Emergency Preparedness and Response

Hurricane Response: Harvey & Irma

10/27/2017

CDC Health Alert Network Health Advisory: Advice for Health Care Providers Treating Patients in or Recently Returned from Hurricane-Affected Areas, Including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with federal, state, territorial, and local agencies and global health partners in response to recent hurricanes. CDC is aware of media reports and anecdotal accounts of various infectious diseases in hurricane-affected areas, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands (USVI). Because of compromised drinking water and decreased access to safe water, food, and shelter, the conditions for outbreaks of infectious diseases exist.

10/9/2017

FCC - Communications Status Report for Areas Impacted by Hurricane Maria

This report incorporates network outage data submitted by communications providers to the Federal Communications Commission's Disaster Information Reporting System (DIRS). DIRS is currently activated for all counties in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

9/11/2017

CMS Emergency Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies for Medicare Beneficiaries Impacted by Hurricane Harvey

This guidance is for Medicare beneficiaries and suppliers who need additional information and assistance during Hurricane Harvey. If you live in Texas or Louisiana, the usual rules for your medical care may change for a short time

9/11/2017

CMS Guidance for Harvey DME Providers

As a result of Hurricane Harvey, CMS has determined it is appropriate to issue a blanket waiver to suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) where DMEPOS is lost, destroyed, irreparably damaged, or otherwise rendered unusable.

9/7/2017

CMS Continues Helping Texas and Louisiana with Hurricane Harvey Recovery

Agency helps impacted beneficiaries with replacement of medical equipment and supplies

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Seema Verma today announced new guidance to support people who are impacted by the loss of their durable medical equipment and supplies due to Hurricane Harvey. The ongoing response from CMS is focused on helping Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, providers, facilities and the general public with their immediate needs and ensuring access to healthcare services and resources are not interrupted throughout the recovery.

9/7/2017

Getting Ready for Hurricane Irma

Hurricane warnings have been issued for Hurricane Irma in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and Florida Governor Rick Scott has declared an emergency in advance of the storm. If you or your loved ones are in the path of the storm, find out what you can do before, during and after the hurricane to stay healthy

9/7/2017

No Time to Rest from One Hurricane, HHS Helps Prepare for Another: Hurricane Irma

Anticipating significant destruction, pounding winds and flooding from Hurricane Irma as the category 5 hurricane approaches U.S. territories and states, the Department of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and pre-positioned medical support personnel near potentially impacted areas. HHS has also alerted additional medical and public health teams to be ready to deploy where needed.

8/31/2017

Fema Hurricane Harvey Response

This is the Hurricane Harvey resource page. Please look at this page for up-to-date information on the situation as it evolves.

8/30/2017

HHS Hurricane Harvey Response

OCR Identifies Practices and Resources for Emergency Responders/Officials to Help Ensure Individuals Have Equal Access to Emergency Services

8/29/2017

American Bar Association Pro Bono Legal Services - Hurricane Harvey Relief

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA Young Lawyers Division (ABA YLD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provide immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge.

8/28/2017

Harvey Response - Portlight Strategies and the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

Portlight Strategies and the Partnership are providing technical assistance and guidance to prevent disaster survivors from being turned away from shelters, denied sign language interpreters, denied their civil rights, inappropriate institutionalization and experiencing many of the same issues as in past disasters.

Emergency Response Resources

• Portlight - Inclusive Disaster Strategies
    from http://www.portlight.org

  Portlight Strategies, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, founded in 1997 to facilitate a variety of projects involving people with disabilities, including post-disaster relief work

• FEMA: Tips for Effectively Communicating with the Whole Community in Disasters

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its federal partners remain in close coordination with state, local, and tribal governments to coordinate and provide resources as needed in connection with preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation associated with Hurricane Harvey impacting Texas and Louisiana. The following practices regarding effective communication can help jurisdictions meet their obligations to carry out their disaster related activities in a non-discriminatory

• Effective Communications Tool Kit

  This toolkit applies to emergency management and public information professionals who work for or with local jurisdictions to communicate warnings, notifications, and other messages to news media and to the public. It also contains face-to-face operational communication tools for shelter managers and first responders.

• Guidance to State and Local Governments and Other Federally Assisted Recipients Engaged in Emergency Preparedness, Response, Mitigation, and Recovery Activities on Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

  Guidance to State and Local Governments and Other Federally Assisted Recipients. Engaged in Emergency Preparedness, Response, Mitigation, and Recovery Activities on. Compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ... how recipients of federal financial assistance engaged in emergency management activities.

• Disability Resources from FEMA

  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a collection of resources focusing on disability and accessible emergency management.

• BCFS Health and Human Services' Emergency Management Division

  A non-profit partner of federal, state and local government and private industry, specializing in emergency management, incident management, disaster response, public health & medical emergency response, mass care, mass fatality planning, medical sheltering and planning for vulnerable populations.

• Katrina: A Story of Survival and Papa Joe's New Community (MN UCEDD)

  This Impact issue addresses that need for greater inclusion of people with disabilities in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts by providing strategies, stories, and resources that we hope will be of use to disability service providers, advocates, individuals with disabilities, families, and policymakers.

• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

  National VOAD, an association of organizations that mitigate and alleviate the impact of disasters, provides a forum promoting cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration; and fosters more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster.

• You Know that it's Got to be Dedication that I am Still Here. (MT UCEDD)

  The Experiences of Direct Support Professionals during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and Aftermath

  A report describing the experiences of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) who worked in New Orleans between August 2005 and May 2006 - before, during, and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In 2006, the University of Minnesota was asked to conduct a series of interviews and focus groups with staff from two programs of the Volunteers of America (VOA) of Greater New Orleans: Supported Living Services (offering family and semi-independent living supports to adults and children with disabilities) and Community Living Services (offering group homes for adults and children with developmental disabilities).

• Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies
    from http://www.disasterstrategies.org

  The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (PIDS) is a growing national coalition, assessing the current state of disaster planning across the country, and identifying ways disability community leaders can assertively engage with emergency management at every level.

• Working with People with Disabilities- A Guide for Responders

  This 26-minuted training DVD produced in cooperation with the Baltimore County Commission on Disabilities is designed to help personnel from emergency medical services, fire, police and others work effectively and compassionately with persons with disabilities.

• Accommodating People with Disabilities in Disasters: A Reference Guide to Federal Law (PDF)

  In August of 2007, the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released a new reference guide outlining legal requirements and standards relating to access for people with disabilities. The guide is a first in a series of disability- related guidelines to be produced by FEMA for disaster preparedness, response planners, and service providers at all levels.

• Tips for First Responders
    from http://cdd.unm.edu

  The Tip Sheets For First Responders were developed in response to requests from first responders who wanted quick, easy-to-understand guidance on how to effectively work with people with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities in emergency situations. Now in its fourth edition, the laminated, color-coded Tip Sheets are ring-bound so they can be hung from hooks in emergency vehicles, duty stations, school health offices, and taken into the field.

Emergency Preparedness Resources

• Disaster Preparedness to Promote Community Resilience: Information and Tools for Homeless Service Providers and Disaster Professionals

  The Veterans Emergency Management Evaluation Center (VEMEC) within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pleased to announce the release of a new toolkit, the Disaster Preparedness to Promote Community Resilience: Information and Tools for Homeless Service Providers and Disaster Professionals.

• CDC: Emergency Preparedness: Including People with Disabilities

  The following resources were developed by CDC funded State Disability and Health Programs. Public health professionals, emergency personnel and communities can use them to create emergency preparedness and response plans that are inclusive of people with disabilities.

• Integrating Access and Functional Needs within Active Shooter Awareness Guidance Organization: California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Office of Access and Functional Needs

  The revised guidance, which now integrates access and functional needs considerations, has been completed and is now publicly available! A copy is attached for your use and reference. We encourage you to share it with your stakeholders.

• Planning for Emergencies in Oklahoma: Investing in Partnerships (OK UCEDD)

  Mother Nature can create emergencies for everyone, including people with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD). However, few Oklahomans with IDD have emergency plans in place. OKSAN (Oklahoma Self-Advocacy Network), a collaborative project facilitated by the Oklahoma UCEDD, has partnered with the American Red Cross to create an emergency preparedness training and workbook curriculum by Oklahoma self-advocates for Oklahoma self-advocates.

• Emergency Preparedness for People with Access and Functional Needs, Including Disabilities (UCONN UCEDD)

  The UCONN Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities has developed a curriculum on emergency preparedness through a grant from the Connecticut Council on Developmental Disabilities. The goal of the project was to assist municipalities in creating/updating their town's emergency preparedness plan so that needs of citizens with developmental disabilities are addressed and to assist people with developmental disabilities in creating their own emergency plans.

• Emergency Preparedness for Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs
    from http://publicaa.ansi.org
• Evacuating Populations with Special Needs - Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning Primer Series
    from http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov
• Nobody Left Behind: Disaster Preparedness for Persons with Mobility Impairments
    from http://www2.ku.edu
• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs
    from http://www.redcross.org
• Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act: Questions and Answers
• FEMA's Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 301 for Special Needs Populations (PDF)
• Disaster Preparedness and People with Complex Communication Needs (CCN) Webcast

  28 minute archive on YouTube

  Any emergency situation, whether it be a flood, a fire, an earthquake, a tornado, ice-storm or the loss of electrical power, puts people with complex communication needs at risk. In this presentation, Pamela Kennedy describes her experiences as an individual with complex communication needs and as a survivor of the Grand Forks flood of 1997. She also describes 7 steps for emergency preparation that are critical for all individuals with complex communication needs.

• ADA Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Justice on Sheltering for Mass Care

  On January 8 and 9, 2008, the National Organization on Disability hosted a national conference, dedicated to addressing the emergency preparedness needs of individuals with all types of disabilities.

• ADA Guidelines from the US DOJ on Sheltering for Mass Care: Prepared Remarks of Dov Lutzker, Esq.
• Amendments to the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act

  Text of the amendments to the Stafford Act of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for FY 2007 (HR 5441).

• Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Bill Talking Points

  CCD Emergency Management Task Force talking points on the disability-specific provisions of the Pos- Katrina Emergency Management Reform Bill.

  ccd emergency mgmt reform act talking points 092106.doc [download]