Slide 1:
Prepare for the Unexpected: Emergency Preparedness/ Evacuation for People with Disabilities
Carl T. Cameron, PhD, President
Inclusive Preparedness Center

Slide 2:
In a very dramatic fashion, recent events have reminded us that a major segment of our population have disabilities, and we still have a great deal to do to make sure these needs are addressed to the maximum extent possible…

Slide 3:
…and that many of the horrific events could have been mitigated by specific planning of planners, responders, service providers, advocates, and individuals with disabilities.

Slide 4:
Image of individual who uses a wheelchair floating on a rubber raft in a flooded area:

Slide 5:
Image of people in wheelchairs lined up to load onto buses in evacuation area

Slide 6:
Image of individual on a gurney being evacuated by helicopter

Slide 7:
Image of individual being lifted into a boat in flooded area

Slide 8:
Identification difficult/ loss of records
Medicaid access
Medications
Loss of durable medical equipment
Agencies loss of consumers & staff
Rejection from shelters
Separation from care providers
Supports provided by the disability community at large

Slide 9:
    Definition of Vulnerable Populations
 	
	People who, because of their special needs, cannot shelter in place, evacuate, maintain or recover during and following a disaster without additional and often specialized assistance from others.

Slide 10:
Definition of Special Needs from the National Response Framework (2008)
Individuals who before, during and after an incident May have additional needs in one or more of the following functional areas: 
Maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, and medical care 	including those:
	who have disabilities
	who live in institutionalized settings 
	who are elderly
	who are from diverse cultures
	who have limited English proficiency or who are non-English speaking
	who are children 
	who are transportation disadvantaged 

Slide 11:
What are the issues for people with disabilities  and other special needs?
Communication
Comprehension
Emergency warning
Assistance
Shelter in place
Evacuation
Support in Mass Care Shelters
Special Medical Shelters
Recovery
Participation

Slide 12:
Issues for shelter in place
Many individuals will not be able to readily secure location (i.e. closing windows, taping, food and water storage)
Some may have set living patterns and will not know where to go if it is different from routine
Many have respiratory problems 

Slide 13:
Issues for Evacuation
Identify and transport critical care articles to be included with evacuee (equipment, medications, special diet materials, TTY, etc.)
Find appropriate transportation
Communicate what is going to happen and where you are going

Slide 14:
Planning for a Disaster by Service Provider and Advocacy Organizations 

Slide 15:
Readiness vs. Preparedness
COMMUNITY READINESS
Organizations
Routines
Action then Writing

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Emergency Professionals
Emergencies
Written Plan then Action

Slide 16:
Chart showing progression of activity:
1) Leaders Initiate Readiness Cycle
2) Select Readiness Coordinator
3) Establish Working Group and Assess Current State of Readiness
Recruit members and organize
Complete readiness assessment
Set priorities for action
Document activities
4) Initiate Readiness Improvement Actions  
Mitigate immediate dangers
Expand existing drills, practices
Communicate with local responders
Coordinate with partner organizations
Inform members of your organization
Document activities
5) Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Persons Served and Staff of your organization
Survey all individual members
Collect SIP/Evac supplies and equipment
Conduct exercises to identify readiness strengths and weaknesses
Conduct drills and practices
Change organizational structures as needed
Obtain funding and other resources as needed
Document Activities
6) Training & Education
Include readiness training activities in existing training program
Develop new trainings for readiness linked with readiness routines
Develop and conduct internal exercises
Participate in local and regional exercises
Document activities
7) Evaluation, Documentation, and Establishing Routines
Combine documentation of activities into written plan for improving readiness
Evaluate readiness routines
Continue readiness cycle
Submit completed disaster readiness plan to authorities as required

Slide 17:
Establish Working Group and Assess Current State of Readiness
•	Recruit working group members and organize
•	Complete readiness assessment
•	Set priorities for action
•	Document activities

Slide 18:
Initiate Readiness
Improvement Action 
Mitigate immediate dangers
Expand existing drills, practice
Communicate with local responders
Coordinate with partner organizations
Inform members of your own organization
Document activities

Slide 19:
Identifying and Meeting the Needs of Persons Served and Support Staff
Survey all individual members
Collect SIP/ evacuation supplies & equipment
Conduct exercises to identify readiness strengths & weaknesses
Conduct drills and practices
Change organizational structures as needed
Obtain funding and other resources as needed
Document activities

Slide 20:
Training & Education
Include readiness training activities in existing training program
Develop new trainings for readiness linked with readiness routines
Develop and conduct internal exercises
Participate in local and regional exercises
Document activities

Slide 21:
Evaluation, Documentation, and Establishing Routines
Combine documentation of activities into written plan for improving readiness
Evaluate readiness routines
Continue readiness cycle
Submit completed disaster readiness plan to authorities as required

Slide 22:
Next Steps
Develop a inclusive planning team..
Develop the planning using a planning template..
Communicate the plan to the communities… 
Develop training and information sharing opportunities… 
Develop inclusive exercises and drills…
Look for opportunities to cooperate with other jurisdictions… 

Slide 23:
What does IPC do? 
Training and Information
Research
Technical Assistance to States, localities and organizations
Planning Templates

Slide 24:
Contact Information:
Inclusive Preparedness Center 
1010 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Suite 340
Washington, DC 20007
Phone:  202-338-7158
Fax:  202-338-7216
Email:  info@inclusionresearch.org