Improve your CERT Program by Incorporating People with Disabilities/Elderly & People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs
CERT Conference March 6, 2014
Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERTand
Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT
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Tips for Full Inclusion
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Introductions
Kathryn Gerk, CEM, Richmond Fire OES CERT
Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire CERT
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Welcome….
Do you know what PWD/e is?
Do you know what AFN is?
Have you incorporated AFN in your CERT program?
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What we will cover today:Basic ADA Issues and full inclusion for
CERT Programs
Challenges and best practices
The Good, the Bad & Misunderstood
CERT PWD/E Outreach Packet
GOAL AND PURPOSE
Raise the awareness of Seniors & PWD in CERT neighborhood plans
Improve Neighborhood Resilience
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Total Inclusion
FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate mandate
FULL Inclusion Planning Training Communications Transportation Response and Recovery
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ADA ISSUES; Tips and Best Practices
Always treat everyone with respect
People with Disabilities/Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing
Include them in your planning “Nothing about us without us”
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Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Training
Accessibility to ALL
Always identify your audience
At or BEFORE registration if possible Do you have any special requirements
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Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Training/Drills
ALWAYS Safety First – work with student – ask what they feel comfortable with and what they need
Consider CERT Workgroups bring Persons with Disabilities to table – include them in planning
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CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Basic ADA Issues and CERT Be Prepared - know your neighbors
– If you are not sure – ASK
SAFETY FIRSTAccessibilityMobility issuesLightingAudio
Lessons Learned from Past Disasters
Hurricane Katrina People left behind Unprepared and unable to fend for self Poor communications ability Disconnected from the community
11Superdome – Photograph Courtesy – Alison Wright
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Hurricane Sandy
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Issues Facing At-Risk Groups
Maintaining independence
Communication
Transportation
Supervision
Medical care
Esther 89 years old Lives alone Has no car, family lives out of state History of heart disease
Laura 5 years old Parents are undocumented
immigrants
James 35 years old Blind Lives with fiancée
Lessons LearnedHurricane
Katrina - 2005
• 73% of Hurricane Katrina-related deaths in New Orleans area were among persons age 60 and over, although they comprised only 15 percent of the population in New Orleans
• Most had medical conditions and functional or sensory disabilities that made them more vulnerable
AARP, We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters, 2006
Why get involved?
You know the people in your neighborhood
CERT Teams are in a unique position to help prepare
Planning before an emergency can save lives, reduce illness and injury
Doing something NOW is better than hoping for assistance after emergency
CERT Neighborhood Teams
CERT Buddy System
Preparedness for EVERYONE
Tips and Best Practices
How can CERT help?
Buddy System in the Neighborhood
CERT Training for all – Empower all
More Resilient Neighborhoods
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What are the benefits?
You can:
Identify strategies that empower PWD/E individuals to prepare for emergencies
Strengthen your CERT Neighborhood Team
More resilient community
CERT Buddy System
Pair up in the neighborhood –
Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster
CERT Buddy System
Strengthens the neighborhood
Speeds up recovery efforts
Preparedness for everyone
Basic Concepts
Neighborhood Teams – Everyone has a CERT job
Everyone has own “special needs”
BASIC CONSIDERATIONS
Know who your neighbors are
Include everyone in your planning efforts
Ask how everyone can help one another
Ask what neighbors need to be better prepared - Assistance? Collaboration?
Preparedness for everyone
Think ahead…make an emergency plan Communication during emergency
Make an emergency kit Does not need to be complicated or expensive
Stay informed Local emergency plans and services
Get involved Know your neighbors and check on those at-risk Join CERT Team
Personal Preparedness for PWD/E
Create an emergency support network
Work with providers and social support networks to develop contingency plans for an emergency
Complete and make copies of Vial of Life and carry a medications list in your wallet
Develop a transportation plan
Personal Preparedness for PWD/E
Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Work with providers and social support networks to develop contingency plans for an emergency
Develop food and fluid supply lists for special dietary needs
Pack a Go Bag with essential supplies
CERT Buddy System
CERT’s Pair up with Seniors and PAFN in neighborhood –
Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster
More resilient neighborhoods
Speeds up recovery efforts
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Disability vs. Ability
Mobility Communication Hearing Sight
Resilient Know the community Eyes & ears of
neighborhood Experience with
daily challenges
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Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Training
Work with Independent Living Resource Agencies
Develop relationships with Visiting Nurses Associations
Work with your local Operational Area and American Red Cross
Learn your district – Develop Relationships
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The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood
The Good –
Everyone can have a position on a team
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The Bad
Don’t try and change the program because of the need, keep the program the same to assist with
the need
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The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Misunderstood
People with AFN can’t do CERT
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The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Exercises
Add them to your CERT Planning Team
Get them involved in creating the scenario
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Best Practices on how to incorporate
Network Network Network…
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Continuous Improvement
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4. Collaboratively Address the Action Items – Training & Drills
3. Develop Action Items
2. Build Work Groups
5. Review & Revise Actions
1. Assessment
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
Best Practices
Independent Living Resource Center Drill Santa Barbara County All CERT Drill in Lompoc,
CA
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Lessons Learned
Everyone can play a part
Knowing the limits of all your players
Understanding the facilities you are working and teaching in
Treat everyone as if there are no limits
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Best Practices – Richmond Fire OES
CERT Neighborhood Teams Neighbors helping
neighbors
CERT Buddy System
Neighborhood resilience
Emergency Kit
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CERT NEIGHBORHOOD PWD/E Outreach PacketsDeveloped by C8
CERT Seniors/ PWD Subcommittee
Grant from SUASI
Help improve preparedness for all
08/24/13 WC CERT PWD/E Workshop, [email protected]
CERT NEIGHBORHOOD PWD/E Outreach PacketsDistributed across
CCC CERT’s
Asking CERT Neighborhood Teams to distribute
Collaboration helps everyone
Lessons Learned
Everyone needs to be prepared to increase everyone's chances for survival
CERT’s are THE “boots on the ground first responders”
Neighborhood resilience
Remember – PWD/E used to challenges – they are a resource to your neighborhood!
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CONCLUSION – We are all in this together
Right thing to do
Right time
For the Good of the whole community
CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014
QUESTIONS?Thank You
Working together increases everyone's chances for
survival
Kathryn Gerk, CEM, Richmond Fire OES [email protected]
Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire CERT [email protected]