REVIEW OF EMERGENCY OPERATION PLANS
President George W. Bush tasked DHS to conduct a review, in cooperation with local counterparts, of emergency plans in every major city in America. In a September 23, 2005 memorandum, Secretary Chertoff further ordered that the review include a rigorous examination of how these communities plan to prepare, inform, evacuate and help meet the needs of people with disabilities. CRCL has been actively providing input and advice in the review process, including a November 22, 2005 meeting with DHS Preparedness Directorate, Office of Grants and Training officials spearheading the process. On November 23, 2005, the Preparedness Directorate issued an Information Bulletin to all State Homeland Security Directors, State Administrative Agency Heads, State Administrative Agency Points of Contacts, and Urban Area Core City/Core County Points of Contact that incorporated much of the input on planning issues pertaining to special needs population and individuals with disabilities provided by CRCL. Notably, an October 3, 2005 letter from disability consumer and advocacy organizations representatives, which comprise the Council's Citizen Corps Subcommittee to the Office of Grants and Training, also encouraged the inclusion of disability criteria among the requirements for the FY2006 DHS Homeland Security Grant.
State and urban areas and/or major cities must conduct self-assessments using guidelines in Information Bulletin 197. Participation is a prerequisite for receipt of FY2006 DHS Homeland Security Grant funds. Among the self-assessment questions associated with catastrophic event planning that each grant applicant must answer is:
* What actions are being taken to fully address requirements for populations with special needs, particularly persons with disabilities?
* What actions are being taken to ensure prompt evacuation of patients (ambulatory and non-ambulatory) from health care or other facilities?
The self-assessment phase of the review process will be followed by on-site Peer Review visits to validate results and corrective action plans. As recommended by CRCL, "An ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities" is listed among the suggested references. To view this document, see:
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/emergencyprep.htm
The Preparedness
Directorate Information Bulletin 197 - pdf
The
Preparedness Directorate Information Bulletin 197 - html
Contact Megan Hogan either by telephone (202) 401-2569 or via email at
Megan.Hogan@associates.dhs.gov for a WORD version of this Bulletin.
CRCL continues to work in close coordination with the Preparedness Directorate, assisting in several other areas. Those areas include:
* Developing a Special Needs/Disability training that will become a component of the mandatory training for peer review teams;
* Providing a list of recommended special needs/disability subject matter experts for participation in the peer review teams;
* Providing disability specific statistics on the populations of people with disabilities in the cities, states, and territories to be visited; and,
* Reviewing and providing recommendations for changes to the State and Local Guide (SLG) 101: "Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning," 1996. This guide is used by State and local emergency management organizations in the development of State and local Emergency Operation Plans (EOP's).
HURRICANE KATRINA RECOVERY OPERATION
CRCL, along with several of its Interagency Coordinating Council partners, remains actively engaged in ongoing Hurricanes Katrina and Rita recovery efforts. The day-to-day involvement spans a number of critical areas including, but not limited to, accessible housing, timely and efficient handling of special needs/disability case management issues, and nursing home/institutionalization issues.
CRCL recognizes the strong desire for information regarding the status
of issues specific to special needs evacuees, including evacuees with
disabilities and how these issues are being addressed. CRCL will work
with colleagues in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to
make regular updates available.
Below is a "snapshot" of some of the activities and developments. The ICC:
* Has provided briefings, including recommendations, to DHS Secretary Chertoff, Acting FEMA Director Paulison, and Principal Federal Officer (PFO) Admiral Allen on the issues affecting the special needs population, including people with disabilities affected by the hurricanes.
* Has initiated Hurricane Katrina "lessons learned" report writing phase.
* Has established an "accessible housing task force" by several ICC partners including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
* Has collaborated with DOJ and HUD to revise specification for the manufactured housing units purchased by FEMA. The revised specs make units far more accessible for people with mobility disabilities. FEMA is now using the revised specs. Additionally, FEMA leadership decided in late October 2005 that 14 percent of the total number of manufactured units it procured will be accessible.
* Is collaborating with the FEMA Baton Rouge Joint Field Office (JFO) and FEMA housing contractors to finalize plans for the hiring of an architect with accessibility expertise to work with staff and contractors to prevent and resolve accessible housing issues.
* Is working with FEMA JFO's and Headquarters leadership to improve efficiency in the handling of special needs/disability issues, including timely and appropriate review and follow-up to case management issues. Although much work remains, there has been noticeable progress in this area.
