This conference program was designed to cover as
many issues as possible relating to technology and emergency
communications for people with disabilities. Topics addressed included
accessibility tools and gaps; government activities on accessible
emergency communications; broadcast media notification; alerting and
communication in facilities and on campuses. This link opens a PDF
document.
Guidelines and policies for making emergency
notifcations accessible to people with sensory disabilities (people who
are deaf, late-deafened, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired or
deaf-blind).
"Recent events worldwide have made disaster
preparedness and disaster communication to the public a crucial concern.
September 11th, the Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and other
mega-disasters have highlighted not only a woeful lack of community
awareness of vulnerability but also the absence of a clear protocol for
what to do as events unfold. The first book dedicated solely to the
topic of pre-disaster communication, Communicating Emergency
Preparedness: Strategies for Creating a Disaster Resilient Public
presents the best ways to inform communities about disaster risk
factors, response plans, and emergency procedures without fomenting
panic or paranoia.
A public awareness campaign is the critical tool to
help communities prepare themselves and to mitigate the human and
economic impact of disasters. The authors provide an overview and
history of public disaster preparedness education and then proceed to
explore risk management and the development of a campaign strategy. They
include specific instruction on how those charged with developing these
programs can obtain funding from donors, foundations, and government
grants. "
Report containing recommendations on the design and
construction of emergency transportable housing subject to the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA).
Following a major disaster, an excess of smoke,
dust, molds, gas leaks and diesel from idling rescue vehicles can cause
serious reactions in people with environmental or chemical
sensitivities. This fact sheet provides information about important
emergency supplies for people who are sensitive to certain chemical and
environmental exposures. This link opens a PDF document.
Aaby, Kay, Rachel L. Abbey, Nancy Newton. June 23, 2009, 2
pages. Access at:
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Personal Preparedness In America: Findings From the Citizen Corps
National Survey. Washington, DC: June 2009, 90 pages. Access at:>>
http://www.citizencorps.gov/pdf/Personal_Preparedness_In_America-Citizen_Corps_National_Survey.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency. “FEMA
Research Provides New Insights on Personal Preparedness: Survey Findings
Provide Direction for Communication and Public Education Efforts (Press
Release). Washington, DC: FEMA, Citizen Corps, August 24, 2009. Access
at:
>>http://www.citizencorps.gov/news/press/2009/2009findingsrelease.shtm
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Personal Preparedness In America: Findings From the 2009 Citizen Corps
National Survey (slide presentation by Karen March, Director, Community
Preparedness Division). Washington, DC: FEMA, 2009, 37 slides. Access at:
>>http://www.citizencorps.gov/pdf/nccp/Marsh_Karen_2009_
Survey_Findings_8-10-09.pdf
>>Action Guide for Emergency Management at Institutions of Higher
Education
Department of Education report on the need for
emergency management on college campuses and how to develop and
implement an emergency management plan. The report includes information
about the importance of incorporating provisions for people with
disabilities. This link opens a PDF document.
Petal, Marla, and Rebekah Green. School Disaster
readiness: lessons from the first Great Southern California ShakeOut.
Los Angeles, CA: Earthquake Country Alliance, July 2009, 72 p. Access at:
>>http://www.preventionweb.net/files/10582_RR2008ShakeOut
SchoolReadinessFinalR.pdf
>>http://www.preventionweb.net/english/professional/trainings-events/edu-materials/v.php?id=10582&a=email
Phelps, Kara. “During Hurricanes, Schools Became
Shelters; Classes Were Canceled for 14 Days,” NewsChief.com (Winter
Haven, FL), August 14, 2009. Access at:
>>http://www.newschief.com/article/20090814/NEWS/908145026/1003/NEWS?
Stobbe, Mike (Associated Press). “Sebelius: Closing
Schools Wouldn’t Ward Off Virus,” August 25, 2009. Access at:
>>http://www.sacbee.com/nationworld/story/2135539.html
>>Emergency Management Guide for Business & Industry
A FEMA guide providing
step-by-step advice on how to create and maintain a comprehensive
emergency management program.
>>Emergency Preparedness Guide for Transit Employees
This guide covers what
to do in an emergency situation on the job and at home.
>>Emergency Preparedness for Businesses
Provides the Emergency
Management Guide for Businesses that outlines steps to take during
terrorism-related events including instructions to building occupants,
actions to be taken by facility management and first responder
notification procedures.
>>Emergency Procedures for Employees with Disabilities in Offices
Provides information for
facilities managers and people who might need alternate forms of
communication to be notified of an emergency situation or in being the
evacuated from a building. Information includes examples of equipment
available as well as suggestions on notification and evacuation
procedures. This guide can be downloaded in
>>PDF or
>>Text formats.
>>Employers' Guide to Including People with Disabilities in Emergency
Evacuation Plans
Guide for employers on
how to include people with disabilities in their emergency evacuation
planning. Includes a checklist for developing, maintaining and
implementing an evacuation plan.
