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WHEN
DISASTER
STRIKESE M E R G E N C Y P R E PA R E D N E S S F O R S TAT E
A N D L O C A L G OV E R N M E N T S
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TRAINING
OBJECTIVES
1. Develop an in-depth understanding of ADA Title II and other
disability rights laws as it applies to emergency planning and
programs
2. Apply disability rights laws as it relates to animals,
transportation, communication, physical and programmatic
access
3. Develop inclusive practices and policies for emergency
preparedness
4. Identify local and state partners, organizations, and community
members to collaborate with to ensure inclusive and effective
emergency preparedness
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OVERVIEW
• People with Disabilities make up nearly 20% of the U.S. population, or 59
million people*
• Between January 2017 and January 2018 (12 months total) there were
approximately 124 disasters. This number only includes disasters
declared by FEMA.**
• Hurricane Harvey: Older adults trapped in waist high-water in a nursing
home in Dickinson, Texas
• Hurricane Maria: Evacuees, dependent on electricity, from Puerto Rico
are still on the mainland in hospitals due to continued power outages in
their towns
• Volcanic Eruptions in Hawaii: Deaf individuals staying in homes due to
lack of video phones in shelters*25 Commandments for Disability Inclusion and Universal Accessibility Before, During and After Disasters, The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster
Strategies, June 26, 2017
**Disasters, Total Number of Declared Disasters: by State/Tribal Government and by Year, https://www.fema.gov/disasters#3
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WHO TO CONSIDER
People with Access and Functional Needs:
• Older adults
• Children
• Women in late stages of pregnancy
• People with temporary disabilities
• People with limited transportation
• Limited literacy
• English as a second language
People with Disabilities:
• An individual with one or more physical or mental impairments that
substantially limits one or more major life activities or bodily functions
• Record of having a disability as defined above
• Regarded as having a disability4
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THE LAWS
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• Rehabilitation Act of 1973
• Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
• Stafford Act of 1988
• Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006
• Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988
• Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1975
• Telecommunications Act of 1996
• Twenty-first Century Communications and Video
Accessibility Act of 2010
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THE REHABILITATION ACT OF
1973 [SECTION 508]
• Federal agencies must make their electronic and
information technologies accessible to people with
disabilities
–Including State and Local Governments receiving
Federal funds
• Apps on smart phones
• Alert messages on websites
• Alerts sent through phones and e-mails6
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THE AMERICANS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)
Title II:
• Applies to all State and Local Governments
• Before, During and After a Disaster:
Effective Communication
Physical Accessibility
Programmatic Accessibility
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POST KATRINA EMERGENCY
MANAGEMENT REFORM ACT
OF 2006
• Requires the President to issue regulations that prohibit discrimination
based on disability in disaster assistance
• (Sec. 213) Amends the Stafford Act to direct the Administrator of FEMA
to appoint a Disability Coordinator to ensure that the needs of
individuals with disabilities are being properly addressed in emergency
preparedness and disaster relief
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LET’S REVIEW
IN DETAIL…
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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
Announcements: include
real-time captioning and
American Sign Language
interpreters on screen
and visible
Talk to your
local news
reporters and
videographers
ahead of time
Produce both
written and
verbal
communication
Ensure that alert
systems are 508
compliant and
work
Provide appropriate
interpretations in
various languages
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ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION
• Create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with agencies that
oversee:
– School buses
– Paratransit vans and vehicles
– Taxi cabs
– Train systems
– Airlines
• Provide accessible transport during evacuation, to and from a shelter,
to and from medical facilities, and upon return to places of stay
• Modify policies to allow pets and emotional support animals on board
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ANIMALS
• Service animals must be allowed in all entities where the public can go
• Emotional support animals must be allowed in shelters or other housing
options
• Try to co-locate individuals with their animals
• Work with your local ASPCA to create a procedure for when an emergency
happens
• Partner with your local Department of Health to create onsite medical
services for all animals
• Service animals, emotional support animals, and pets should NEVER be
left behind or separated from their owner
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PHYSICAL AND
PROGRAMMATIC ACCESS
