Title:Challenges and Opportunities Marianne C. Jackson Federal Coordinating Officer FEMADHS Virginia Depar
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The call is toll-free. Multilingual operators are available. When you call youll need ... For people using a wheelchair accessible rental housing is usually the ...
Title: Challenges and Opportunities Marianne C. Jackson Federal Coordinating Officer FEMADHS Virginia Depar
1 Challenges and Opportunities Marianne C. JacksonFederal Coordinating OfficerFEMA-DHS Virginia Department of Emergency ManagementCommunity Based Emergency Response SeminarMay 2007
Preparing for All Abilities
2 WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO
Define Special Needs
Identify trends for older adults (65)
Look at stats for people with disabilities
Identify and talk about available resources
Review the FEMA process for obtaining assistance
Look at some of the post-Katrina reforms
3 DEFINITION
Special Needs Needs of individuals that impact their ability to carry out the independently activities of daily living such as mobility impairments cognitive or mental health impairments sensory impairments (e.g. hearing speech and vision) disaster-caused loss of essential medications or durable medical equipment or other factors that impair the persons ability to function independently.
4 DEFINITION While age is not necessarily a defining factor many individuals age 65 years and above may be affected by one or more of the cited situations and therefore require assistance for their Special Needs. 5 POPULATION HISTORY 65
1900 - 3.1 million
1930 - 6.7 million
1960 - 16.7 million
2000 - 34.7 million
Also the population went from mostly rural in 1900 to mostly urban (29) and suburban (48) in 2000. 6 MORE WOMEN THAN MEN 7 AND IT CHANGES AS WE AGE 8 LETS LOOK AT THE IMPACT
Often on fixed income
Often high medical costs little or no insurance
May seldom go places (no money or frugal)
May not have or cant afford transportation
Very often no computer or Internet access
Some less able to advocate (can be language educational and cultural barriers)
9 Please dont forget... many older adults are not dependent on anyone and are healthy vigorous and active.
Some however are less independent for reasons such as health income isolation and even fear.
10 SO THERE WE HAVE IT
The older adult population is sizeable
Often low and/or fixed income
May be isolated fearful of strangers
More health issues perhaps immobile
Generally more medical expenses
Low threshold for technology
Now - hit by disaster
11 WHATS THE MINDSET
Ive lost my possessions many of which represent my life (photos family artifacts)
Ive lost my independence and control
Ive lost my pride (Im dependent on others)
I may be in an emotional and debilitating depression
12 PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Total population in the US over 281 million
Almost 50 million
Thats 19 or one out of every five
Includes mobility lifting hearing vision and cognitive challenges
34 million use assistive technology devices
About one fourth of those with a disability use a wheelchair
13 DISABILITIES AND AGE
As we age limitations on activities of daily living (ADLs) often occur (e.g. eating bathing and bathroom use dressing managing money using the telephone)
Although the percent of older adults with a severe disability is decreasing the number is increasing.
In 2000 the percentage of non-institutionalized older adults with a severe disability was 33.4
In 2000 the percentage of non-institutionalized older adults with any type of disability was 52.5
14 QUESTIONDo you think individuals with special needs are prepared for a disaster
LETS BE MORE SPECIFIC
What about individuals in your community
What about each individual you know
What about you
15 CRITICAL PROBLEM
What is the most critical individual and overall problem facing both older adults and people with disabilities after a disaster
COMMUNICATION
16 FOR EXAMPLE
In NYC when the WTC towers collapsed
Roads were blocked
Public transportation shut down
Phones and TVs did not work
Multiple emergency numbers were publicized
Newspapers couldnt be delivered and
The new OEM building was destroyed.
17 AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Federal agencies (FEMA DHHS AOA etc.)
State staff resources and programs
City county and/or township too
Advocacy groups for people with disabilities and older adults (Local State and National)
Faith-based organizations
National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
18 www.rtcil.org 19 NATIONAL ADVOCACY NETWORKS
Protection and Advocacy System (PAS)
United States Access Board (and UFAS)
National Organization on Disability (NOD)
Amer. Assn. For Retired People (AARP)
Centers for Independent Living (CIL)
National Aging Information Center (NAIC)
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
National Council of Senior Citizens (NCSC)
20 DISASTER WEBSITES TOO
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD)
Church World Service (CWS)
Disaster News Network (DNN)
American Red Cross (ARC)
National Hurricane Center (NWS/NOAA)
Disaster Finder (a NASA search service)
21 WHOS RESPONSIBLE
In a disaster who ultimately has the greatest impact on an adult individuals safety and security
Family
Neighbors
Friends
Church synagogue mosque
Advocacy or community organizations
Actually its none of the aboveits the individual
The goal is to maximize self-sufficiency
22 INDIVIDUAL DISASTER PLAN
Discuss emergency/evacuation plans with family
Decide how to stay in contact if separated
Post crucial information by the telephone
Know location of valves and how to shut off utilities
Keep medications (and a list) in a container together
Think about extra medical equipment needed (batteries oxygen needles special instructions etc.)
