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Home > Monthly Updates > April 2008 Monthly Update
Monthly Updates - April 2008In This Issue
Category of Linkswww.disabilitypreparedness.gov Contact Usdisability.preparedness@dhs.gov ICC Monthly HighlightsICC Progress Report ReleasedThe Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) Progress Report covering the period of July 2005 – September 2006 is now available on http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov. This report captures the activities and achievements attained by Federal partners towards implementation of Executive Order 13347: Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, with particular emphasis on activities following Hurricane Katrina. ICC Monthly UpdatesUS Department of Homeland SecurityFEMA Releases Strategic PlanOn April 16, 2008, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2008-2013. The Plan establishes strategic goals, objectives, and strategies that provide a solid framework for everyone in FEMA to see how their contributions fit in implementing FEMA's vision. The Plan reflects a strong and adaptable national emergency management system that better leverages existing national capabilities. It will also increase emphasis on the responsibility for individual preparedness and enhanced public and private sector partnerships in mitigating all hazard risks. The new plan supports DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff's goal of improving both national preparedness and emergency response. Within this plan are five goals for FEMA:
The plan is available at http://www.fema.gov/about/strategicplanfy08.shtm. Department of EducationNIDRR Releases New Online PublicationThe National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research is pleased to announce the release of a new online publication: Emergency Management Research and People With Disabilities: A Resource Guide. This resource guide is the culmination of cooperative efforts by NIDRR, the Department of Education, the Research Subcommittee of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC), and the New Freedom Initiative Subcommittee of the Interagency Committee on Disability Research. The guide provides a listing and description of research projects funded by the federal government and nonfederal entities, research recommendations that have come out of conferences on emergency management and disability, and a bibliography of relevant research publications. It is our hope that this guide will facilitate the development and implementation of a nationwide research agenda on emergency management and people with disabilities, so that we can develop a strong evidence base about the best ways to ensure the safety and security of people with disabilities in emergency and disaster situations. This report is available on the U.S. Department of Education's Web site at: http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs. National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) 2010-2014 Long Range PlanThe Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services requests written input regarding NIDRR's long- range plan for fiscal years 2010-2014 (the 2010-2014 Plan). The purpose of this solicitation is to obtain ideas from the public on the content and direction of the new NIDRR 2010-2014 Plan. The Request for written public input is extended to May 22, 2008. For more information, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-8691.htm. Federal Communications CommissionThe FCC Announces Agenda for Summit on the Current State and Future of the Nation's Emergency Alert SystemThe Federal Communications Commission's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) announced the agenda for its upcoming Summit on the nation's Emergency Alert System (EAS): Promoting an Effective Emergency Alert System on the Road to a Next Generation EAS, to be held on Monday, May 19, 2008, 9:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m., in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305). In line with the Commission's 2007 Second Report and Order on EAS that was released last July, the panel discussions will focus on the current state of the nation's EAS and what is needed to transition to a more robust, Next Generation alert and warning system to help ensure that all citizens receive accurate and timely information during emergencies. For additional information please see the attached agenda. The Summit will be open to the public; admittance however will be limited to the seating available. Those individuals who are interested in attending the summit may pre-register on-line at: http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/summits/eas. Those who pre-registered will be asked to provide their name, title, organization affiliation, and contact information. Individuals may also contact Sue Gilgenbach at 202-418-0639 regarding pre-registration. The deadline for pre-registration is Thursday, May 15, 2008. Audio/Video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio. The FCC's web cast is free to the public and does not require pre-registration. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities are available upon request. Please, include a description of the accommodation you will need. Individuals making such request must include their contact information should FCC staff need to contact them for more information. Requests should be made as early as possible. Please send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau: 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-418-0432 (TTY). For additional information about the meeting, please contact Susan McLean at (202) 418-7868 or by email: susan.mclean@fcc.gov. Recently Released ResourcesPandemic Planning Guide Available for Public Comment The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has released the draft version of At-Risk Populations and Pandemic Influenza: Planning Guidance for State, Territorial, Tribal, and Local Health Departments for public comment. Under a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ASTHO was asked to develop model guidance on the protection of at-risk populations in an influenza pandemic. Over the past several months, ASTHO performed an extensive review of relevant publications and plans, assembled subject matter expert-led work groups, and convened public and stakeholder engagement meetings to provide key input during the drafting process. This important project will result in the publication of a critical guidance document to assist public health officials in their pandemic influenza planning efforts. Topics include:
The public comment period is open from April 15 through May 15, 2008. To learn more about the comment submission process, go to http://www.astho.org/index.php?template=at_risk_population_project.html. CSU Forecast Team Predicts Above-Average Hurricane Season Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University (CSU) have predicted a very active hurricane season, anticipating 15 named Atlantic storms. Of those 15 storms, the CSU team projects that eight become hurricanes and four will develop into intense storms (Saffir/Simpson Category 3, 4, or 5). Long-term averages are 9.6 named storms per year, with 5.9 hurricanes and 2.3 intense hurricanes. According to Bill Gray, a CSU forecaster, the team issued a forecast of a less active season in early December, but has adjusted projections based on current oceanic and atmospheric trends. Gray’s colleague, forecaster Phil Klotzback, said that the probability of a major hurricane making landfall along the U.S. coastline is 69 percent, compared with the last-century average of 52 percent. Probabilities of tropical storm-force, hurricane-force and intense hurricane-force winds occurring at specific locations along the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts within a variety of time periods are listed on the forecast team's Landfall Probability Web site, which can be found at http://www.e-transit.org/hurricane. The complete forecast can be found at http://typhoon.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2008/april2008/apr2008.pdf. Call for Papers: Symposium on Enhancing Resilience to Catastrophic Events through Communicative Planning The Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and the School of Public and International Affairs invites scholars to submit abstracts for a Symposium on Enhancing Resilience to Catastrophic Events through Communicative Planning, to be held November 16-18, 2008, in Blacksburg, Virginia. Abstracts should respond to one of these three areas of inquiry:
The deadline for proposals is May 15, 2008. View the full call for papers, including detailed submission instructions, at http://www.iq.harvard.edu/blog/netgov/2008/04/the_virginia_tech_symposium_on.html. Call for Manuscripts: Community Disaster Recovery and Resiliency: Exploring Global Opportunities and Challenges Community Disaster Recovery and Resiliency: Exploring Global Opportunities and Challenges, an edited and peer-reviewed volume, provides a forum for policy makers, students, scholars, community organizations, and citizens to discuss community trauma during the pre- and post- (immediate and long-term) disaster response and recovery periods as it is experienced around the globe. This volume engages practitioners, academics, researchers, policy makers, and grassroots organizations in search of sustainable ways to rebuild communities after disasters (both natural and human-induced). The editors of this volume are calling for diverse community examples as a framework to facilitate a candid, in-depth comparison of the best practices illustrating how communities experience disaster, recover from it, and affect social policies in such a way that the community’s vulnerability to disaster is reduced. Chapter proposals in reference to opportunities and challenges to international community recovery are being accepted in the following areas:
Send a title, an abstract, and a 3- to 5-page double-spaced chapter proposal, in English, by June 1, 2008, to DeMond Miller at millerd@rowan.edu. A Network of Hope The Oklahoma City National Memorial has created this Web site to help community leaders easily find information about disaster recovery. The site includes a collection of best practices from others that have experienced large-scale disasters, including terrorist attacks (New York), hurricanes (Charleston, South Carolina; Miami, Florida; New Orleans, Louisiana), earthquakes (Northridge, California), and floods (Des Moines, Iowa). It also describes common roles and expectations of government leaders, the public, religious organizations, and memorials after tragic events. According to the site, "although leaders are aware of the need to develop disaster plans, no one is really fully prepared in advance to meet the post-first responder needs of a community that has faced extensive destruction and trauma without being able to rely on outside assistance. Those communities that have experienced firsthand such destruction and trauma comprise a small group with special knowledge and understanding of what it takes to rebuild after such an incident." The site can be found at http://www.anetworkofhope.org. National Guidance Under Development to Protect At-risk Populations During an Influenza Pandemic A unique partnership has been created to help protect the most vulnerable people in America during one of the worst public health catastrophes imaginable—an influenza pandemic. The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) has received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop recommendations for state, territorial, tribal, and local health officials on how to protect at-risk populations during an influenza pandemic. ASTHO is being assisted by the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), and The Keystone Center. The suggestions put forward by subject matter experts and community stakeholders will be the basis for a set of detailed national recommendations that describe how to:
ASTHO and CIDRAP staff members are incorporating vital feedback into the guidance document, along with examples of promising practices and tools that planners can use to advance their own efforts. These national recommendations will be made public on the Web site in April, to make it possible for the public-at-large to comment and provide suggestions. To visit the CIDRAP home page, go to http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/. New National Science Foundation (NSF) Solicitation: Communicating Hurricane Information In a joint announcement, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NSF call for proposals focusing on advancing fundamental understanding of the communication of hurricane outlooks, forecasts, watches, and warnings both to decision makers (e.g., emergency managers, elected officials) and to the general public. NOAA and NSF anticipate making approximately a total of 6-12 awards for research projects. These awards will be for one to three years. NOAA and NSF expect to have at least $2,000,000 available to support total award sizes (including indirect costs) not to exceed $400,000. This maximum is the total for the project, not a yearly maximum. Projects that exceed this maximum amount of $400,000 will be returned without review. Full proposals are due by 5 p.m. on June 3, 2008. The solicitation is available at: http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503246&org=SES&from=home. FEMA for Kids: Preparing Kids and their Families FEMA for Kids was designed to educate and inform children and parents about disasters, preparedness, and recovery in a fun and interactive way. The site informs children through several mediums, like stories, games, quizzes, and more. Resources for parents and teachers are also available, including downloadable curriculum and safety information that can be incorporated into the home or classroom. For more information, see http://www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm. Rethinking Disasters: Why Death and Destruction is not Nature's Fault but Human Failure This report is part of a series of papers that seeks to educate the members of public about issues on development and humanitarian policy issues. The information in the report is meant to aide advocacy, campaigning, education, and research. This report addresses following topics: consequences of poor policies and inaction; environmental challenges caused by climate change; disaster risk reduction; and recommendations for the future. The article may be found at http://www.oxfam.org.uk/resources/policy/conflict_disasters/downloads/oxfam_india_rethinking_disasters.pdf. The Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast, Version 2 (UCERF 2) In this new comprehensive study, scientists have determined that the chance of having one or more magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquakes in the California area over the next 30 years is greater than 99%. Such quakes can be deadly, as shown by the 1989 magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta and the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquakes. The likelihood of at least one even more powerful quake of magnitude 7.5 or greater in the next 30 years is 46%ósuch a quake is most likely to occur in the southern half of the state. For full forecast may be found at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1437/.The Gendered Nature of Natural Disasters: The Impact of Catastrophic Events on the Gender Gap in Life Expectancy This article by Eric Neumayer and Thomas Plumper addresses gender inequalities as a result of natural disasters. Inequalities discussed include sensitivity to risk, access to resources, and vulnerability of women and girls specifically. The authors argue that disasters decrease life expectancy of women when compared to men. The authors contend that the high rate of female fatalities due to disaster occurs because of socially constructed, gender-specific vulnerability that is a part of our socio-economic system. For more information, see http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8306.2007.00563.x. Children, Youth and Environments Special Issue Children, Youth and Environments is a free, online, peer- reviewed journal that publishes papers of varying topics; however, special focus is paid to articles concerning youths in environments of disadvantage and those with special needs. Its mission is to connect researchers, policy makers, and practitioners around the world in an interdisciplinary effort. This special issue examines vulnerability and resilience of children and youth regarding disasters, and includes more than a dozen articles specifically related to children's experience in disaster. For more information, see http://www.colorado.edu/journals/cye/18_1/index.htm. Upcoming EventsMay 5-9, 2008 May 7-9, 2008 May 12-16, 2008 May 12-16, 2008 May 18-21, 2008 June 1-4, 2008 June 2-3, 2008 June 2-5, 2008 June 2-6, 2008 June 2-6, 2008 June 15-18, 2008 Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop August 4-8, 2008 November 15-20, 2008 Join the ICC Listserv!The Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities (ICC) has created a listserv. Please join our listserv to receive the ICC's Monthly Updates and Quarterly Newsletter, Emergency Preparedness NOW, and access other information pertinent to emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities. To join please visit http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/archives/icc-dispreppubs-l.html or go to http://listserv.access.gpo.gov/ and click "Online Mailing List Archives," then select "ICC-DISPREPPUBS-L" and complete the subscription form. For more information about the ICC please visit www.disabilitypreparedness.gov. About the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with DisabilitiesThe Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties oversees the implementation of Executive Order 13347, Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness, which was signed by President Bush in July 2004. This Executive Order is designed to ensure the safety and security of individuals with disabilities in all-hazard emergency and disaster situations. To this end, the Executive Order created an Interagency Coordinating Council (ICC) on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The ICC is comprised of senior leadership from more than 20 Federal departments and agencies. Its mission is to ensure that people with disabilities and their specific needs are fully integrated into all aspects of our nation's emergency management system; including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. The Secretary of Homeland Security is the Chair of the ICC, and he has delegated that role to Mr. Daniel Sutherland, the DHS Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. The Council organizes its activities around nine Focus Areas:
For more information about the ICC please visit http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov. |
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