Preparing for All Abilities

1. “Challenges and Opportunities”Marianne C. JacksonFederal Coordinating OfficerFEMA-DHSVirginia 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 person’s 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. LET’S 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 can’t afford transportation • Very often no computer or Internet access • Some less able to advocate (can be language, educational and cultural barriers)

9. Please don’t forget... many older adults are notdependent 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. WHAT’S THE MINDSET? • I’ve lost my possessions, many of which represent my life (photos, family artifacts) • I’ve lost my independence and control • I’ve lost my pride (I’m 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 • That’s 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. QUESTION?Do you think individuals with special needs are prepared for a disaster? LET’S 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 couldn’t 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. WHO’S RESPONSIBLE In a disaster, who ultimately has the greatest impact on an adult individual’s safety and security? • Family? • Neighbors? • Friends? • Church, synagogue, mosque? • Advocacy or community organizations? Actually, it’s none of the above…it’s 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 Citizen’s 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. I’ll expand on that more a little later..

26. MAKING THE CALL • The call is toll-free • Multilingual operators are available • When you call, you’ll 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 individual’s 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 aren’t 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 typeopeners (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 here…and 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?

35. That’s it.Thank you for participating. Marianne C. Jackson Federal Coordinating Officer Federal Emergency Management Agency U.S. Department of Homeland Security