INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COUNCIL ON EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
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Monthly Updates - June 2008

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www.disabilitypreparedness.gov
www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparednessicc

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disability.preparedness@dhs.gov

ICC Monthly Highlights

CRCL Hosts ICC Table Top Exercise

CRCL hosted a Table Top Exercise to provide an opportunity for the ICC's Incident Community Coordination Team (ICCT) to assess their coordination and decision making capacity in response to disasters that occur with and without warning. The exercise generated valuable insight regarding how communication should flow and how this communication will lead to quick resolution of problems when a disaster strikes. An after action report will be generated for ICCT comment and then made available to ICC members.

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ICC Monthly Updates

US Department of Homeland Security

DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) Presents at the FEMA Higher Education Conference

Claudia Gordon and Debbie Fulmer of DHS/CRCL delivered a workshop on the Changing Landscape of Emergency Planning for Special Needs Populations at the 2008 Higher Education Conference hosted by FEMA. This workshop introduced the function-based approach to planning for special needs populations that allows planners to allocate response resources on the basis of common functional areas including, but not limited to, maintaining independence, communication, transportation, supervision, and medical care. This approach enables a greater number of individuals with special needs to receive assistance within the general population response and recovery structures, freeing up assets to assist individuals with more critical needs. It also aligns the response and recovery efforts with the requirements of civil rights statutes.

In addition, FEMA announced the release of their book, Emergency Management in Higher Education: Current Practices and Conversations, consisting of presentations made by industry experts during the 2007 Higher Education Conference. The book was published by the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI), a nonprofit research institute that focuses on risk management training and education, with a concentration on disaster reduction, mitigation, prevention, and preparedness. Twenty papers, including CRCL's submission, "The Paradigm Shift in Planning for Special-Needs Populations," were published. Topics range from lessons from Hurricane Katrina, homeland security, development of emergency management programs in colleges and universities, special-needs populations, the war on terrorism, communications challenges during disasters, and the role of technology in disaster response. For more information, go to https://www.riskinstitute.org/peri/component/option,com_deeppockets/task,catContShow/cat,28/id,901/Itemid,84/.

A copy of the chapter, "The Paradigm Shift in Planning for Special-Needs Populations," may be requested by email at disability.preparedness@dhs.gov.

The Higher Education Conference supports the development and implementation of emergency management educational programs at colleges and universities by making available the latest research and sharing expertise related to hazards, disasters, and other emergency management topics. For more information about the Higher Education Program, go to http://www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/.

FEMA Earmarks $27 Million to Develop Preparedness and Protection Training

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has $27.2 million in grants available to develop training programs that target information sharing, regional collaboration, citizen preparedness, evacuations, infrastructure protection, and other national homeland security needs.

The money will be awarded to state, local, tribal and territorial governments; national associations, non-profits, higher education institutions, and the private sector through FEMA's Competitive Training Grant Program. For more information on the grant program, including last year's proposals, visit the DHS Web site at www.dhs.gov.

Join the Ready Campaign for National Preparedness Month

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Ready Campaign with support from Coalition Members across the nation, National Preparedness Month (NPM) is held each September to increase public awareness about emergency preparedness.

This year, the Ready Campaign and our DHS partner, Citizen Corps, are focusing on four important steps Americans can take to prepare:

  • Get a Kit
  • Make a Plan
  • Be Informed
  • Get Involved

1,187 organizations have already registered as Coalition Members for NPM 2008! The Ready Campaign hopes you will join us for NPM's fifth year! If you haven't done so already, please register now at http://ready.adcouncil.org to be part of the 2008 NPM Coalition. Once you register you will receive access to the NPM Web site where you can find a toolkit full of templates, resources and tips. You will also find an NPM calendar where you can post your events and see what other organizations are doing in your community. In addition, can share your success stories and read about the successes of others. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact the Ready Campaign at NPM@dhs.gov.

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Federal Communications Commission

FCC Adopts Telephone Numbering System and E-911 Requirements for Providers of Internet-Based Telecommunications Relay Services

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), and newer, Internet-based forms of TRS, including Video Relay Service (VRS) and Internet Protocol (IP) Relay, allow persons with hearing and speech disabilities to communicate with hearing users of voice services. Prior to this Order, there was no uniform, consistent way for voice telephone users to call Internet-based TRS users. Further, TRS typically has not provided the same access to emergency services as compared to traditional telephone services.

