INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
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Monthly Updates - March/April 2009

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The following Department of Homeland Security Article has been previously published in the DHS Today, April 27, 2009—Vol. 7, Issue No. 12.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Heads Federal Response to H1N1 Flu
President Obama designated Secretary Napolitano to lead the federal government's response to the outbreak of H1N1 flu. DHS, working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has been coordinating the federal response to the outbreak that prompted HHS to declare a public health emergency. This declaration ensures that the federal government has the necessary resources prepositioned to respond to this developing situation. In a message to employees Secretary Napolitano noted that the situation was being monitored, and shared everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of the illness. The Secretary also sent separate messages to employees working on the Southwest border and in Mexico, which contained guidance on passive surveillance at the border as well as guidance regarding protective measures employees can take to guard their personal health.

"The government can't solve this alone," Secretary Napolitano said in a press conference on Sunday, April 26, 2009, where she was joined by Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John Brennan, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Acting Director Dr. Richard Besser, and White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. "We need everybody in the United States to take some responsibility here. If you are sick, stay home. Wash your hands, take all of those reasonable measures that will help us mitigate, contain how many people actually get sick in our country."

At the briefing, Secretary Napolitano stated that there were 50 million treatment courses of the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza in the national stockpile, and that 25 percent of those courses were being released to all of the states, with priority going to states with documented infections. In addition, the Department of Defense has procured 7 million courses of Tamiflu for treatment of service men and women who contract the virus. The Secretary also elaborated on steps being taken by CBP and TSA to protect against the potential spread of H1N1 flu. CBP is taking inventory of employees and supplies to ensure adequate resources are at U.S. borders; CBP has also implemented passive surveillance protocols to screen travelers at the ports of entry. Meanwhile, TSA has implemented similar measures with regards to passenger screening and employee interaction with travelers.

The current efforts to respond to the H1N1 flu outbreak span the federal government; the U.S. Department of Agriculture has stressed that there appears to be no issue with the U.S. food supply, and that the virus cannot be acquired from ingesting pork. Also, Dr. Brennan stated at the press conference that there was "no evidence whatsoever" that the outbreak was caused by bioterrorism.

The CDC is posting all the latest information on their website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/.

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ICC Monthly Updates

US Department of Homeland Security

Collaborating Agencies' Disaster Relief Effort (CADRE) Conference Draws Capacity Crowd
DHS CRCL staff delivered a plenary presentation and co-lead a breakout session with Richard Devylder, Special Advisor to the Director, California Emergency Management Agency at the Fourth Annual Santa Clara County Disaster Preparedness Conference held on March 24, 2009 in San Jose, CA. The conference entitled, Together We Do Better: Meeting Accessibility and Functional Needs in a Disaster, brought together local government representatives with community and faith-based service providers to discuss, learn, and plan around issues related to disaster preparedness, response and recovery for disability and other special needs populations in the community. Participants in the breakout session on the Functional Accessibility Paradigm Shift, engaged in discussion on planning networks, shelter services, and recovery. This well attended conference was also an excellent opportunity for networking and cooperative information exchange.

CADRE is a leading network of organizations that provide community services that are essential in times of disaster. The CADRE Network matches community needs to resources. For more information, go to www.vcsv.us/cadre.

The following Department of Homeland Security Article has been previously published in the DHS Today, April 20, 2009—Vol. 7, Issue No. 11.

DHS Leads Workshop on Workforce Pandemic Flu Issues
Discussion draws more than 100 participants from across federal government
More than 100 participants, including representatives from 10 federal agencies, attended the Department's Workforce Protection for Pandemic Influenza Workshop on April 3, 2009 in Washington, D.C. The DHS Office of Health Affairs led the meeting and Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jon Krohmer provided opening remarks.

The workshop included the latest information on pandemic influenza and the progress the federal government has made to address the threat at the government-wide level. At the department level, representatives from the components heard presentations on, and discussed the application of government policies to DHS. Included were countermeasures, policies and proposals; human capital policies; and critical contractor support. Among the issues discussed were the planning, logistics, and resource concerns of stockpiling, distributing, and dispensing personal protective equipment and antiviral medications; the use of teleworking during a pandemic; and issues related to contractors, their protection, and their roles in providing critical and essential services.

"This is an excellent opportunity to bring together partners from throughout the federal government to address critical pandemic influenza issues," said Dr. Krohmer. "Together we will identify issues that need to be resolved, inform our countermeasure policies, and take steps to protect our workforce."

More information about pandemic influenza preparations is available at www.pandemicflu.gov.

The following two Department of Homeland Security Articles has been previously published in the DHS Today, April 13, 2009—Vol. 7, Issue No. 10.

DHS Announces FY 2009 Preparedness Grant Allocations
Secretary makes announcement at Union Station in Washington, D.C.
With Union Station in Washington, D.C. providing the backdrop, Secretary Napolitano on Wednesday unveiled the final fiscal year 2009 Preparedness Grant Allocations. These grants, administered by FEMA and totaling nearly $970 million, will assist state, local, and tribal governments as well as private industry in protecting individual communities and the nation.

The selection of Union Station for the announcement was made to highlight the fact that several million in grants will provide greater security for the nation's passenger rail system. Representatives from FEMA, Amtrak, TSA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as the grant-funded Amtrak team of K9 detectives, joined the Secretary for the announcement. At the event, the K9 unit demonstrated their explosive, money, and drug detecting skills that are used at Amtrak facilities nation-wide.

In a press statement, the Secretary emphasized that this year's grant allocation process is more transparent, and that improvements will continually be made based on stakeholder feedback and peer review processes. "As we continue to expand our state, local, tribal, and private sector partnerships, our combined efforts will improve and hone our grant programs," the Secretary said.

Last week's announcement covers 10 programs that will receive the grant allocations, including the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) and the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). Both TSGP and PSGP will receive $388.6 million of the grants to protect their critical transit and port infrastructures from terrorism and other vulnerabilities. The TSGP provides grant funding to the nation's high-threat areas to enhance security measures for their critical transit infrastructure including rail, ferry, and bus systems.

More details about this announcement, including additional fact sheets, are available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1239203061205.shtm.

DHS Secretary Announces $100 Million in Funds for Emergency Program
Secretary Napolitano last week announced $100 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP), which is supported by FEMA. With this funding, EFSP will have distributed more than $3.4 billion in federal funds over the past 26 years to provide food and shelter to families in need across the United States.

Secretary Napolitano made the announcement at a United Way 2-1-1 Call Center, which helps connect individuals and families to social services, including organizations that benefit from EFSP funds. A national board comprised of voluntary agencies oversees the program, while United Way of America, which serves as EFSP Executive Secretariat, administers the distribution of EFSP funds to social service agencies in more than 2,500 cities and counties.

"These ARRA funds will provide immediate relief to communities impacted by unemployment and poverty," said Secretary Napolitano. "The community organizations receiving this money not only support Americans in need, but also play a crucial role in helping to get our economy back on track and families back on their feet."

EFSP was created in 1983 with a $50 million federal appropriation to help meet the needs of hungry and homeless people throughout the United States and its territories by allocating federal funds for the provision of food and shelter. Appropriated annually by Congress under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, EFSP provides supplemental funds to more than 12,000 agencies. More information about this announcement is available at http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1239302787726.shtm.

US Department of Health and Human Services

Think Cultural Health Develops Curriculum for Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Response
The HHS Office of Minority Health, within the Office of Public Health and Science, has developed a Web-based Cultural Competency Curriculum for Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Response. The curriculum is currently under review for accreditation, with a projected launch date at the end of June 2009. The E-learning curriculum will provide information that is relevant to Emergency Management, First Responders (EMS, EMTs, Police, Fire, etc.), Disaster Mental Health workers, Public Health professionals such as the Commissioned Corps, as well as individuals from FEMA and the Red Cross. The curriculum content will include the following topics: (1) Models and approaches for delivering culturally competent services, including knowledge and skill-centered approaches; (2) Effective communication techniques and tools for delivering language access services; and (3) Tools and resources to help create both internal and external organizational supports to promote and sustain culturally and linguistically competent services in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The outline of the course as well as other relevant information can be found at https://www.thinkculturalhealth.org/ccdpcr/default_3.asp.

Healthcare Research and Quality Releases New Public Health Emergency Tools
The HHS Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has released two new tools designed to protect and care for children who are in a hospital or a school during a public health emergency. The first tool, Pediatric Hospital Surge Capacity in Public Health Emergencies, consists of guidelines to assist pediatric hospitals in converting from standard operating capacity to surge capacity and help community hospital emergency departments provide care for large numbers of critically ill children. The tool addresses needs such as communications, staff responsibilities, triaging, stress management, and security concerns when handling large numbers of children with either communicable respiratory diseases or communicable foodborne or waterborne illnesses. The second tool, School-Based Emergency Preparedness: A National Analysis and Recommended Protocol, is a national model for school-based emergency response planning. It provides guidance on the recommended steps for both creating and implementing a school-based emergency response plan. Steps outlined include performing needs assessments, conducting site surveys, developing training modules for school staff, and informing parents of the plan, as well as steps relating to building security and safety, preparation for large-scale emergencies, sheltering-in-place and lockdown, evacuation, relocation, and communications. The tools are available here: http://www.ahrq.gov/prep/pedhospital/ and http://www.ahrq.gov/prep/schoolprep/.

US Department of Transportation

US Department of Transportation (DOT) Sponsors the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) Evacuation Planning Workshop
On Tuesday, February 24, Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) staff attended the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) Transportation and Evacuation Planning Workshop. This workshop, co-sponsored by FHWA, focused on multi-modal evacuation planning for special needs populations and featured representatives of councils of governments that had recently conducted emergency evacuations as well as individuals representing the AARP and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A). FTA disseminated research, guidance, and technical assistance documents developed or funded by U.S. DOT to assist state and local stakeholders in evacuating persons with specific mobility needs.

FTA Sponsors New Research on Communicating with Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies
On March 2 and 3, FTA and FHWA staff participated as liaisons to a Transit Cooperative Research Program (TCRP) panel that developed a scope of work for a new research and demonstration project on emergency preparedness. The research sponsored by this project will produce a toolkit for emergency managers and transportation officials. The toolkit will contain strategies, policies, and practices that will allow them to more effectively communicate emergency preparedness information to the following individuals: older adults, people with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, low-literacy, low-income individuals, and others who may have specific emergency communications needs and transportation needs. A request for proposals for this project can be found at http://www.trb.org/TRBNet/ProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=2611.

DOT Supports Public Transportation's Response to the Upper Midwest Flooding
In late March and early April, DOT staff monitored the impacts of the upper Midwest flooding on the region's transportation system and provided support to transportation providers responding to the emergency. Local public transit agencies in North Dakota and Minnesota played an important and multifaceted role in this emergency, including evacuating populations with mobility needs, providing shuttle service to volunteer sandbaggers, and using transit facilities to thaw sandbags, and serve as a command center for emergency operations.

FHWA Announces New Primer
FHWA announced its third "Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning" primer series, titled, Evacuating Populations with Special Needs. FHWA posted the primer on its Office of Operations website. In addition, copies will be available this summer.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency

Craig Fugate to be Nominated as Administrator for The Federal Emergency Management Agency
On March 4, 2009, President Obama announced his intention to nominate Craig Fugate as Administrator for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano also announced that Jason R. McNamara will serve as the Chief of Staff for FEMA.

"These announcements represent a new chapter for FEMA. Both Craig and Jason bring a tremendous amount of emergency management experience to these positions, and they are just the first of a dynamic new team that is being brought in to lead this agency. Together, we can make FEMA a vibrant agency and an effective and efficient partner for state and local first responders," said Napolitano.

Craig Fugate was appointed the Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management in 2001; a position he has held for eight years. In that time, he has presided over 23 Declared State Emergencies, 11 of which were Presidential Declared Disasters. Fugate oversees the Division with a mandate to coordinate disaster response, recovery, preparedness and mitigation efforts with each of the state's 67 counties and local governments. From volunteer firefighter, Paramedic, to Lieutenant with Alachua County Fire Rescue, his 15 year career in local government included serving 10 years as the Emergency Manager for Alachua County, Florida.

Mr. McNamara serves as an Associate Vice President and Director of Emergency Management/Homeland Security in Dewberry's Emergency Management, Disaster and Mitigation Services Group with a focus in emergency management and homeland security preparedness, planning, interagency and intergovernmental relations, and congressional relations on the local, state, and federal governmental levels. Mr. McNamara holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology from the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master of Arts in Urban Affairs and Public Policy from the University of Delaware.

FEMA Grant Benefits Special Needs and Emergency Management Communities
The Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) received a grant from FEMA to develop and launch a unique, Web based training for special needs populations and emergency managers. The CEPIN self-paced training will: increase public awareness about challenges that people with special needs face during disasters; examine gaps in emergency plans that serve the special needs population; and start the dialogue needed to develop mutual understanding and respect between the special needs and emergency management communities.

The CEPIN training reflects FEMA's current definition of the "special needs" population. The original definition only referred to people with physical or mental disabilities. FEMA's new definition is expanded to include all people whose functional needs are jeopardized during times of disaster.

"The training will be valuable to emergency managers and the special needs population," Neil McDevitt, the Program Director of CEPIN said. "Emergency management and special needs communities need to work together before and during times of crises. Without collaboration, both groups will not know or be able to share their expectations in the face of disaster. The CEPIN training will set the stage for the communities' resources to be discovered and accessed before they are needed."

Participants who take the CEPIN course will be prepared to:

  • Understand the importance of collaboration between emergency management and special needs populations as part of preparedness and response activities.
  • Understand how to collaborate effectively with emergency managers or special needs populations.
  • Understand the elements or steps needed to prepare for and respond to a variety of emergency situations involving special needs populations.
  • Understand and network with the local, state, and national (public and private) resources that are available for response to emergency and disaster response situations that includes special needs populations.
  • CEPIN's Web-based training is being developed with the help of subject matter experts from other organizations. Training pilots are expected to begin spring 2009 and CEPIN anticipates launching the course in late fall 2009.

About CEPIN: The CEPIN Project is coordinated by Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded TDI nearly $3 million to develop model community education programs for emergency responders and special needs populations. For more information about CEPIN, visit www.cepintdi.org.

About TDI: TDI is a consumer advocacy organization that promotes equal access to telecommunications, media, and information technology for 31 million Americans who are deaf and hard of hearing. TDI publishes the TDI World quarterly magazine and the annual TDI National Directory & Resource Guide also known as the Blue Book. For more information go to http://www.tdi-online.org/.

CEPIN program is supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 2007-GT-T7-K006, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, National Preparedness Directorate - Training Operations. Points of view or opinions in this program do not represent the position or policies of the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA.

The following Department of Homeland Security Article has been previously published in the DHS Today, April 20, 2009—Vol. 7, Issue No. 11.

The National Office of Citizen Corps, FEMA Community Preparedness Division
FEMA Releases Final Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101
 The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today the release of the final Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101: "Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Government Emergency Plans."

CPG 101 completes the requirements of HSPD-8, Annex I to develop a "national integrated planning system." Combined with the Integrated Planning System (IPS) guidance provided by the Department, the vision of a vertically integrated planning system providing for a consistent planning process across all levels of government is realized.

While IPS focuses on Federal planning, CPG 101 was developed by a team of state, tribal and local officials from across the United States working together to develop guidance that can aid State, tribal, local, and territorial officials in protecting their citizens.

CPG 101 is the first in a series of publications developed through the FEMA National Preparedness Directorate's CPG Initiative. Future CPGs will discuss planning considerations for a variety of emergency functions, hazards and special preparedness programs including: special needs planning, household pets and service animals, fusion center / emergency operations center interface, and hazard-specific guidance.

CPG 101 serves as the emergency plan foundation for both public and private sector planning in the United States. Planners in all disciplines and organizations may find portions of the guide useful in the development of their emergency response plans.

The CPG 101 document can be found online at www.fema.gov/about/divisions/cpg.shtm. For more information on other FEMA initiatives, visit http://www.fema.gov/.

The following Department of Homeland Security Article has been previously published in the DHS Today, April 20, 2009—Vol. 7, Issue No. 11.

Ready Campaign Holds Webinar for National Preparedness Month
New Classroom-focused Web Site Launched to Enhance Ready Kids Initiative
The Ready Campaign kicked off National Preparedness Month 2009 via webinar on Wednesday, April 15.

National Preparedness Month (NPM) is sponsored by the Ready Campaign in partnership with Citizen Corps and the Advertising Council. NPM is held each September and is designed to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities.

September 2009 marks the sixth annual NPM. This year will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and helping Americans understand what it truly means to be Ready.

National Preparedness Month Coalition membership is open to all public and private sector organizations for free. By joining the Coalition your organization would agree to promote emergency preparedness during the month of September. Once you register you will receive access to the NPM Web site where you can find a toolkit full of templates, resources and ideas to assist you with promoting emergency preparedness. You will also find an NPM calendar where you can post your events and see what other organizations are doing in your community. In addition, can share your success stories and read about the successes of others.

Groups can register to become a National Preparedness Month Coalition Member by visiting. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Ready Campaign at npm@dhs.gov.

US Department of Labor

ICC Workplace Subcommittee Completes Addendum to the Framework of Guidelines: "Preparing the Workplace for Everyone"
The Workplace Subcommittee has continued its mission to ensure that individuals with disabilities are included in emergency preparedness planning in the workplace, and have access to everything they need to evacuate during an emergency. As part of an effort to provide up-to-date information to employers and emergency managers, the Subcommittee has completed an addendum to the Framework of Guidelines: "Preparing the Workplace for Everyone," that addresses the needs of individuals with disabilities when evacuating using stairwells. This Stairwell Addendum is available online on the Department of Labor's Website at http://www.dol.gov/odep/programs/emergency.htm. The Workplace Subcommittee is developing several other addendums that will address sections of the Framework that may have developed or become more pertinent in the past year. Pieces in development include topics of elevator usage during an emergency and how to plan for visitors with disabilities.

ICC Workplace Subcommittee Participates in Tour of Emergency Operation Centers
In April, the Workplace Subcommittee participated in a tour of the Department of Commerce Emergency Operations Center to learn about the Department process for ensuring that their employees with disabilities have the tools they need during an emergency. The tour and discussion was hosted by Alfred Broadbent, Director of the Office of Security and included comment from his staff, as well as members of the internal disability groups that provide advice and feedback concerning their emergency preparedness practices. The tour and discussion of Emergency Operations Centers is part of the Subcommittee's commitment to learn about model practices and new ideas for individuals with disabilities during a workplace emergency.

The National Council on Disability

The National Council on Disability Approves Homeland Security Report on Emergency Management
The National Council on Disability (NCD) approved a homeland security research report at its most recent Board Meeting on March 31, 2009. NCD expects that it will publicly release this evidence-based research report in June 2009. By way of background, in 2008, NCD determined that it needed to address this major gap in the nation's knowledge base. To achieve this, NCD reviewed the spectrum of studies and defined a set of best and promising practices for emergency management across the lifecycle of disasters (preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation) and geographic areas (urban to rural locations). The primary goal was to take the reported science and then move it to practice by balancing an academic review with analysis by seasoned emergency management professionals who have on the ground experience with implementing practices for the benefit of disaster victims with disabilities and other special needs.

By way of this report, NCD offers information and advice to assist government in its work to establish evidence-based policies, programs and practices across the lifecycle of disasters. This report provides examples of community efforts with respect to people with disabilities, and provides a comprehensive treatment of the available emergency preparedness, disaster relief, and homeland security program efforts deployed in communities by the public and private sectors.

Recently Released Resources

Disability Law Handbook
The Disability and Business Technical Assistance Centers Southwest ADA Center, a program of the Independent Living Research Utilization at The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research Memorial Hermann, announces the publication of The Disability Law Handbook, a 50-page guide to the basics of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability related laws.

Written in an FAQ format, The Disability Law Handbook answers questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ADA Amendments Act, the Rehabilitation Act, Social Security Act, the Air Carrier Access Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act, and the Fair Housing Act Amendments.

To download your individual copy of The Disability Law Handbook, go to http://www.swdbtac.org/html/publications/dlh/disabilitylawhandbook.pdf.

