Inclusive Emergency Planning and Response –It’s About the Partnerships Jon Davis, CEM, Deputy Director, Polk County Emergency Management Karin Ford, MSPS, Disability Consultant, Iowa Department of Public Health Image of flooded downtown Des Moines Credentials –A Little About Me •Former Firefighter •Reserve Police Officer •FEMA Urban Search and Rescue •Deputy Director, Polk County Emergency Management •Responsible for writing the Polk County Comprehensive Emergency Plan One Little Fall Changed Everything Implementation •Evacuation Zones •Notification •Evacuation Staging Area •Triage •Transportation •Sheltering Sheltering Partnerships •Iowa Department of Public Health •Polk County Health Department •Community, Family, Youth Services •American Red Cross-Central Iowa Chapter •Salvation Army •Des Moines Public Schools •Faith Based Community Coalition Building •Faith Based Community –Group of several denominations –Geographically dispersed throughout the county •Volunteers –Shelter staff –Work in other shelters Communication Strategies in the Shelter •Interpreters (language, American Sign Language, etc.) •Closed captioning •Information technology/computer services •TTY/TDD •Texting •CART (computer assisted real time translation) •Readers •Braille Registration Unit Tasks •Obtain basic personal information –Individuals are not required to provide information about their disability or access and functional needs but the opportunity to provide that information must be given •Request for accommodation will be provided even if not requested during the initial intake •Identify barriers that would limit independence in the shelter •Assess immediate Behavioral Health needs Assessment Form Determines •Communication needs/language •Medication needs •Dietary needs •Durable Medical Equipment/Consumable Medical Equipment •Sleeping accommodations –Medicots, Pediatric cots Service Animals People with access and functional needs who use service animals are not to be separated from their service animal when sheltering during an emergency, even if pets are normally prohibited in shelters Identifying Accessible General Populations Shelters •Look for buildings that meet minimum ADA compliance •Shelters have been categorized from accessible to not at all •Keep MOU’s current •Maintain relationship with building owner/occupant Credentials-A Little Bit About Me •Disability Advocate •Work in three main areas –Universal Design –ADA compliance –Inclusive disaster planning and response •What does that mean? Partnership with PCEM •Identify and establish accessible shelters •Survey shelters •Created a shelter list-desirable to not at all •Include needs for accessibility Temporary Accessible Shelters •Parking, entrance, common areas, bathrooms –including shower area •Routinely start in parking lot •Recommend finding accessible bathrooms, work out from there •May be able to make temporary changes for accessibility Temporary Accessible Parkingimage of 3 orange cones marking a parking space Orange Cone for Access Aisle •Place at the end of the space •Blocks parking •Easily moved •Temporary image of an orange cone Entrance to Shelter •Must be accessible •Sidewalk 36 inches wide minimum •Signage directing to accessible entrance •Can use temporary ramp •Must meet ADA specifications •Needs Handrails over 6 inches and 72 inches long •No ski slopes Common Areas •Adequate space •Eating, sleeping, all goods and services •Quiet room desirable •Path of travel •Plan for 80 square feet •Against the wall for stability, ease of transfer •Near exit Bathroom/shower •Both accessible •Can use risers to meet minimum height of 17 –19 inches •Temporary grab bars, must hold up to 250 lbs •Transfer benches for showers •Handheld or adjustable features •Soap and towels on counters Shelter Staff Training •Understand the anatomy of a disaster •Incident Command •National Incident Management System •How to support people with access and functional needs in the shelter •Personal/family preparedness •Donations management Resource Building •Find Community Providers Association •Begin contact and building there •Find experts in your state •Who can answer your questions Lessons Learned From Emergency Managers •Planning for each disability separately is overwhelming •Have to pay for modifications of shelter –no •Find one that is receptive, rest will follow Take Away •Stop planning for disability specific •Plan using the access and functional needs approach •Establish partnerships with providers, people with disabilities and family members •No need to re-invent •Providers, people with disabilities find a Jon •Emergency managers find a Karin Contact Information Jon Davis Polk County Emergency Management 1907 Carpenter Ave Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Jon.Davis@polkcounty.iowa.gov 515-286-2107 Karin Ford Iowa Department of Public Health Lucas State Office Building 321 E. 12thStreet Des Moines Iowa 50319 Karin.Ford@idph.iowa.gov 515-242-6336