Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities and Older Adults Get-Ready Tool Kit: Train-the-Trainer Workshop March 29, 2013 Tucker, GA

Disasters in Georgia A variety of disasters in recent history:  1996 and 1997: A domestic terrorist bombs Centennial Olympic Park, an Atlanta area health clinic, and a gay nightclub  1999: Hurricane Floyd causes 70% of coastal residents to evacuate, the largest evacuation in US history to that date  2000: Violent tornadoes kill 21 in two counties

Disasters in Georgia A variety of disaster in recent history:  2007: Devastating wildfires consume hundreds of thousands of acres  2009: Deadly floods lead to 23 counties receiving a Presidential Disaster Declaration  2011: Tornadoes, severe storms and straight-line winds result in 15 deaths, 114 hospitalizations and cause extensive damage in 25 counties

Training Goal The purpose of this training is to provide service organizations and advocates with tools, guidance, and techniques for helping the people they serve prepare for an emergency. 4

Why should we plan? Have a plan + Personal Support Network = You’re ready for an emergency

Get Ready Tool Kit  Designed to help people who need assistance develop emergency plans that suit their need  Get Ready Tool Kit Instructions  Part 1: Household Emergency Plan  Part 2: Emergency Plan Checklist

Emphasize  A personal support network can help individuals prepare for a disaster by identifying resources you need.  A personal support network can assist individuals during and after a disaster happens.  You may need more than one personal support network or support person in an emergency  Periodically reviewing and updating the Household Emergency Plan and Emergency Plan Checklist 7

Trainer Tips  Some individuals may need help in developing these plans.  When working with groups, you may wish to use an assistant or two so that there are enough trainers to talk with individuals to ensure that their plans are as complete and carefully thought out as possible. 12

Trainer Techniques The following slides will outline some of the basic techniques involved in leading your audience through this preparedness training. 1. Know your audience. 2. Engage your audience. 3. Drill the essentials.

Know Your Audience Be familiar with the types of problems that your particular audience may have during an emergency, and be prepared to discuss them in language they can understand.

Engage Your Audience Provide an opportunity to  Discuss or demonstrate their knowledge  Listen to information  Look at pictures  Talk about the information  Demonstrate the information

Know Your Audience What might you say to or do:  To teach individuals to communicate their needs to a first responder (rescue worker)?  To a person who needs assistance with mobility, vision, thinking or hearing when helping them develop their household plan?  Prepare a very independent person to realize that he/she may need a personal support network? 16

Engage Your Audience How do you know your audience is learning the information you are sharing? People learn best when they are fully engaged in the material  Ask lots of questions  Relate the information to real-life event; share a personal story  Have them demonstrate the steps you’ve discussed

Engage Your Audience For example, To teach your audience about evacuating a smoke-filled building, you might:  Tell them about evacuation safety measures such as crawling on the floor below the smoke or covering themselves with wet towels.  Show pictures of people following these steps  Ask the audience about their experiences with fires and the methods they used to cope on those occasions  Have the audience demonstrate the safety procedures.

Drill the Essentials Make the lesson stick -  Crucial information bears repeating. Present the material in multiple ways that appropriate for your audience

And Finally… Have fun! Your audience is more likely to remember the material if they’ve enjoyed the presentation and if you have a good time, the chances are they will, too!

For more information contact: Georgia Emergency Preparedness Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities and Older Adults c/o State ADA Coordinator’s Office 270 Washington Street, 2 nd Floor, Suite 2140 Atlanta, Georgia Phone: Fax: TTY: Website: