43 rd annual governor’s conference on emergency management and homeland security accommodating...
TRANSCRIPT
43rd AnnualGovernor’s Conference on Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Accommodating Populations with Special Needs:
New Perspectives for Emergency Management
Michael Steinhauer Dane County Emergency Management Special
Populations Unit
Laura SchnickeMilwaukee County Emergency
ManagementSpecial Needs Emergency Shelter
Presented By:
Recent emergencies and disasters have increased awareness of
weaknesses in our planning for and responding to the needs of special
needs populations.
This awareness has prompted a sharp increase in the body of knowledge on the science of
effective emergency management for these people.
The OJA Catastrophic Planning Grant serves as an incubator,
taking best practices and standards and educating
stakeholders across Wisconsin.
Defining Special Needs Populations
THINK: functional challenges NOT: diagnostic categories
Any individual, group, or community whose physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, cultural, ethnic, socio-economic status, language, or any other circumstance creates barriers to understanding or the ability to act/react in the manner in which the general population has been requested to proceed.
EMERGENCY MANAGERS:
All emergency managers want to help all their
citizens. But many don’t know precisely what to do first
Only 20 percent of emergency managers have specific guidelines to
assist people with mobility impairments during emergencies
57 percent of emergency managers do not know how many people with mobility impairments live in their
jurisdiction
We need to learn to plan and work with citizens, and to take traditional planning beyond the
physical aspects of the response
Beyond: Putting out Fires, Search & Rescue, Debris Removal, Restoration of Power, Pass Systems, Opening Roads
2003 California wildfires: many were unable to see approaching danger or hear announcements to
evacuate. Some did not comprehend the danger. Emergency telephones at evacuation sites were not
equipped for people who were deaf and were not within reach of people in wheelchairs.
Barriers to think
about:
LEGISLATIVE AND REGULATORY DUTIES TO PLAN: Working with
People
•AMERICANS WITH DISABILTIES ACT
•CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS
•LICENSURE AND CERTIFICATION STANDARDS Federal and State
•GOVERNOR’S CHARGE OF 100% INCLUSION in PLANS
Federal, State and Local Expectations
DISABILITY ADVOCACY GROUPS ARE MOBILIZING TO ASSURE INCLUSION
City of Oakland, CA
SUIT SETTLED
City of Los Angeles, CA
SUIT PENDING
***MORE SUITS LIKELY***
The message is: emergency management
needs to work with people
HOW TO
Include Special Needs Populations into your
Emergency Preparedness Planning
Goal #1: Establish a commitment to work with the special needs
community to assist all individuals in becoming prepared for
emergency events.
Goal #2: Provide community agencies and special needs individuals with resources to
facilitate their planning.
Goal #3: Define and reach special needs individuals in your county through trusted
sources: community based organizations, faith based groups, county human service and public
health departments, home health agencies, census tracks, neighborhood groups,etc.
Tools & Options
Community Assessment
Licensed Facilities
Nursing Homes
Assisted Living
Living in the Community
Home Supports
Community Assessment
•Special needs specific to your community
• Who are they?
• Where are they?
• How prepared are they?
• What will their needs be?
• Create the trusted source partnerships for outreach
• Sheltering in Place
• Individual Preparedness
• Have a kit ready with medications, phone numbers, and other necessary items
• Prepare for your pets
• Establish reunification plans with loved ones
FEMA for Kids
Ongoing Community Education
A County Safety Net:Creation of a Local
Registry
•Voluntary
•Confidential
•Links to GIS or Manual Plotting System
•Links to Command Post
•First Tier: Portable accommodations via trailer to community shelters
•Second Tier: Mid-sized shelter capacity for special needs
•Third Tier: Large shelter for many individuals with special needs
A County Safety Net: A Tiered Approach
to Sheltering
Public Health Emergency Management
Human Services
Planning for at-risk populations
No one part of county government can do this alone
Collaboration is Key
EmergencyManagementPublic Health
Human Services
Planning for at-risk
Populations
Community Inclusion
Ensure that representatives from the special needs and disabilities communities are included in all phases of planning
Search By:• Disability• Hazard• Resource Format (video, pdf, etc)
• Target Audience
www.wi-bpdd.org
On Line Resource Library- “Disaster Preparedness
Central”
State and county governments have a legal obligation, but we all have a moral
obligation to enhance emergency and disaster planning for special needs
populations.
Contact us: We can help.
Contact Us:Dane County Emergency Management:
608-261-9943
Milwaukee County Special Needs Emergency Shelter
414-289-6805