43 rd Annual Governor’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 Schnicke Milwaukee County Emergency Management Special 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 Emergency Management Public 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 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: Milwaukee County Special Needs Emergency Shelter