fema ri disability integration newsletter
TRANSCRIPT
Administrator’s Message
O F F I C E O F R E G I O N A L
A D M I N I S T R A T O R
S P R I N G 2 0 1 6
FEMA RI Disability Integration Newsletter
S P R I N G 2 0 1 6
FEMA’s mission is to support
our c i t i zens and f i rs t
responders to ensure that as a
nation we work together to
build, sustain, and improve our
capacity to prepare for, protect
against, respond to, recover
from, and mitigate all hazards.
FEMA’S MISSION
PAUL F. FORD REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
W elcome to the Spring edition of the
FEMA Region I Disability
Integration Newsletter! Spring is
often a time of renewal and we are proud to
continue our collaborations with you and
identify opportunities, set direction and
strengthen the execution of inclusive and
equitable emergency management throughout
the Region.
Your ongoing commitment to meeting
the needs of the whole community enhances
the development and implementation of
accessible and integrated emergency
management programs and services.
We are here as a resource for you to
provide guidance and technical assistance in
meeting physical, communication and
programmatic accessibility requirements and
to engage the whole community as integral
partners in support of your initiatives.
Please let our Regional Disability
Integration Specialist, Kate McCarthy-Barnett,
know if you have questions or requests for
inclusive emergency management training,
guidance, tools or strategies.
Thank you for your dedication to
accessibility and inclusion across all phases of
emergency management.
I NSI DE
THIS ISSUE:
Message from
Administrator
1
Spring
Flooding
2
Preparedness
Resources
3
Power of
Youth
Preparedness
4
Accessibility
Inclusion
5
Preparedness
Webinars
5
State
Highlights
6
Leadership
Spotlight
7
RI Disability
Integration
8
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
P A G E 2
Spring Flooding: Are You Prepared?
Spring brings the promise of warm weather and blooming colorful flowers but it can also come with an increased chance of flooding. Flooding is a coast to coast threat to the United States nearly every day of the year. If you know what to do before, during and after a flood, you can increase your chances of survival. Each year, more deaths occur due to flooding than from any other thunderstorm related hazard. Many conditions can result in a flood including hurricanes, overtopped levees, outdated or clogged drainage systems and rapid accumulation of rainfall.
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
What is the difference between a Flood Watch and a Flood Warning issued by the National Weather Service?
Flash Flood Warning: Take Action! A Flash Flood Warning is issued when a flash flood is imminent or occurring. If you are in a flood prone area move immediately to high ground. A flash flood is a sudden flood that can take from minutes to hours to develop. It is even possible to experience a flash flood in areas not immediately receiving rain.
Flood Warning: Take Action! A Flood Warning is issued when flooding is imminent or occurring.
Flood Watch: Be Prepared! A Flood Watch is issued when conditions are favorable for flooding. It does not mean flooding will occur, but it is possible.
Flood Advisory: Be Aware! A Flood Advisory is issued when flooding is not expected to be bad enough to issue a warning. However, it may cause significant inconvenience, and if caution is not exercised, it could lead to situations that may threaten life and/or property.
The National Weather Service provides flood maps, information describing the different types of
flooding, educational materials and resources on how you be aware of potentially dangerous
flooding situations.
The Centers for Disease Control reports that over half of all
flood-related drownings occur when a vehicle is driven into
hazardous flood water. Many of the deaths occur in automobiles
as they are swept downstream. It takes just 12 inches of rushing
water to carry away a small car, while 2 feet of rushing water can
carry away most vehicles. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into
flood waters.
P A G E 3
FEMA Wants You to Be Prepared Did you know nearly 60 percent of adults have not practiced what to do in a disaster by
participating in a drill or preparedness exercise at work, school or home in the past year?
P is a grassroots campaign to increase preparedness and resilience for
disasters. “Localized emergencies and disasters can be devastating to the families and communi-
ties that are facing them. So we are asking you, as part of America's PreparAthon, to take the
steps to get your family ready, get your business ready, get your community ready before
disaster strikes,” says Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. There are many easy and affordable
ways for families, organizations and communities to take action to be prepared for the coming
season and any pote ntial flood emergency. America’s PrepareAthon! How to Prepare for a
Flood brochure offers recommendations and ways to help you protect yourself, family and
valuables.