>>How to Plan for
Workplace Emergencies & Evacuations
This booklet provides an
overview of workplace-related emergency planning for disasters. This
link opens a PDF document.
>>Preparing the
Workforce for Everyone: Accounting for the Needs of People with
Disabilities
A template of emergency
preparedness guidelines for federal agencies from the Interagency
Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with
Disabilities Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace.
>>Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning
A report from the
National Council on Disability (NCD) which looks at the experiences of
people with disabilities and how their access to disaster services could
be improved by including them in emergency management planning.
>>Workplace Safety for People with Disabilities
An information sheet
provided by the NFPA Center for High-Risk Outreach. This link opens a
PDF document.
>> Flu.gov
This Web site, hosted by the Department of Health
and Human Services, provides a wide range of information and resources
about the H1N1 flu virus.
>>H1N1 Guidance for Colleges, Universities & Institutions of Higher
Education
The Department of Health
& Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Education (ED) have
announced new guidance for institutions of higher education to plan for
and respond to the upcoming flu season. A
>>Preparing for the Flu toolkit is available for these institutions,
in addition to a recently released
>>toolkit
for businesses and employers to help them prepare for the 2009-2010
flu season.
>>Employment Discrimination & the 2009 H1N1 Flu Virus (Swine Flu)
Answers basic questions
about workplace preparation strategies for the H1N1 flu virus (swine
flu) that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
>>Federal Guidelines Encourage Employers to Plan Now for Upcoming
Influenza Season
August 19, 2009 news
release from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) about new
guidance for businesses to help them plan for and respond to the
upcoming flu season.
>>Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza--A Preparedness Guide for Small
Business
The Department of
Homeland Security, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC),
and the Small Business Administration (SBA) have developed this booklet
to help small businesses understand what impact a new influenza virus,
like 2009 H1N1 flu, might have on their operations, and how important it
is to have a written plan for guiding a business through a possible
pandemic. This link opens a PDF document.
>>Secretary Napolitano Announces H1N1
Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses, September 14, 2009
Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano has joined Small
Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Karen Mills and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention Influenza Division Deputy Director Daniel
Jernigan to announce a preparedness guide to assist small businesses in
planning for the H1N1 flu.
For more information
visit
>>www.flu.gov and to view the preparedness guide, visit
>>http://www.flu.gov/professional/business/smallbiz.html.
Other Information on Influenza
RT For Decision Makers in Respiratory Care. “US Hospitals Urged to
Take Survey on Ventilator Numbers by September 10.”
>>http://www.rtmagazine.com/news/2009-08-21_01.asp
Stobbe, Mike (Associated Press). “Sebelius: Closing
Schools Wouldn’t Ward Off Virus,” August 25, 2009.
>>http://www.sacbee.com/nationworld/story/2135539.html
Department of Education. “Duncan, Sebelius Unveil Recommendation for
Schools on How Learning Continues in Case of Flu Outbreak (Press Release
and links).” Washington, DC: Dept. of Ed., August 24, 2009.
>>http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2009/08/08242009.html.
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Report to
the President on U.S. Preparations for 2009 – H1N1 Influenza.
Washington, DC: Executive office of the President, August 7, 2009, 86
pages.
>>http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/
PCAST_H1N1_Report.pdf
Wappes, Jim. “Presidential Panel Calls For Planning Czar, Faster
Vaccine,” CIDRAP News (Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy,
University of Minnesota), Aug 24, 2009.
>>http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/
swineflu/news/aug2409whitehouse.html
White House. “President’s Council on Science and Technology (PCAST)
Releases Report Assessing H1N1 Preparations,” August 24, 2009.
Washington, DC: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, August
24, 2009. Access at >>http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/
Presidents-Council-of-Advisors-on-Science-and-Technology-
PCAST-releases-report-assessing-H1N1-preparations/
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
“PCAST Recommendations and Administration Progress.” Washington, DC: The
White House, Executive Office of the President, PCAST, August 7, 2009, 3
pages. Access at
>>http://www.whitehouse.gov/
assets/documents/PCAST_Recommendations_and_Administration_Progress.pdf
Stewart, Geoffrey T., Ramesh Kolluru, and Mark
Smith. “Leveraging Public Private Partnerships to Improve Community
Resilience in Times of Disaster.” International Journal of Physical
Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 39, No. 5, 2009, pp. 343-364.
As noted in the Department of
Homeland Security's National Response Framework, disasters are
inherently local and ultimately the responsibility of the lowest
jurisdictional level present within the impacted area. Given these
parameters, this paper aims to sharpen the concept of national
resilience by recommending a framework which positions community
resilience as an integral variable in understanding the ability of
impacted areas to effectively manage the consequences of disasters. This
paper argues that interdependent systems like social and economic
networks will ultimately influence the ability of communities to adapt
and respond to the consequences of disasters. For the full abstract:
>>http://www.emeraldinsight.com/
10.1108/09600030910973724