COLLABORATION WITH THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
Representatives from the National Office of the American Red Cross (ARC) met with CRCL Director Daniel Sutherland, CRCL Attorney Advisor Claudia Gordon, and FCC official and ICC Emergency Communications Subcommittee Chair Cheryl King in October 2005 to discuss issues that arose regarding the treatment of people with disabilities in ARC shelters following Hurricane Katrina. The ICC representatives shared information received first hand from the field and reports from advocacy groups. The Red Cross demonstrated a strong willingness to change policy to rectify the situation. Immediate actions include the development of the Disaster Operation Guidance, "Helping to Meet the Needs of Evacuees with Disabilities," which the ARC is moving through its internal approval process. Each step of the way, it has been enthusiastically received.
In addition, Jennifer Johnson and Margaret Schaefer from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) participated in a conference hosted by ARC and National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD). The conference brought together volunteer organizations representing a variety of special needs groups (i.e., those from language, minority, disability, and other constituencies) to understand how they can effectively collaborate during a disaster response. A follow up to that conference was the development of a working group to tackle specific issues identified during conference breakout sessions. The working group met to expand upon recommendations from the conference that may lay the foundation for new disaster response policies and procedures. ARC is compiling the results and will distribute them to the working group.
TOP OFFICIALS (TOPOFF) EXERCISES
CRCL actively participated in the development of TOPOFF 3 Full Scale Exercise After-Action Report submitted to Secretary Chertoff. Within that report was contained a Remediation Action Plan which (among other things):
* Identified shortfalls, which the exercise did not sufficiently address and
* Recommendations to correct those issues.
The primary concern was that the exercise did not sufficiently address the needs of people with disabilities in exercise planning, play, delivery, or in the accommodation of observers with disabilities. Recommendations were made to remediate these issues during TOPOFF 4 by:
* Identifying individuals with disabilities, advocacy groups, and
emergency preparedness experts to assist in exercise planning and the provision
of actors for realistic play.
* Including a community of individuals with disabilities in exercise scenario and play (i.e. specifying that a school for the deaf or a nursing home is in the area affected in the scenario).
* Working with Section 508 coordinators and CRCL to ensure maximum accessibility and accommodation for observers and players in TOPOFF 4 and intermediate exercises.
CRCL is working with the DHS Office of Grants and Training, Preparedness Directorate through provision of technical expertise in TOPOFF 4 exercise scenario development. On January 4-5, 2006, CRCL representatives participated in a TOPOFF 4 Concept Conference, which will ultimately impact State planning conferences, Senior Officials Exercises, a Command Post Exercise, and Full-Scale Exercises. The culmination of the TOPOFF 4 Cycle will be a Large-Scale Exercise to take place in Arizona, Oregon, and Guam and will address medium and long-term recovery issues.
AVIAN FLU TABLETOP EXERCISE
As a result of CRCL participation in the TOPOFF Exercise After-Action Report development, exercise planners invited CRCL to provide feedback into the Avian Flu Senior Official Exercise scenario and to attend the tabletop exercise. This high-level strategic planning exercise tested interagency interoperability and helped identify potential gaps in national preparedness.
HARKIN PRESSES FOR STRONGER EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Washington, D.C. On Friday, December
16, 2005 Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced S. 2124, the Emergency Preparedness
and Response for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2005. (See
http://www.aapd.com/News/legislature/S2124.htm for
Bill details.) The legislation will address the needs of individuals with
disabilities in emergency planning and relief efforts. "Hurricane
Katrina's aftermath has shown us that we need to have a better emergency
response plan, especially one that includes preparations for assisting
people with disabilities," said Harkin. "This
bill is an important step to ensure that the needs of disabled Americans
will be addressed in case of an emergency." Under this legislation,
a Disability Coordinator would be created in the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security, who will report directly to the Secretary. The Coordinator would
be responsible for:
* Working with local, state and federal authorities about the needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency planning and relief;
* Developing a curriculum for first responder training on the needs of individuals with disabilities;
* Ensure telephone hotlines and websites containing information
about evacuations are accessible; and
* Provide guidance about the rights of individuals with disabilities regarding post evacuation residence and relocation, among other things.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2005 will also require that 30 percent of temporary housing for disaster victims be accessible and usable by individuals with disabilities, and will provide incentives to create more accessible housing during reconstruction efforts.
Harkin is a longstanding advocate for individuals with disabilities in the U.S. and has worked tirelessly to call attention to disability rights. He was the chief sponsor of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), landmark legislation that seeks equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for millions of Americans with physical and mental disabilities.
