[Nfbf-l] A plan for emergency preparedness

[Sherri]

Thought this might be of interest.

otAPlan'-FAAST'semergencypreparednessself-helplist5-2-11.pdf
Got A Plan?
Emergency Preparedness Self-Help Resources
May 2, 2011
The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1st through November 30th and fires, 
floods,
and other natural disasters and emergencies can strike at any time 
throughout
the year. All Floridians need to prepare in advance for disasters. This 
document
provides links to helpful websites, videos, articles, and other information 
about
emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities.
1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advises preplanning.
"Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will 
contact
one another. Think about how you will communicate in different situations.
Complete a contact card for each family member. Have family members keep 
these
cards handy in a wallet, purse, backpack, etc. You may want to send one to 
school with
each child to keep on file. Pick a friend or relative who lives out-of-state 
for household
members to notify they are safe.
Family Communications Plan which should be completed and posted so the 
contact
information is readily accessible to all family members. A copy should also 
be included
in your family disaster supplies kit."
http://www.fema.gov/pdf/areyouready/appendix_c.pdf
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has important information
regarding emergency management preparedness for individuals with 
disabilities at:
http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/specialplans.shtm.
Are you Ready? provides a step-by-step approach to disaster preparedness by
walking the reader through how to get informed about local emergency plans, 
how to
identify hazards that affect their local area, and how to develop and 
maintain an
emergency communications plan and disaster supplies kit.
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/index.shtm
Telephone: 1 (800) 621-FEMA (3362) / TTY (800) 462-7585
3333 West Pensacola Street
Suite 140
Tallahassee, FL 32304
www.faast.org
Voice (850) 487-3278
TDD (877) 506-2723
Toll-Free (888) 788-9216
Fax (850) 575-4216
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2. Disaster Ready
For a comprehensive 83 page planning guide for persons with disabilities, go 
to:
http://www.fddc.org/sites/default/files/file/publications/Disaster%20Preparedness%20%2
0Guide.pdf.
3. ADA Guide for Local Governments
Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to
People with Disabilities: http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprep.htm
4. To contact the Florida Division of Emergency Management go to:
http://www.floridadisaster.org.
Emergencies Only: 1-800-320-0519 / (850) 413-9911
Non-Emergencies: (850) 413-9900
The Florida Division of Emergency Management website offers resources and
information specifically tailored for individuals with disabilities/special 
needs and their
families to help prepare for emergencies, protect themselves and survive. 
For
information, go to: http://www.floridadisaster.org/disability/index.html
To find the Emergency Preparedness Management office closest to you within 
your
county go to: http://www.floridadisaster.org/fl_county_em.asp.
5. Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about
disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them 
in basic
disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team
organization, and disaster medical operations. For more information, go to:
http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/.
6. What is the FCC's Emergency Alert System (EAS)?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designed the Emergency Alert
System (EAS) (http://www.fcc.gov/eb/eas/) so officials can quickly send out 
important
emergency information targeted to a specific area. After conducting 
extensive tests of
competing technologies, the FCC ruled that the EAS would be a digital-based
automated system and use coding protocols similar to NOAA Weather Radio 
(NWR)
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME)
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrsame.htm.
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EAS sends out alerts not just to broadcast media but also to cable 
television, satellites,
pagers, Direct Broadcast Satellite, High Definition Television, and Video 
Dial Tone.
EAS also accounts for the needs of special populations such as the deaf and 
those with
special language requirements. In 1996, EAS replaced the Emergency Broadcast
System (EBS).
7. General information on how NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) can be an alerting 
tool
for individuals who are hard of hearing or deaf can be found at:
http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/special_need.htm.
To find the latest weather forecasts around the USA, track storms through 
NOAA
weather satellites, get the latest weather maps and learn how to protect 
yourself and
your community from severe weather go to: http://www.noaawatch.gov/.
8. The American Red Cross has information on their website regarding 
emergency
disaster response and preparedness. Go to: http://www.redcross.org/.
Toll-Free Phone: 1 800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
To view a Red Cross video on people with disabilities and disaster 
preparation, go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJQr40wJ5MA&feature=related
9. To find the Florida Department of Health's information on emergency
preparedness, go to their website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/. Select the 
search
function and type "emergency preparedness."
10. The Florida Courts website has a Guide on the Special Needs of People 
with
Disabilities for Emergency Managers, Planners & Responders. To view this 
guide,
to go:
http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/emergency/bin/epiguide2004.pdf#xml=http://search.f
lcourts.org/texis/search/pdfhi.txt?query=emergency+preparedness&pr=external&prox=
page&rorder=500&rprox=500&rdfreq=500&rwfreq=500&rlead=500&rdepth=0&sufs=0&
order=r&cq=&id=4b719405778
11. Video conference services for individuals with deafness in hurricane 
shelters
http://cilsfla.blogspot.com/2008/05/videoconferencing-services-available.html
Deaf Link's website: http://www.deaflink.com/
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12. Westcot Portable Emergency Beds for Individuals with Disabilities
http://www.emergencyresources.com/westcot400.html
13. Software for police, fire departments, and officials manning shelters to
communicate with individuals with deafness
http://www.vcom3d.com/index.php?id=ssstudio
14. For a suggested list of items to bring to Special Needs Shelters, go to
http://www.bradford-co-fla.org/emergency%20man/What%20to%20Bring.pdf.
15. Go to www.ready.gov to learn more about what you can do to protect 
yourself and
your families in case of an emergency.
16. For comprehensive emergency management planning criteria for Hospice, go 
to
www.doh.state.fl.us/PHNursing/SpNS/FAC58A-2.026.doc.
17. What should I know about pets?
According to the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act (PETS) of 
2006
(http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h109-3858) state and local 
emergency
preparedness operational plans must address the needs of individuals with 
household
pets and service animals following a major disaster or emergency if they 
want to qualify
for grant money from FEMA. The Act gives FEMA authority to help communities
develop pet-friendly shelter facilities and practical assistance for 
individuals with pets
and service animals, and the animals themselves, following a major disaster. 
The
PETS Act does away with all the excuses from county and city governments 
without
pet-friendly disaster plans. For more information, go to:
http://www.animallaw.info/statutes/stusfd2006pl109_308.htm.
Go to http://www.floridapets.net/petfriendlyshelters.html for a 
county-by-county list of
pet-friendly motels and hotels. This site also gives updates about 
pet-friendly shelters.
Remember, your service animal is not a pet and is allowed in all shelters.
18. Go to www.myflorida.com for information on emergency preparedness
management in general. In the search function of this website, type 
"emergency
preparedness."
Sherri Brun
http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun

E-mail: flmom2006 at gmail.com
 NFBF Newsline® chair
www.nfbnewsline.org
Vice-president NFB Greater Orlando Chapter
http://nfbfgoc.org
Secretary FDCP INC
www.fdcp.org

"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." John 
Lennon