23 HOW CAN YOU HELP
Plan plan plan
Clarify your role. How can you help meet needs after a disaster (i.e. food water evacuation transportation medical services sheltering long term housing etc.)
Identify the medical and equipment needs (i.e. oxygen medications crutches wheelchair etc.)
Review how your efforts fit with the efforts of others
Keep your client database up-to-date
Help clients put together a 72 hour survival kit
24 MORE INFORMATION
There are several excellent documents available to help create individual disaster plans. Below is a list of just a few such resources.
FEMA Are You Ready A Citizens Guide to
Preparedness
FEMA and ARC A Checklist for People With Mobility Problems
NOD Guide on the Special Needs of People With Disabilities for Emergency Managers Planners Responders
25 A FEDERAL DECLARATION
Local and State entities are the first responders
Request for federal disaster aid made by Governor
President approves a major disaster declaration
Eligible counties are specified
FEMA Teleregistration is publicized
(800) 621-FEMA (3362) or
TTY/TDD (800) 462-7585
Disaster Recovery Centers are opened
The Post Katrina Reform Act and numerous internal changes have been made to improve the Federal response. Ill expand on that more a little later..
26 MAKING THE CALL
The call is toll-free
Multilingual operators are available
When you call youll need
Your Social Security Number
Source of income
Mailing address
Current telephone numbers
Members in household
Extent of damages
The number is available for follow-up as well
27 IMPORTANT
Disaster aid will not affect the individuals pension or other existing benefits
Accepting assistance will not take away from others
When calling to register inform the operator if anyone in the household has a disability or other special needs
Be sure to specify all losses in the household including equipment medications etc.
When discussing housing needs be sure to inform the operator if anyone in the household uses a wheelchair crutches cane oxygen etc.
28 HOUSING AFTER A DISASTER
FEMA helps provide temporary housing
For people using a wheelchair accessible rental housing is usually the preferred option however it is seldom available after large or catastrophic disasters
In such situations manufactured housing may be used
Such housing is covered by the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA not ADA) passed in 1968 to require accessibility to facilities designed built leased or altered with federal funds.
FEMA now provides UFAS compliant units (Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards) that have the turning radius needed for a wheelchair
29 SOME LESSONS LEARNED
Individuals need to be very clear about their housing needs during the teleregistration
The key issue is matching the needs of the individual with appropriate unit
Community regulations may limit or prohibit use of travel trailers and/or manufactured homes
Manufactured (mobile) homes arent placed on private sites located in a flood or wind zone thus eliminating them as a housing option for a person using a wheelchair
Commercial lots are occasionally smaller than some of the available manufactured homes
30 MR. G 31 AGAIN THE KEY ISSUE
Matching needs with appropriate features
Sensory impairment (deaf) Strobe lights need to be included on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Using a wheelchair Might need a roll-in shower a 17 to 19 high bench and/or a hand-held shower head
Older adult with mobility issues Need ramp with the least possible slope (Max 1 of rise for each 12 of run)
Entry doors and utility fixtures must have lever type openers (not door knobs)
Other needs Lowered counters switches and thermostats electric unit (instead of propane) for someone using oxygen
32 POST KATRINA REFORMS
Increases inventory of accessible manufactured housing
Creates system to identify accessibility needs household size and type of unit needed
Sets minimum inventory 2500 accessible units
Inventory must contain range of accessible quarters including one and two bedroom units
Requires interviews with victims to obtain information to meet their needs
New FEMA policy beyond UFAS requires 15 of lots in groups sites be accessible
33 MORE REFORMS
Materials in formats accessible to persons with disabilities such as Braille large type publications
Training for FEMA front line personnel
Development of procedures for FEMA personnel interacting with persons with disabilities in evacuation mass care sheltering and feeding efforts transportation contracting and inspecting
Establishes a Special Needs Liaison at all Disaster Recovery Centers as well as communications enhancing equipment
34 SO WHAT DO YOU THINK
Do you know what you need to know to help yourself or those you represent in a disaster
What added information do you need to move forward from hereand where might you find it
How can you identify those who have not planned for an emergency and how do you help them develop an individual plan
How do you ensure adequate communication in the aftermath of a disaster
After a disaster how do you make sure everyone who needs help is able to get it