• Identify local accessible buildings prior to a disaster
• Identify multiple shelters across neighborhoods
• Create a tier system to rate accessibility of buildings
– Allows for individuals to look at list of identified buildings to see what
level of accessibility is offered
• Path of travel
– Ensure an individual can enter and exit the shelter
– Ensure an individual can move around the shelter and access all
programs, bathrooms, food areas, water fountains, and telephones
• Modify policies and procedures as needed
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APPLYING MULTIPLE LAWS
• Reinforce that there are multiple laws that apply during a disaster to
all staff and volunteers
• Ensure that staff, all agencies, and volunteers are:
– Educated on the area’s disaster preparedness plan
– Fully trained in resources available in the community
– Trained on disability rights laws
• During planning and preparation stays, include all laws that are
applicable
• State anti-discrimination laws may also apply
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WHERE TO BEGIN…
• Bring community members with disabilities, the aging population, and
those with Access and Functional Needs to the planning table
• Create goals and initiatives based off of the feedback from the
community
• Work with local emergency management agencies, volunteers, and
partners
• Identify the largest barriers facing the whole community
• Meet frequently to ensure plans, policies, and practices are up-to-date
and the most effective for when a disaster occurs
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
• Community Independent Living
Centers (CIL)
• The Developmental Disability
Council
• Grass Roots Disability Rights
Organizations
• Community partners of Columbia
Lighthouse for the Blind
• Organizational Affiliates of the
National Association of the Deaf
• Protection and Advocacy Agency
• Local Veterans groups
• Local UCEDD (University Centers
for Excellence in Developmental
Disabilities, Education, Research
and Service)
• Local student-run disability groups
• Senior Wellness Centers
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THE CMIST MODEL*
•Communication
•Maintaining Health
•Independence
•Support, Safety, and Self determination
•Transportation
*Created by June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant 17
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INCLUSION AND
INTERSECTIONALITY MATTER
• People with disabilities are often faced with various types of barriers
throughout their life. Because of this we are more often than not creative
in finding ways around these barriers and we tend to know what it is that
we need
• This thinking process allows for individuals with disabilities to provide
unique ideas and solutions to arising issues prior to, during, and after a
disaster
• Because disability crosses all communities, many individuals may offer
skills such as interpretation of another spoken language, sign language,
expertise in technologies, and cultures
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COMMUNITY RESILIENCE IS
IMPORTANT BECAUSE…
It keeps our families and
neighbors safe
Resources are limited during and
after an emergency
People with disabilities can be experts in adapting and
problem solving
We are stronger together
Some individuals may
need support from their
community
It reduces reliance on government
entities
It reduces
stress on
health care
and response
systems
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COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS
CRITICAL
• Host emergency preparedness events and workshops in community-
based settings
• Engage your disability community partners
• Encourage your colleagues, neighbors, religious affiliates, family and
friends to join you
• Including children is just as important as including adults
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ASK YOURSELF…
• Does your community know emergency routes and evacuation
plans?
• Does your community know where to find the closest shelter?
• Does your community know where to look, listen, or find
announcements?
• Does your community know what to include in a disaster
preparedness kit?
• Does your community know which emergency clinic, hospital,
and gas stations are in the area?
• Is your community prepared?21
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REGISTRIES, DATABASES, AND
MYTHS, OH MY!
• Registries often give a false sense of security and expectation by
registrants
• There is a large difference between registrant expectation and
responder capacity
• If you offer a registry or database for individuals:
– Include language explaining that it does not guarantee assistance
or rescue
– Include language explaining that individuals should also have a
preparedness plan in place
– Repeat the above if necessary22
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LET’S DISCUSS
QUESTIONS AND
COMMENTS
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JULIA WOLHANDLER
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Office Phone: 202-727-2890
JESSICA HUNT
• E-mail: [email protected]
• Office Phone: 202-727-0287
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THE DC OFFICE OF DISABILITY
RIGHTS
Website: http://odr.dc.gov
Phone: 202-724-5055
TTY: 202-727-3363
Fax: 202-727-9484
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: DCODR
Twitter: @DCODR
Location: 441 4th Street NW, Suite 729 North, Washington DC
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