Source: http://www.aapd.com/News/legislature/S2124.htm
UNDER SECRETARY FOR PREPAREDNESS AT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONFIRMED
On December 20, 2005, DHS Secretary Chertoff announced the confirmation of George W. Foresman as the new Under Secretary for Preparedness. Mr. Foresman will begin his tenure with DHS this month. Secretary Chertoff stated in a memo to DHS employees that, "As part of the Second Stage Review (2SR), I introduced a new structure to revamp and bolster our preparedness efforts, which included a new Directorate for Preparedness. Mr. Foresman's appointment is a critical step in standing up this new directorate and consolidating the Department's existing preparedness efforts."
Mr. Foresman brings to his new role more than 20 years of senior management emergency preparedness experience, working on local, State, and Federal public safety and national security issues. Most recently, he served as an Assistant to the Governor of Virginia for Commonwealth Preparedness and was responsible for the Commonwealth's emergency and disaster preparedness activities, including coordination with the private sector. He was also a member of a bi-partisan National Advisory Panel, which was established by Congress to advise the President and Congress on ways to improve preparedness.
DISABILITY ORGANIZATION RECEIVED HURRICANE KATRINA CASE MANAGEMENT GRANT
Last month, it was announced that the protection and advocacy membership organization -- National Disability Rights Network (NDRN) (see http://www.napas.org) is among the ten social service and voluntary organizations that will make up Katrina Aid Today. The consortium of ten agencies is sharing a $66 million federal grant for providing case management services to 100,000 families displaced by Gulf Coast hurricanes.
About the grant: United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), in cooperation with the National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster (NVOAD) received US Government funding to develop a national Case Management Consortium (NCMS) to provide case management funding for people impacted by Hurricane Katrina still residing in the affected states and the evacuated across the nation. In an effort to foster long term recovery, the goal of the project is for Consortium members to recruit, hire and deploy case managers in a coordinated pattern across the US to reach the target of 100,000 cases requiring long term recovery assistance over a 2-year period. Funds are provided through FEMA from international contributions received for the recovery of Hurricane Katrina. The UMCOR\NVOAD proposal which was approved by FEMA is posted at http://www.katrinaaidtoday.org and http://www.nvoad.org for the interest of any prospective NCMC member organization.
Visit http://www.disasternews.net/news/news.php?articleid=2992 for more information.
NIDRR DIRECTOR TINGUS ANNOUNCEMENT RELEASING "EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES FROM BUILDINGS: 2004 CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS"
On December 7, 2005, the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education announced the availability of the accessible version of "Emergency Evacuation of People with Physical Disabilities from Buildings: 2004 Conference Proceedings." This report summarizes the deliberations and recommendations of an Interagency Subcommittee on Technology workshop held October 13-14, 2004. The two-day workshop provided a forum for discussion on research recommendations to improve available data, building and life safety codes, evacuation technologies, and evacuation practices for people with physical disabilities.
To obtain a PDF version of the final report and recommendations, visit:
http://www.icdr.us/documents/pwd-emergency-evac.pdf
and, for an MS Word version of the final report and recommendations, visit:
http://www.icdr.us/documents/pwd-emergency-evac.doc
These links will direct you to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. This information is provided for the reader's convenience. The U.S. Department of Education is not responsible for controlling or guaranteeing the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this information. Further, the inclusion of information or addresses, or Web sites for particular items does not reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed or products or services offered.
Source: Steven Tingus, Director of the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/index.html) in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS (http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/index.html) at the U.S. Department of Education. By email December 7, 2005.
RELEVANT UPCOMING EVENTS/MEETINGS
* Tuesday, January 10, 2006: Meeting of the ICC Points
of Contact. The meeting, sponsored by CRCL, will take place from 9:30 a.m.
to 12:00 p.m. at the Federal Communications Commission; 445 12th St.,
S.W., Room 3-B516. Agenda items include the Hurricane Katrina after-action
report and next steps regarding the ICC Subcommittee recommendations
and priorities set in year-one. If you have any questions about this
meeting or to RSVP, please contact Megan Hogan either by telephone (202)
401-2569 or via email at Megan.Hogan@associates.dhs.gov, no later than
Friday, January 6, 2006.
* Wednesday, January 11, 2006: Meeting of the Interagency Coordinating Council Research Subcommittee. Hubert Humphrey Building at HHS, 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 607-G, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The meeting is for Federal partners only. Beth Fuller of Columbia University will present research issues that came out of the recent Consensus Conference on Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities, (December 13-15 at the Watergate Hotel, Washington, DC). There will be discussion on funding for research in the area of emergency preparedness and disability, and the possibilities of other Federal agencies and departments co-funding such research will be explored. A comprehensive draft list of research needs in the area of emergency preparedness and disability will be reviewed and supplemented based upon feedback received and the research needs of individual Federal agencies and departments. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Ryan at ICDR@CESSI.NET.
