cert conference march 6, 2014 kathryn a. gerk, richmond fire cert and

Improve your CERT Program by Incorporating People with Disabilities/Elderly & People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs

CERT Conference March 6, 2014

Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERTand

Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT

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Tips for Full Inclusion

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Introductions

Kathryn Gerk, CEM, Richmond Fire OES CERT

Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire CERT

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Welcome….

Do you know what PWD/e is?

Do you know what AFN is?

Have you incorporated AFN in your CERT program?

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What we will cover today:Basic ADA Issues and full inclusion for

CERT Programs

Challenges and best practices

The Good, the Bad & Misunderstood

CERT PWD/E Outreach Packet

GOAL AND PURPOSE

Raise the awareness of Seniors & PWD in CERT neighborhood plans

Improve Neighborhood Resilience

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Total Inclusion

FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate mandate

FULL Inclusion Planning Training Communications Transportation Response and Recovery

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ADA ISSUES; Tips and Best Practices

Always treat everyone with respect

People with Disabilities/Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing

Include them in your planning “Nothing about us without us”

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Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Training

Accessibility to ALL

Always identify your audience

At or BEFORE registration if possible Do you have any special requirements

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Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Training/Drills

ALWAYS Safety First – work with student – ask what they feel comfortable with and what they need

Consider CERT Workgroups bring Persons with Disabilities to table – include them in planning

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CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Basic ADA Issues and CERT Be Prepared - know your neighbors

– If you are not sure – ASK

SAFETY FIRSTAccessibilityMobility issuesLightingAudio

Lessons Learned from Past Disasters

Hurricane Katrina People left behind Unprepared and unable to fend for self Poor communications ability Disconnected from the community

11Superdome – Photograph Courtesy – Alison Wright

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Hurricane Sandy

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Issues Facing At-Risk Groups

Maintaining independence

Communication

Transportation

Supervision

Medical care

Esther 89 years old Lives alone Has no car, family lives out of state History of heart disease

Laura 5 years old Parents are undocumented

immigrants

James 35 years old Blind Lives with fiancée

Lessons LearnedHurricane

Katrina - 2005

• 73% of Hurricane Katrina-related deaths in New Orleans area were among persons age 60 and over, although they comprised only 15 percent of the population in New Orleans

• Most had medical conditions and functional or sensory disabilities that made them more vulnerable

AARP, We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters, 2006

Why get involved?

You know the people in your neighborhood

CERT Teams are in a unique position to help prepare

Planning before an emergency can save lives, reduce illness and injury

Doing something NOW is better than hoping for assistance after emergency

CERT Neighborhood Teams

CERT Buddy System

Preparedness for EVERYONE

Tips and Best Practices

How can CERT help?

Buddy System in the Neighborhood

CERT Training for all – Empower all

More Resilient Neighborhoods

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What are the benefits?

You can:

Identify strategies that empower PWD/E individuals to prepare for emergencies

Strengthen your CERT Neighborhood Team

More resilient community

CERT Buddy System

Pair up in the neighborhood –

Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster

CERT Buddy System

Strengthens the neighborhood

Speeds up recovery efforts

Preparedness for everyone

Basic Concepts

Neighborhood Teams – Everyone has a CERT job

Everyone has own “special needs”

BASIC CONSIDERATIONS

Know who your neighbors are

Include everyone in your planning efforts

Ask how everyone can help one another

Ask what neighbors need to be better prepared - Assistance? Collaboration?

Preparedness for everyone

Think ahead…make an emergency plan Communication during emergency

Make an emergency kit Does not need to be complicated or expensive

Stay informed Local emergency plans and services

Get involved Know your neighbors and check on those at-risk Join CERT Team

Personal Preparedness for PWD/E

Create an emergency support network

Work with providers and social support networks to develop contingency plans for an emergency

Complete and make copies of Vial of Life and carry a medications list in your wallet

Develop a transportation plan

Personal Preparedness for PWD/E

Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms

Work with providers and social support networks to develop contingency plans for an emergency

Develop food and fluid supply lists for special dietary needs

Pack a Go Bag with essential supplies

CERT Buddy System

CERT’s Pair up with Seniors and PAFN in neighborhood –

Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster

More resilient neighborhoods

Speeds up recovery efforts

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Disability vs. Ability

Mobility Communication Hearing Sight

Resilient Know the community Eyes & ears of

neighborhood Experience with

daily challenges

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Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Training

Work with Independent Living Resource Agencies

Develop relationships with Visiting Nurses Associations

Work with your local Operational Area and American Red Cross

Learn your district – Develop Relationships

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The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

The Good –

Everyone can have a position on a team

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The Bad

Don’t try and change the program because of the need, keep the program the same to assist with

the need

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The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Misunderstood

People with AFN can’t do CERT

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The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Exercises

Add them to your CERT Planning Team

Get them involved in creating the scenario

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Best Practices on how to incorporate

Network Network Network…

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Continuous Improvement

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4. Collaboratively Address the Action Items – Training & Drills

3. Develop Action Items

2. Build Work Groups

5. Review & Revise Actions

1. Assessment

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

Best Practices

Independent Living Resource Center Drill Santa Barbara County All CERT Drill in Lompoc,

CA

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Lessons Learned

Everyone can play a part

Knowing the limits of all your players

Understanding the facilities you are working and teaching in

Treat everyone as if there are no limits

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Best Practices – Richmond Fire OES

CERT Neighborhood Teams Neighbors helping

neighbors

CERT Buddy System

Neighborhood resilience

Emergency Kit

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CERT NEIGHBORHOOD PWD/E Outreach PacketsDeveloped by C8

CERT Seniors/ PWD Subcommittee

Grant from SUASI

Help improve preparedness for all

08/24/13 WC CERT PWD/E Workshop, Kathy_gerk@ci.richmond.ca.us

CERT NEIGHBORHOOD PWD/E Outreach PacketsDistributed across

CCC CERT’s

Asking CERT Neighborhood Teams to distribute

Collaboration helps everyone

Lessons Learned

Everyone needs to be prepared to increase everyone's chances for survival

CERT’s are THE “boots on the ground first responders”

Neighborhood resilience

Remember – PWD/E used to challenges – they are a resource to your neighborhood!

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CONCLUSION – We are all in this together

Right thing to do

Right time

For the Good of the whole community

CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

QUESTIONS?Thank You

Working together increases everyone's chances for

survival

Kathryn Gerk, CEM, Richmond Fire OES CERTKathy_gerk@ci.richmond.ca.us

Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire CERT YMcglinchey@SantaBarbaraCA.gov