Disability and Communication Access Board
State of Hawaii
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Emergency Preparedness E-News
for Individuals with Disabilities and Special Health Needs
February 2010 Issue 5
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Greetings!
Hope your new year is going well. DCAB staff has been busy since the Hawaii State Legislature began on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. There are bills from the 2009 session that are still alive, as well as the bills that were introduced in 2010. There are several measures focused on civil defense and emergency preparedness. We will keep you updated on any such bills proceeding through the legislative process. Hopefully, the E-News is providing you and your family with important information. Please forward this e-mail newsletter to anyone you feel may be helped by any of the information. If you are just visiting this page and wish to subscribe, click on the "Join our mailing list" option at the bottom of the page and add yourself to the E-News mailing list. A few of the articles in this issue were forwarded by community members. If you have any information you would like featured in future editions of the E-News are welcome. Please e-mail items to me at debbra.jackson@doh.hawaii.gov. Your feedback and comments are also appreciated!
Aloha,
Debbie Jackson
Planner
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| DCAB Get Ready DVD
 The DCAB Get Ready emergency preparedness DVD is available for distribution. If you are an agency that works with individuals with disabilities and you conduct emergency preparedness training for your program participants or the public, please contact DCAB for a free copy of the video. Once you have the DVD, feel free to burn copies. The DVD is higher resolution, so you will provide a better quality DVD by copying the disk instead of downloading it from the Internet.
The DVD has two (2) 5-7 minute videos about emergency preparedness. One is on preparing your emergency kit and the other is about preparing your home to shelter in place. Both programs are captioned and contain general information that needs to be supplemented with other written material specific to individuals with disabilities.
The videos are currently on YouTube and can also be viewed over the Internet. For more information or to receive a copy of the DVD contact Debbie Jackson by calling. | |
Project Lifesaver
 Project Lifesaver International received official notification from the Bureau of Justice Assistance that the federal grant for the Missing Alzheimer's Patient Assistance program has been approved. Project Lifesaver has been successfully operating on the Big island since 2007.
Under this grant, each existing Project Lifesaver agency receives up to two transmitters, plus a year supply of batteries and bands for each transmitter, for two individuals with Alzheimer disease. Individuals who are approved also receive a "wandering kit" from the Alzheimer's Foundation of American with a DVD and brochures on Alzheimer disease and caregiving.
The majority of the funding from the grant will supply new agencies that join Project Lifesaver with equipment and training at a minimal cost. Over an 18 month grant cycle, 100 new agencies will be able to join Project Lifesaver at very little cost. There are 100 spots to fill, and applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. There are 1,109 total agencies involved with Project Lifesaver, and a total of 2,069 rescues based on use of the transmitter.
In Hilo, Project Lifesaver has been operating with 10 transmitters. Seven (7) of them have been assigned to individuals in the community. The transmitters have approximately a 5 mile radius and can locate people wearing them who have wandered away from home and are lost. The Hilo Fire Department has been responsible for this project and is currently working on funding to purchase 25 new transmitters. Any family with a member who has a tendency to wander and get lost (someone with alzheimers, dementia, TBI, developmental disabilities, elderly, etc.) could be a potential user of the transmitter. County Councilwoman, Emily Naeole has been instrumental in obtaining additional funding for the program. Plans are to coordinate efforts for Project Lifesaver through the Area Agency on Aging. If you have additional questions about how the program works at a local level, contact Battalion Chief Gerald Kosaki at (808) 932-2908.
Contact Project Lifesaver International at (757) 546-5502 for application forms for potential new agencies to join, contact Tommy Carter at ext. 102. |
National Disaster Preparedness Training Center
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opened a new training center at the University of Hawaii (UH) on Tuesday, February 9, 2010. Funding of $5 million was awarded to UH for fiscal year 2009 an a similarly amount for federal fiscal year 2010 for the center.
The National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) will conduct training to prepare first responders, decision makers, policy analysts and urban planners to respond to a natural hazard such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, wildfires, floods an coastal storms.
The Star Bulletin reported that the "Hawaii disaster preparedness center is the first to focus on natural hazards because of the state's unique geography and strong science programs, coastal communities and resources." UH professor Karl Kim is the executive director of the NDPTC and can be reached at (808) 351-8840 or e-mail. You can also visit the NDPTC website.
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Kauai Medical Reserve Corp (MRC) Honors
 On January 28, 2010, the Hawaii State Department of Health (DOH) announced that it had awarded Angela Serota of Lihue the President's Volunteer Service Award. This is a national honor to recognize her over 100 hours of volunteer service in 2009.
Ms. Serota has been a member of the Kauai MRC since August 2008. She is a retired nurse who dedicates her time and efforts toward helping the community stay healthy and prepared. She has been a member of the DOH's "Stop Flu at School" vaccination campaigns.
The Kauai MRC has a history of volunteer service with over 80 volunteers performing community service each year. It serves a community of 62,000 people in Kauai County. The mission of Kauai MRC is establish a team of local volunteers who can contribute their skills and expertise for medical and public health services during the year and during times of community need. It also works to enhance the knowledge of the local community in disaster and emergency preparedness.
The Volunteer Service Award was established in 2003, and is presented on an annual basis to individuals, groups and families who have met or exceeded requirements for volunteer service. As one of the thousands of certifying organizations participating in the award program, the Kauai MRC confers the award to recognize the outstanding achievements of it's volunteers. To be eligible for the award, individuals, families and groups submit a record of their annual volunteer service hours with qualifying agencies such as the Kauai MRC who will verify the service. Eligibility is based on hour requirements varying by age.
For more information about volunteering for the Kauai MRC, contact Michael Robless by clicking on his name or call him at (808) 241-3555. Excerpted from DOH News Release 010-009. |
Contact Information
Disability and Communication Access Board
919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 101
Honolulu, HI 96814
Phone: (808) 586-8121 (V/TTY)
Fax: (808) 586-8129
E-mail: DCAB General Delivery
Website: DCAB Home Page County of Hawaii: 974-4000, ext. 6-8121# Couny of Kauai: 274-3141, ext. 6-8121# County of Maui: 984-2400, ext. 6-8121# Molokai & Lanai: 1-800-468-4644, ext. 6-8121# | |
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