* Tuesday, January 17, 2006: Emergency Preparedness and Veterans with
Disabilities,
Disabled American Veterans National Headquarters, 807 Maine Avenue, S.W.,
Washington, DC, 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Outreach efforts spearheaded by Ollie Cantos, Department of Justice (Chair: ICC Technical Assistance and Outreach Subcommittee) and Cheryl King, Federal Communications Commission (Chair: ICC Emergency Communications Subcommittee) will culminate in a meeting on January 17th aimed at mobilizing the participation of, and outreach to, veterans with disabilities, their family members, and caregivers on planning for emergency response and recovery. The collaborative dialogue began back in July 2005, following the participation of Tom Zampieri, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Blinded Veterans of America in an ICC quarterly meeting. Cheryl King stated, "We have this valuable opportunity to communicate with the people who represent 2.4 million American Legion members, 2.2 million plus Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members, 1.8 million Disabled American Veterans, and 450,000 AMVET members. The other organizations vary from Blinded Veterans of America with 10,000 members up to 40,000 Paralyzed Veterans of America. Not only is this a readily available audience of persons with disabilities to whom we can provide technical assistance and outreach, these veterans will be excellent participants in emergency planning, response, and recovery efforts in their communities, because as a result of their military training they will come to the table with a degree of organizational knowledge and experience that could be valuable at all stages of emergency planning, response and recovery." The January 17th agenda is forth coming. For more information, please contact Cheryl King at Cheryl.King@fcc.gov or Ollie Cantos at Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov.
* Tuesday, January 17, 2006: ICC Technical Assistance and Outreach Subcommittee Meeting at the main headquarters of the U.S. Department of Justice, 950 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Room 5740 (note the change in room number from 5742 in the past). Meeting will commence at 2:00 p.m., and the key agenda item will be next steps in implementing the recommendations in the year-one Report to the President. Particular attention will be given to expansion of content for the existing Emergency Preparedness Resource Center and other efforts to minimize duplication between and among entities from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. For further information, email Ollie Cantos at Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov.
* Thursday, January 19, 2006: Quarterly meeting of the ICC National Citizen
Corps
Subcommittee. The meeting, sponsored by CRCL, will take place from 9:30
a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will be held at the Paralyzed Veterans of America
(PVA)
offices, located at 801 18th Street, NW in Washington, DC. PVA is located
near the Farragut West (Orange and Blue lines) Metro Station. The meeting
agenda be devoted primarily to discussion and input on the Hurricane Katrina
Lessons Learned and Remedial Action report.
* Thursday, January 19, 2006: ICC Workplace Subcommittee Meeting at DOL/ODEP, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The agenda and supporting materials will be forthcoming. For further information, contact Chairperson Brian Parsons at Parsons.Brian@dol.gov.
* TBA - Week of January 23, 2006: ICC Transportation Subcommittee Meeting at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters. DOT and the Emergency Transportation Subcommittee recently announced that their priority for the upcoming months will be the development of guidance for transit agencies on addressing the needs of people with disabilities during an emergency. For further information, contact John Benison at John.Benison@dot.gov.
* Thursday, February 9, 2006: National Citizen Corps Subcommittee Meeting. In Washington, DC, the National Citizen Corps Subcommittee has reserved a full day meeting on February 9 focused on the National Council followed by a half day meeting on February 10 for Affiliates. For further information, contact Claudia Gordon at Claudia.Gordon@dhs.gov.
* Saturday - Wednesday, February 11-15, 2006: NEMA Mid-Year Conference,
Alexandria, VA. This forum provides an opportunity for National Emergency
Management
Association (NEMA) conference participants to discuss challenges, share
solutions, and network with peers. Speakers will include those involved
in shaping the future of homeland security and emergency management. It
is NEMA's goal to enhance the overall capabilities of emergency management
to meet the challenge of any and all disasters facing our country. The
conference will be held at the Hilton Alexandria Mark
Plaza, Alexandria, VA. For more information and on-line registration, go
to:
or
https://email.dhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.nemaweb.org
* Monday-Friday, April 10 - 14, 2006: 2006 National Hurricane Conference at the Rosen Center in Orlando, Florida. The primary goal of the National Hurricane Conference is to improve hurricane preparedness, response and recovery in order to save lives and property in the United States and tropical islands of the Caribbean and Pacific. In addition, the conference serves as a national forum for federal, state and local officials to exchange ideas and recommend new policies to improve emergency management. Several members of the Interagency Coordinating Council will attend this conference and Daniel Sutherland has been invited to speak at one of the Plenary Session. For more information and registration please visit: