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Home > Monthly Updates > October 2007 Monthly Update
Monthly Updates - October 2007In This Issue
Category of Linkswww.disabilitypreparedness.gov Contact Usdisability.preparedness@dhs.gov ICC Monthly HighlightsPublic Comment Period for Draft National Response Framework Annex and ESF SectionsThe U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) public comment period on the Emergency Support Functions, Support and Incident Annexes and other appendices of the draft National Response Framework (NRF) ends on November 10, 2007. The public comment period provides an opportunity for interested parties to provide feedback on the draft document. The Framework, which focuses on response and short-term recovery, articulates the doctrine, principles and architecture by which our nation prepares for and responds to all-hazard disasters across all levels of government and all sectors of communities. It is responsive to repeated federal, state and local requests for a streamlined document that is shorter, less bureaucratic and more user-friendly. The Framework is intended for senior elected and appointed leaders, such as federal agency heads, state governors, mayors, tribal leaders and city managers. Simultaneously, it informs emergency management practitioners by explaining the operating structures and tools routinely used by first responders and emergency managers at all levels of government. The Framework incorporates a number of key recommendations from more than 700 individuals representing federal, tribal, state and local governments, non-governmental agencies and associations, and the private sector, who participated in a review process that began in September 2006. The Framework design is a result of repeated federal, state, and local requests for a streamlined document that is shorter, less bureaucratic, and more user-friendly. In addition to the core Framework, supporting documents, including Emergency Support Functions, Support and Incident Annexes and other appendices have also been updated, expanded and remain an integral part of the Framework. These documents are available at the newly created NRF Resource Center, which is available online at www.fema.gov/nrf. This resource center will be continuously updated as additional supporting materials are created or revised. Individuals who wish to submit comments can obtain instructions for submission online at www.fema.gov/nrf or www.regulations.gov. All public comments received by DHS will be posted on the Federal Docket Management System. Comments may be viewed online by searching for docket number FEMA-007-0007 at www.regulations.gov. During the comment period, the existing NRP remains in effect. FEMA’s National Advisory Council Holds Initial MeetingAdministrator David Paulison last week welcomed FEMA’s National Advisory Council (NAC) to its first meeting, thanking the members for their "time and willingness to serve," which he called "proof of your commitment not only to your own communities but to our nation." The council has 32 members from communities across the United States including disability representation by the National Organization on Disability. On the first day of the two-day meeting in Arlington, Va., Paulison reminded council members of their mission—“to ensure effective and ongoing coordination of national preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters.” He noted that the group is required to focus its attention on the development and revision of the national preparedness guidelines, the national preparedness system, the National Incident Management System, the National Response Framework, and other related plans and strategies. "This council will provide a venue for feedback, suggestions, and constructive criticisms from the diverse government, private sector, and nonprofit partners involved in any disaster activities," Paulison said. ICC Monthly UpdatesUS Department of Homeland SecurityDHS Participation in TOPOFF 4The U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with state and local governments conducted the largest and most comprehensive counterterrorism exercise to date. Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4) is the Nation’s premier terrorism preparedness exercise, involving top officials at every level of government, as well as representatives from the international community and private sector took place October 15-19, 2007 in Arizona, Oregon and the U.S. territory of Guam. More than 15,000 participants from all levels of government, international partners and the private sector participated in this full-scale, simulated response to radiological dispersal device attacks. The exercise addressed policy and strategic issues that mobilized prevention and response systems, required participants to make difficult decisions and carry out essential functions, and challenged their ability to maintain a common operating picture during an incident of national significance. As a result of CRCL’s ongoing participation, Claudia Gordon, Senior Policy Advisor, and Cindy Daniel, FEMA Disability Coordinator, were on-site at the Oregon venue as evaluators, focusing on issues that individuals with disabilities and other special needs would face during an emergency. Individuals with disabilities were actively recruited to enhance the exercise play through volunteering to be victims in Guam and Portland. These individuals allowed emergency responders to experience real world response to individuals with disabilities. Additionally, CRCL staff based in the Washington, DC metro area actively monitored and provided input to the exercise scenario as issues came up during play that impacted disability populations. As part of a DHS VIP briefing, Margaret Schaefer, CRCL Policy Advisor, presented CRCL involvement in the exercise and discussed ongoing policy development to benefit individuals with disabilities and other special needs. TOPOFF’s own Virtual News Network (VNN), modeled after CNN, did a feature story on effective emergency preparedness and response for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing with assistance from the Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In addition, during a live interview Ms. Gordon and Ms. Daniel discussed the impact of the disaster on individuals with disabilities. The full-scale exercise offers agencies and jurisdictions a way to test their plans and skills in a real-time, realistic environment and to gain the in-depth knowledge that only experience can provide. Lessons learned from the exercise will provide valuable insights to guide future planning for securing the Nation against terrorist attacks, disasters, and other emergencies. CRCL will continue involvement in the development of an After Action Report. CRCL is also an active contributor to the TOPOFF 4 Long Term Recovery Tabletop Exercise planning team. The goal of the long term recovery exercise is for participants to gain an increased awareness of issues surrounding recovery from a radiological incident and identify areas for potential improvement in relevant national policy, guidance, and plans. The tabletop exercise is scheduled for early December 2007. For more information on TOPOFF 4, visit the Department of Homeland Security Web site at www.dhs.gov/topoff4. DHS Participation in California Wildfires ReliefDHS staff closely monitored the developments associated with the tragic wildfires that swept across Southern California. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) worked proactively to secure information on the status of evacuation, sheltering, and care as related to individuals with disabilities, the elderly and other segments of the special needs population. CRCL communicated with several key ICC partners including HHS – Office on Disability, FCC, and with the FEMA Disability Coordinator. The FEMA Disability Coordinator continues to work from the Joint Field Office (JFO) in Pasadena, CA to respond to this disaster. In addition, CRCL made contact with members of the disability community in California and the American Red Cross. FEMA deployed a rapid response housing assistance unit or Tiger Team to conduct pre-operations planning and coordination to design and implement a comprehensive housing plan for evacuees. Working in tandem with the JFO and local and state officials in California, the Team will analyze evacuee housing requirements, and match these requirements to resources available throughout the Federal Government via the Joint Housing Task Force with an emphasis on ensuring the accessibility of housing assistance to those with special needs. This includes transitional and interim housing resources for evacuees including hotels/motels, friends/family outside of the affected areas, existing rental resources in the community, and manufactured homes. DHS Accessibility Help Desk Up and RunningThe DHS Office of Accessible Systems & Technology (OAST) has created a new department-wide Accessibility Help Desk to assist DHS employees with disabilities in meeting their accessibility and accommodation needs. The DHS Accessibility Help Desk serves as a single point of contact for all your accessibility needs: assistive technology needs assessments, training to improve the usability and accessibility of electronic documents, Web sites, IT systems and applications, e-learning, multimedia, and technical support. U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesUpdate on the Development of Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for State and Local PlannersUnder the leadership of the HHS Office on Disability and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), a web based training toolkit to support State and local emergency managers is in the final stages of development. The HHS Subcommittee continues to assess course content and provide subject matter expertise and review. The proposed web-based tool combines existing guidance and best practices based upon the points below:
In addition to the toolkit, HHS will also provide an introductory web based training module on disability. Initially, it will be used to educate HHS Public Health and civil service staff prior to their deployment to a disaster. The intent is to include the module in the toolkit for use by State emergency planners. The Office on Disabilities in partnership with ASPR is developing a plan of action for dissemination to the States when complete Shelter Assessment Tool A new Intake and Shelter Assessment Tool designed to facilitated triage for functional support at Red Cross shelters and HHS Federal Medical Shelters is being used in California during the ongoing wildfires. The Tool is designed to ensure that all persons are assigned to the shelter option that provides the best supports for maintaining independence Recently Released ResourcesPilot Training Program To Assist Individuals With Disabilities The World Institute on Disability (WID) and Bay Area chapter of the American Red Cross announced the creation of an innovative national training, awareness, and action program to train Red Cross staff and volunteers on how to better assist individuals with disabilities during times of disasters. Chicago, Houston, New Orleans and New York are a few prospective locations for the pilot program. Once the pilot program has been completed, the American Red Cross will commence training in 10 regions to 200-300 staff and volunteers. For more information please visit: http://www.wid.org CERT Program For Individuals With Disabilities Dorchester County in Maryland has offered its residents Community Emergency Response Training programs (CERT) since 2004. With a growing Latino population, Steve Garvin, a CERT coordinator for Dorchester County, is now offering Maryland’s first bilingual CERT program. Presently, the state of Maryland has requested that Steve Garvin draft a plan to adapt relevant training materials for individuals with disabilities who are interested in participating in the CERT program. For more information please visit: http://www.dorchestercntymd-ema.com/. Call for Papers: Humanity & Society Special Issue Humanity & Society invites submissions for a special issue dedicated to the study of the aftermath of the Hurricane Katrina-related evacuation for both evacuees and service providers both in New Orleans and in the cities where many evacuees have remained. This special issue, titled "Civil Society and the State: Katrina Evacuees and Services," will explore the ways in which Katrina evacuees interacted with service agencies, both public and non-governmental, and the nature and outcome of their experiences. Topics include but not limited to:
Manuscripts should not exceed 30 double-spaced pages of text, plus notes and references, and should follow the "Notice to Contributors" guidelines supplied at http://www.humanistsociology.org. Address queries to Laura Lein at lein@mail.utexas.edu. Deadline for submission is January 2, 2008. Upcoming EventsNovember 6-8, 2007 November 11-14, 2007 March 11-14, 2008 Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop 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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