Promoting Safe Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities
The National Disability Authority (NDA) has launched an important new publication entitled "Promoting Safe Egress and Evacuation for People with Disabilities". The publication is aimed at ensuring the speedy and safe evacuation of public buildings by people with a disability, particularly in the event of an emergency. This publication will be of special interest to facilities managers, accommodation officers, health and safety personnel, access officers, disability liaison officers and human resource professionals in the public sector. To read the report, go to http://www.nda.ie/cntmgmtnew.nsf/0/195244135ECA466B8025741F00529C24/$File/Egress1.html.

Hurricane Ike in Texas and Louisiana: Mitigation Assessment Team Report, Building Performance Observations, Recommendations, and Technical Guidance
In response to Hurricane Ike, FEMA deployed a Mitigation Assessment Team (MAT) to evaluate and assess damage from the hurricane and provide observations, conclusions, and recommendations on the performance of buildings and other structures impacted by wind and flood forces. The MAT included FEMA Headquarters and Regional Office engineers, representatives from other federal agencies and academia, and experts from the design and construction industry. The conclusions and recommendations of this report are intended to provide decision-makers with information and technical guidance that can be used to reduce future hurricane damage. To read the report, go to http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=3577.

Upcoming Events

July 12-15, 2009
An International Conference on Rebuilding Sustainable Communities with the Elderly and Disabled People after Disasters (CRSCAD)
John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies, University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA This conference will bring together specialists and stakeholders from around the globe to share information and experiences and to develop strategies around some of the core issues concerning the place of the elderly and disabled people in local, regional, national and international post-disaster reconstruction policies, plans and programs. For more information, see http://www.rebuilding.umb.edu/.

August 9-12, 2009
2009 National Conference on Community Preparedness: The Power of Citizen Corps
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Arlington, VA The 2009 National Conference on Community Preparedness: The Power of Citizen Corps, is being hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Community Preparedness Division on August 9-12, 2009, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, VA. The conference is open to all who are interested in making their communities safer, stronger, and better prepared for all types of hazards. It will bring together approximately 600 state and local elected officials, emergency management, fire and police services, public health and emergency medical services, non-governmental organizations, private business and industry, advocacy groups, and members of public.

Attendees will share best practices on collaborative emergency planning, discuss preparedness outreach and education for targeted populations, get updates on findings from citizen preparedness research, hear about successful training and exercises, and hear updates on DHS/FEMA initiatives. More details on the conference, including registration information, can be found on the conference website at http://www.iaem.com/NCCP2009.htm.

August 11-13, 2009
National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media 2009
Omni Hotel
Atlanta, GA The third National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing and Media sponsored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Marketing and the Office of Enterprise Communications will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, August 11 - 13, 2009, at the Omni Hotel in downtown Atlanta. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Cancer Institute and the National Public Health Information Coalition are co-sponsors for this event. For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/healthmarketing/nchcmm2009/.

September 21-23, 2009
Wireless RERC State of Technology Conference: Wireless Emergency Communications
Atlanta, GA This FREE event will bring together both domestic and international stakeholders in a think tank environment to examine the potential of wireless communications technology for improving support and assistance for persons with disabilities before, during and after a natural or manmade disaster. The target audience is the wireless industry, emergency management and public safety officials, broadcast and cable industry, individuals with disabilities, disability organizations, and researchers working on issues of emergency communications. For more information, see http://sot.wirelessrerc.org/.

DISCLAIMER: DHS CRCL does not endorse the resources or events mentioned in this newsletter. All references describing non-Federal resources and events are provided to ICC stakeholders for information purposes only.

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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 access other information pertinent to emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities.

To join, see 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, see www.disabilitypreparedness.gov.

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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 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 25 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 this role has been delegated to the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The Council has concentrated its work in nine major areas:

  1. Emergency Communications;
  2. Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace;
  3. Emergency Transportation;
  4. Health and Human Services;
  5. Homeland Security Policy and Operations;
  6. Housing;
  7. Nongovernmental Outreach
  8. Research; and
  9. State, Local, and Tribal Government Outreach

For more information about the ICC, see www.disabilitypreparedness.gov.

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