Exploring Strategies and Exploring Strategies and

Solutions: Solutions: AT Reuse and AT Reuse and MitigationMitigation

                        

National Summit on Emergency Managementand Assistive Technology Reutilization

February 23-24, 2010

Your Mitigation PanelYour Mitigation Panel Edward Tanzman, Argonne National LaboratoryEdward Tanzman, Argonne National Laboratory June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy

ConsultantConsultant Bryan F. Vaughan, Executive Director, Bryan F. Vaughan, Executive Director,

Governor’s Commission on Disabilities (Florida)Governor’s Commission on Disabilities (Florida) Neil McDevitt, CEPINNeil McDevitt, CEPIN

Facilitator: Amy Goldman, Pennsylvania’s Facilitator: Amy Goldman, Pennsylvania’s Initiative on Assistive Technology/Pass It On Initiative on Assistive Technology/Pass It On CenterCenter  

What is What is mitigationmitigation??

Steps taken to prevent all possible Steps taken to prevent all possible hazards that may lead towards a hazards that may lead towards a disasterdisaster

Focuses on long-term tasks to reduce Focuses on long-term tasks to reduce or eliminate riskor eliminate risk

Can be structural or non-structuralCan be structural or non-structural Goal: Create safer communities, Goal: Create safer communities,

reducing loss of life and propertyreducing loss of life and property

What is mitigation?What is mitigation?

Is it the first or last step in Is it the first or last step in emergency management?emergency management?

Identify the potential hazard and Identify the potential hazard and evaluate the chances of the hazard evaluate the chances of the hazard resulting in a disaster affecting resulting in a disaster affecting people or propertypeople or property

Examples of MitigationExamples of Mitigation Enforcing building codes (flood-proofing, Enforcing building codes (flood-proofing,

seismic design, wind-bracing seismic design, wind-bracing requirements) for new construction requirements) for new construction

Retro-fitting public buildings to meet new Retro-fitting public buildings to meet new standards (e.g., hurricane winds or ground standards (e.g., hurricane winds or ground shaking)shaking)

Adopting zoning ordinances steering Adopting zoning ordinances steering development away from areas prone to development away from areas prone to flooding, erosion, storm surge, or forest flooding, erosion, storm surge, or forest firesfires

Building community shelters in public Building community shelters in public buildings and schools in certain areasbuildings and schools in certain areas

ResourcesResources

www.fema.gov/about/divisions/www.fema.gov/about/divisions/mitigation.shtmmitigation.shtm

www.nimsonline.com/emergency-www.nimsonline.com/emergency-management-mitigation-and-management-mitigation-and-preparedness.htmlpreparedness.html

Questions Questions

What does MITIGATION encompass?What does MITIGATION encompass? What are considerations in What are considerations in

MITIGATION for people with MITIGATION for people with disabilities?disabilities?

What are considerations for What are considerations for emergency planners addressing emergency planners addressing MITIGATION?MITIGATION?

QuestionsQuestions

How does AT factor into MITIGATION?How does AT factor into MITIGATION? What is the role of AT reutilization in these What is the role of AT reutilization in these

efforts?efforts? Are there current policies in place that Are there current policies in place that

facilitate access to AT/AT Reuse in facilitate access to AT/AT Reuse in MITIGATION? (Alternately, are there MITIGATION? (Alternately, are there current policies that are BARRIERS to current policies that are BARRIERS to accessing AT in MITIGATION?)accessing AT in MITIGATION?)

What NEW policies/systems need to be in What NEW policies/systems need to be in place for MITIGATION and AT reuse?place for MITIGATION and AT reuse?