabilities.
• Update the CGB Chief on the status of requests or inquiries from or on behalf of the disabilities [JAM1] community so that she or he can report as requested to the FCC COOP/Crisis team.
• Provide reporting summaries to the FCC COOP/Crisis team for inclusion in the overall FCC situational awareness report.

Upcoming Events

July 9-12, 2006
Hazards Research and Applications Workshop
Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Boulder
This workshop is designed to bring members of the research and applications communities together for face-to-face networking and discussion of cutting-edge issues related to hazards and disasters and our society's efforts to deal with them. It provides a challenging forum for the diverse opinions and perspectives of the natural hazards community. http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/.

July 11, 2006
IAEM Region 9 Roundtable
"H5N1 Bird Flu - Threat of an Influenza Pandemic?"
Gilbert Fire Dept. Amphitheater, Gilbert, Arizona
http://www.iaem.com/about/membership/regions/region9/region9.htm

July 11-13, 2006
Transportation Disaster Response - Family Assistance
Course offered by the National Transportation Safety Board
NTSB Academy, Ashburn, VA (near Washington, DC)

Developed for commercial transportation officials, representatives of federal agencies and staff of non-governmental relief organizations and emergency managers, this course is instrumental in understanding how any organization involved in accident response can most effectively support family assistance efforts. http://www.ntsb.gov/Academy/CourseInfo/TDA301_2006.htm

July 14, 2006
ICC 2nd Anniversary Meeting
Washington, DC
For more information on this meeting contact Megan Hogan at: megan.hogan@associates.dhs.gov.

July 20-26, 2006
2006 International IMSA Conference
Overland Park Convention Center & Sheraton Overland Park Hotel
Overland Park, Kansas

IMSA's conference is the leading International resource for information, education, and certification for public safety. The conference this year will offer certifications in Work Zone Traffic Control, Traffic Signal Inspection, Traffic Signals, Signs and Markings, Roadway Lighting, Fire Alarm, Public Safety and Public Service Dispatch; plus a variety of technical sessions will also be available.
www.imsasafety.org

August 16-19, 2006
Chicago Fire Department
2006 Life Safety Conference
Large Scale Incident Evacuations
Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois

Hot topics at this conference include: mass evacuation planning; crisis communication; dealing with post-event decontamination (bio-hazards); EMS: dealing with the elderly/hospitalized; high-rise incident command; mutual aid; hands-on demos; training and certifications; and town hall meetings with experienced international building and fire professionals. Learn from those involved in Katrina, Gulf disasters, New York power outages, and more.
http://www.cfdconference.com/

September 6-8 , 2006
8th Annual Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness Conference & Expo
Hyatt Regency, Atlanta, Georgia
http://www.regonline.com/eventinfo.asp?EventId=88623

September 18-22, 2006
NEMA 2006 Annual Conference
Orange, AL
http://www.nemaweb.org/

October 8-14 , 2006
Fire Prevention Week 2006
Sponsored by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
http://www.nfpa.org/

October 24-26, 2006
Pacific Northwest Preparedness Society
http://www.epconference.ca

November 12-15, 2006
International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) 2006 Annual Conference & EMEX Exhibit
"Going All the Way.Putting Plans Into Action"
http://www.iaem.com

Nov. 14-16 , 2006
Transportation Disaster Response - Family Assistance
Course offered by the National Transportation Safety Board
NTSB Academy, Ashburn, VA (near Washington, DC)

Developed for commercial transportation officials, representatives of federal agencies and staff of non-governmental relief organizations and emergency managers, this course is instrumental in understanding how any organization involved in accident response can most effectively support family assistance efforts.
http://www.ntsb.gov/Academy/CourseInfo/TDA301_2006.htm.

January 29-February 2 , 2007
Florida Emergency Preparedness Association Annual Conference
Daytona Beach, Florida
call for presentations (due Apr. 30, 2006)

FEPA's annual conference includes speaker presentations, panel discussion and workshops that focus on timely emergency management issues and topics. In conjunction with the annual conference, association business is conducted; also, outstanding agency and individual contributions to the field of emergency management are recognized through an awards program.
http://www.fepa.org/meetings.aspx

February 8-9, 2007
National Conference on Disaster Planning for the Carless Society
New Orleans, LA
The University of New Orleans Transportation Center, in partnership with the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission and the Regional Transit Authority, is organizing a National Conference on Disaster Planning for the Car-less Society. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita revealed the importance of evacuation planning, especially for people without the ability or means to drive. All cities in the United States are vulnerable to natural and human caused disasters. The focus of this conference is on evacuation planning for car-less residents, including the elderly, disabled, and transit dependent populations. Our intent is to bring together government officials, professionals, and experts to discuss how we can better prepare for those that are in most need.

Presentations/Call for papers due August 15, 2006. For more information go to www.carlessevacuation.org.

Recently Released Resources

The American Association for People with Disabilities (AAPD) July ADA Events Calendar
The AAPD has included several events in its July 2006 calendar celebrating the 16th anniversary of the ADA such events include: The ADA at 16: Trends and Developments, ADA National Transportation Training and A National Dialogue on the State of Disability. For more information on these and several other calendar events visit: http://www.aapd-dc.org/calendar/calendar.php.

The Emergency Email and Wireless Network
The Mission of the Emergency Email and Wireless Network is to "provide notification to citizens of local, regional, national and international emergencies utilizing the Internet and electronic mail (email) in a secure and expedient manner."

For more information visit: http://www.emergencyemail.org/

DHS Seeks to Better Serve Disaster Victims with Disabilities
The National Journal recently released an article highlighting specific changes made throughout the Federal Government and non-government organizations to ensure that people with disabilities will be better served in future disasters. To view the entire article visit:
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0606/060206nj1.htm.

"Gaps Exist in U.S. City Emergency Plans" NPR
NPR reports on city emergency plans review. For more information and to hear report go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5451087.

The Center for Public Integrity releases "Katrina Watch" June 2006
The Center for Public Integrity spotlights the best coverage of Hurricane Katrina's aftermath and tracks government contracts awarded for cleanup and reconstruction. The Katrina Watch project presents original reports by the Center for Public Integrity and a daily roundup of links to the latest information culled from media and government Web sites.

To view current issue visit: http://www.publicintegrity.org/katrina/.

GAO Conducts Study Released June 2006--"Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Coordination between FEMA and the Red Cross Should Be Improved for the 2006 Hurricane Season"
To view the entire study visit:
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-712.

AARP Releases Report "We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters"
This report addresses three major topics as they relate to older persons:

• Planning and communications,
• Identifying who will need help and kind of help needed, such as registries, tracking, and medications, and;
• Evacuating older persons, including transportation and "special needs" shelters.

To view the entire report visit:
http://www.aarp.org/research/assistance/lowincome/better.html.

Senior Corps Grant
Capacity Building Grant: The Arlington County Chapter on behalf of WMAC is actively recruiting new LEADERSHIP volunteers. People of all ages are welcome! Additionally, there is a special (grant-funded) focus of people 55 years of age and older. The WMAC Disaster Leadership Development Program will recruit and train 200 new volunteer leaders to oversee the work of 2,000 volunteers. These individuals will serve as managers of other volunteers during medium and large-scale disasters and special events in the National Capital Region (NCR). To express an interest in learning more about the program, e-mail Susan Aarhus, Recruitment Coordinator, atwmac@arlingtonredcross.org.

Sponsored by the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS).

Early Psychological Intervention Following Mass Trauma: Present and Future Directions Conference
The Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress joined the New York Medical College Department of Psychiatry for an outstanding conference on early intervention after disaster.

The archived form of the June 13th Conference- Early Psychological Intervention Following Mass Trauma is now available for easy viewing.
The address to view it if you are registered is:
http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=32701

If you have not previously registered you can do so at no charge and then view it by going to www.nymc.edu/trauma.

FEMA Calls Off Trailer Evictions
Faced with losing their homes again, 3,000 hurricane victims in Mississippi can stay put as the agency works to keep them in housing.

The article can be viewed at:
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/1063670931.html?dids=1063670931:1063670931&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jun+21%2C+2006&author=Richard+Fausset&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.4&desc=The+Nation.

About the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities

The 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 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:

1. Emergency Communications;
2. Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace;
3. Emergency Transportation;
4. Health;
5. Private Sector Coordination;
6. Research;
7. State, Local and Tribal Government Coordination; and
8. Technical Assistance and Outreach.