The Order adopts a system for assigning traditional ten-digit telephone numbers to Internet-based TRS users. This means that Internet-based TRS users will be able to reach and be reached by both hearing users of the traditional telephone network and other Internet-based TRS users by doing something most Americans take for granted – dialing a ten-digit phone number. Internet-based TRS users will also be able to port their numbers from one provider to another, and users will be able to use any Internet-based TRS provider they choose.

In addition, to ensure that Internet-based TRS users have functionally equivalent access to emergency services, the Order requires providers to obtain and maintain the physical location of their users — the same obligation the Commission has imposed on interconnected voice over IP providers – and to automatically route emergency calls from Internet-based TRS users to the appropriate emergency services authorities using such information. The Order also directs Internet-based TRS providers to notify their users of these changes.

Providers of Internet-based TRS must comply with the Order's requirements no later than December 31, 2008.

Additional information is available on the FCC home web page at www.fcc.gov.

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US Department of Labor

Disability Program Navigator Initiative Assists Iowa Flood Victims

U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration launched the Gulfport Hurricane Initiative through the Disability Program Navigator (DPN) network. This Program provided funds for Disability Program Navigators (DPNs), and mobile One-Stop Career Center vans to assist people with disabilities in states affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The DPNs worked with people with disabilities to assist them with accessing services and benefits needed to integrate back into the world of work following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Now the program is serving people impacted by the flooding in Iowa. Examples of this assistance include:

  • Assistance to the Black Hawk Center for Independent Living in Waterloo. An Iowa State DPN representative recruited volunteers to drive a state truck to Sioux City, IA to load furniture and deliver it to the new Waterloo CIL office.
  • Iowa DPNs reaching out to all the CILs to provide assistance.
  • Iowa and Wisconsin DPNs working together along with their workforce investment systems to explore the use of DOL's National Emergency Grants (NEGs) to assist people with disabilities.
  • A proposed plan to simultaneously deploy DPN Teams for two weeks in Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, and Quad Cities/Burlington. In each area, there will be a Team consisting of both an Iowa navigator and a Wisconsin navigator; inclusion of at least one DPN on each Team who served during the DPN Gulf Coast relief effort will be considered a priority.

The Teams will serve four functions over the two week deployment period in early July:

  1. Develop a comprehensive resource list in each community and establish connections with all key community representatives (e.g., County Relief, FEMA, medical services, Vocational Rehabilitation, shelters, etc.);
  2. Work with partner agencies, follow up with individuals with disabilities in each area to determine well-being and impact of storm or flood;
  3. Connect people with disabilities in need of support services to entities that can assist them. This includes connecting them with the lists developed for the NEG work crews in terms of clean up and restoration;
  4. Develop a report on the activities of the deployment, with projections of need and recommendations for next steps.
Wisconsin DPNs are considering supporting their Iowa colleagues through:
  • Possible deployment of three Wisconsin DPNs with Iowa DPNs in three of the most affected areas of Iowa; and
  • Consultation in the use of the Mobile Workforce Center Van in addressing local service needs, as this resource was utilized during the recent hurricane relief effort on the Gulf Coast.

Plans should be finalized soon and information will be released as it become available.

For additional information contact: Randee Chafkin at 202-693-2723 or chafkin.randee@dol.gov.

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US Department of Transportation

US Department of Transportation Produces Best of Public Safety Resource

The Best of Public Safety and Emergency Transportation Operations CD, produced through partnership activities among several US Department of Transportation divisions, provides the reader with a compilation of more than 40 resource documents. These documents are arranged by the following focus areas: Public Access to Emergency Services; Enhanced Information Sharing; Evacuation Management and Operations; Transportation Operations During Biohazard Situations; Preparedness and Response; and Planned Special Events.

These publications are representative of the best of the research efforts of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office's Public Safety Program, Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA); the Emergency Transportation Operations Initiative, Office of Transportation Operations, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); and the Emergency Medical Services Office, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The CDs may be obtained through the contacts at the end of this message or through the following link: http://www.its.dot.gov/its_publicsafety/index.htm.

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Recently Released Resources

Evacuation Station: The Use of Public Transportation in Emergency Management Planning

This paper, published on the web-based Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) Journal, January 2008 edition, examines emergency transportation planning practices and the role that public transit can play. While public transportation is often used in emergency situations, there is rarely planning or coordination, leading to confusion, inefficiency and risk. This article provides guidance to assist transportation professionals better prepare for emergencies. The paper can be found at http://www.vtpi.org/evacuation.pdf.