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
Sign up for local alerts/warnings, download apps
Develop and test emergency communication plans
Assemble or update emergency supplies
Conduct a drill to practice emergency actions
Participate in a preparedness training or class
Collect and safeguard critical documents
Make a plan for power outage
Plan for possible evacuation
Prepare for emergencies now: Information for
people with disabilities
Make property improvements to reduce potential
injury and damage
America’s PrepareAthon! has four primary goals.
The campaign aims to increase the number of people who:
1) Understand which disasters can happen in their community
2) Know what to do to be safe and mitigate damage
3) Take action to increase their preparedness
4) Participate in community resiliency
Spring Preparedness Resources
P A G E 4
Power of Youth Preparedness Young adults play an important role in disaster preparedness and have the unique potential to help their communities be safer, stronger and more resilient before, during and after a disaster. Youth preparedness programs provide young adults with the knowledge and skills they need to protect themselves if an emergency occurs and empowers them to bring home the message ofpreparedness and safety. There are many resources to assist with developing an accessible youth preparedness program. The FEMA Youth Preparedness: Implementing A Community Based Program provides information and resources to support preparedness programs and activities.
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
Tessa Egan exemplifies a young adult who is committed to emergency preparedness. As an intern with the Rhode Island Department of Health Office of Special Needs Internship Program, her work has focused on emergency preparedness. The internship program matches the strengths and interests of young adults who have a disability with a Department of Health program. Tessa serves as an intern for the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Tessa will be sharing her internship experience focused on emergency preparedness in a presentation at the 8th Annual Dare to Dream Student Leadership Conference on May 25th at the University of Rhode Island. Her presentation So, What’s Your Emergency Plan, will provide practical information and user friendly tools to assist young adults with disabilities to become better prepared for emergencies.
The Dare to Dream Student Leadership Conference provides students with disabilities the opportunity to examine the concepts of transition and to share experiences with other students. The primary goal of the conference is to help students gain self-determination and leadership skills. Participants learn valuable skills such as advocacy, teamwork, public speaking, time management and mentoring. An annual peer-to-peer self-determination conference, it has inspired thousands of students with disabilities to find their voice in self-advocacy, setting goals for achievement, and preparing for the tasks of adulthood.
Tessa Egan’s workshop at the Dare to Dream Student Leadership Conference will empower other young adults with disabilities to increase their knowledge and skills of emergency preparedness and remind them to always Dare to Dream. Congratulations Tessa on your hard work and being an out-standing role model for other students!
Do you know a young adult interested in learning more about emergency preparedness? FEMA Corps provides an exciting opportunity for young adults (ages 18-24 years old) to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to and recover from disasters while expanding career opportunities. During their 10 months of service, members gain experience in disaster services and support disaster survivors. For more information and the application process, visit the National and Community Service website.
P A G E 5
Advancing Accessibility & Inclusion
Mark Your Calendars: Emergency Preparedness Webinars
These FREE webinars will focus on key strategies and approaches at various levels (federal, state, and local) toward emergency management and preparedness and the inclusion of people with disabilities. The Pacific ADA Center provides additional information and registration.
FEMA Promising Practice: Disability Inclusion in Planning and Hawaii Personal Preparedness
on May 12, 2016
ADA National Network Learning Session: Cal OES Office of Access and Functional Needs
(OAFN) Web Map - Integration Through Innovation on June 9, 2016
ADA National Network Learning Session: Strategies for Effective Communication with People
who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in Emergencies on July 14, 2016
In May, the U.S. Access Board will release the next installment of its online guide to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA ) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA) Accessibility
Standards. The Guide to the ADA Standards covers design requirements for places of public
accommodation, commercial facilities, and state and local government facilities covered by
the ADA. The Guide to the ABA Standards addresses similar standards that apply under the
ABA to facilities that are designed, constructed, altered, or leased with federal funds.
Technical bulletins will explain and illustrate requirements, answer common questions, and
offer best practice recommendations.
Access to recreation facilities are
addressed in ADA and ABA standards:
Swimming pools
Sports facilities
Fishing piers
Boating facilities
Golf courses
Trails, picnic and camping sites
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
P A G E 6
Wellness
Matters
Region I State Highlights Disability organizations, agencies and State
and local partners continue to implement many outstanding initiatives.
Vermont: The CARE Program (Citizen Assis-tance Registration for Emergencies) identifies residents who may require assistance in an emergency. The information will be entered into a database linked to the E-911 system and the records are updated each year. Administered by the United Way of Vermont, Vermont 211 and E-911, they are asking for the community’s help to identify people who would benefit from the program.
Massachusetts: The E. K. Shriver Center at the University of Massachusetts Medical School recently presented to the National Interagency Coordinating Council Meeting, which consists of several Federal agencies, on Emergency Preparedness & Response Initiative: Whole Community Planning Tools.
Maine: Alpha ONE Center for Independent Living developed two preparedness documents to assist people with disabilities in planning for their safety in an emergency including shelter in place and go bag check-lists.
Connecticut: The Department of Health has updated the Connecticut Guide to Emergency Preparedness including a section focused on planning for people with disabilities. As part of the information, an Emergency Health Card isincluded to assist rescuers with information on what they need to know during emergen-cies such as a quick evacuation. In addition, they recently released a preparedness video for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
New Hampshire: The Institute on Disability/University Center for Excellence at the University of New Hampshire has compiled resources and information to help public health coordinators, emergency man-agement and response professionals increase their understanding of incorporating function-al based needs into accessible communica-tions, planning and shelters.
Rhode Island: Representatives from disability agencies, organizations, public health, non-profit and emergency management participated in a recent training, hosted by the RI Emergency Management Agency, focused on Incorporating Whole Community Planning into the Emergency Management Process.
Comments Welcome: Below right is the updated logo adopted by New York City and
elsewhere. Rather than depict a static person in a wheelchair, the new icon displays an active,
in-motion version. Share your thoughts. Send them to [email protected] for
publication in future newsletter.
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
P A G E 7
Spotlight on Leadership
Region I, is comprised of outstanding disability advocates and leaders. In this edition, we would like to recognize Carole Totzkay, Public Health Preparedness Planner at the NH Department of Health and Human Services.
After Hurricane Katrina, Carole Totzkay was a member of the NH
delegation who attended the National Conference on Emergency
Management and Individuals with Disabilities & Elderly in Washington,
DC. She returned from the conference highly motivated to include
people with disabilities in all phases of emergency management. Her
commitment to accessibility continued as a central theme in her work
ranging from leading the State's Public Health Emergency Prepared-
ness Mass Care Capability Workgroup, serving as Executive Board
Secretary for the New England Regional Mass Care Work Group,
establishing the State's first formal Multi-Agency Reunification Services
Plan Committee and organizing the state-led Functional Needs Guid-
ance Committee. Her leadership and contributions to emergency management provide a foundation to successful whole community
planning. Congratulations Carole on this well-deserved honor!
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R
Under the leadership of Director Bruce Fitzgerald, the Maine Emergency Management Agency
(MEMA) has implemented innovative strategies to integrate the whole community throughout
programs, policies and services. Over the years, MEMA has consistently been on the forefront of
initiatives ranging from being one of the first States to implement the Functional Needs Support
Services Guidance to developing a Disaster Response Interpreter Training for certified sign
language interpreters, which became a model training adopted by other States. In addition, the
Agency has an Access and Functional Needs Council and makes it a
priority to address the needs of people with disabilities as part of
planning, exercises and training. These are just a few examples of how
the Maine Emergency Management Agency exemplifies equitable and
accessible emergency management for the whole community.
Congratulations on your commitment to inclusive and integrated
emergency management!
Region I, also consists of emergency management professionals who are committed to
developing and implementing inclusive emergency management programs and services.
In this edition, we would like to recognize the Maine Emergency Management Agency.
P A G E 8
Please send any suggestions or items of interest to share in our next newsletter.
For questions or requests on inclusive emergency management guidance, training opportunities, strategies or alternate formats please contact:
Kate McCarthy-Barnett
FEMA Region I Regional Disability Integration Specialist
(617) 816-6351
How Can FEMA Region I Disability Integration Support You?
Provide whole community training and assist with the development and
implementation of integrated and accessible planning, programs, policies and
services
Provide technical assistance for physical, communication and
programmatic accessibility and provide options for meeting obligations
Collaborate on training to enhance agency understanding of
requirements, roles and responsibilities to achieving equitable and
accessible preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation initiatives
Provide inclusive emergency management guidance to ensure accessible
planning for Emergency Alerts and Notification, Evacuation and
Transportation, Shelters, Housing and Communications
Collaborate on strategies for integrating function-based needs into
planning, training and exercising and support disability and emergency
management workgroups and committees
F E M A R I D I S A B I L I T Y I N T E G R A T I O N N E W S L E T T E R