Emergency Preparedness Videos in ASL and Accessible Hazard Alert System

The Anderson County, Texas Medical Reserve Corps provides nine short videos in American Sign Language on emergency preparedness topics via their website. Topics of the videos are:

  • 211 Registry for Rides
  • Special Needs Emergency Preparedness Kit and Supplies
  • Emergency Supplies
  • Emergency Evacuation Plans
  • Evacuation Checklist
  • Smart Planning for Hurricanes
  • Hurricane Dangers
  • After Flood
  • Tropical Storm Dangers

Videos may be viewed at http://www.andersoncountymrc.com/asl.html.

In addition, there's a link from this website to DeafLink's Accessible Hazard Alert System (AHAS) - Individual Notification has a new service for deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened, deaf-blind and blind individuals in the US. AHAS sends notices to email addresses, pager, cell phones with text capability, and PDAs with email capability pertaining to a specific county, city or state. Alerts are available in ASL, English text, voice, and Braille-capable devices. To register, go to http://www.deaflink.com/ahas/ahas.html.

ShakeOut Scenario Prepares California for Disaster

A 7.8 magnitude Southern Californian earthquake - about the same as the recent Sichuan, China quake - would kill 1,800 people, injure 50,000 and wreak about $200 billion in damage, according to ShakeOut Scenario, a joint study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey.

The report, which was presented to Congress May 22, is the result of the collaboration of more than 300 scientists, engineers, and experts from other disciplines, according to a USGS statement.

To create the Scenario, geologists determined potential motion along the part of the San Andreas Fault with the greatest risk of rupture. Seismologists and computer scientists then modeled ground shaking. Engineers and building professionals used the models to estimate damage to the built environment, while social scientists evaluated emergency response, casualties, and the impact on economy and society.

The analysis is the most comprehensive look at what a major Southern California earthquake could mean and is the framework for "Golden Guardian '08" - California's largest earthquake preparedness drill, set for November 13, 2008. California has more than a 99 percent chance of registering a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake - and a 46 percent chance of a 7.5 or larger - within the next 30 years, according to USGS modeling study released in April. See the modeling study at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1437/.

For a copy of the full ShakeOut report, visit the ShakeOut Scenario page on the USGS Web site at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2008/1150.

Call for Contributions by Disaster Recovery Resources

DisasterRecoveryResources.net (http://www.disasterrecoveryresources.net) is a new Web site created to collect, annotate, and share a selection of research results, references, links, and other resources related to the long-term recovery phase of a major disaster. The site will collect and share various forms of information that contribute to an understanding of the community recovery process after a major disaster. Contributions from researchers, practitioners, and consultants are essential to the site's success. To contribute, write to the Project Manager Claire B. Rubin at cbrubin@gmail.com.

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Upcoming Events

July 12-15, 2008
Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop
Broomfield, Colorado, USA
The Natural Hazards Center invites proposals for session topics for the 2008 Annual Hazards Research and Applications Workshop. The annual workshop is designed to bring members of the research and applications communities together for face-to-face networking and discussion of cutting-edge issues related to hazards and disasters and society's efforts to deal with them. For more information, see: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/workshop/.

August 4-8, 2008
ESRI International User Conference
San Diego, CA
As the largest GIS conference in the world, this comprehensive annual gathering brings together GIS users from more than 120 countries. More than 1,500 users give presentations each year and analysts, developers, managers, and industry experts share insights into their applications and projects. Moderated sessions make up one of the most comprehensive collections of GIS papers in the world. For more information, see http://www.esri.com/events/uc/index.html.

November 15-20, 2008
IAEM 56th Annual Conference & EMEX 2008 "Putting a New Spin on Emergency Management"
Kansas City (Overland Park), Kansas
The IAEM Annual Conference provides a forum for current trends and topics, information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security, and advances IAEM committee work. Sessions encourage stakeholders at all levels of government, the private sector, public health and related professions to exchange ideas on collaborating to protect lives and property from disaster. For more information, see http://www.iaem.com/events/annual/intro.htm.

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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.

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About the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities

The 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:

  1. Emergency Communication
  2. Emergency Preparedness in the Workplace
  3. Emergency Transportation
  4. Health & Human Services
  5. Housing
  6. State, Local & Tribal Government Outreach
  7. Nongovernmental Outreach
  8. Policy
  9. Research

For more information about the ICC please visit http://www.disabilitypreparedness.gov.

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