Image of DCAB acronym with ISA in the letter B
Disability and Communication Access Board
State of Hawaii

Emergency Preparedness E-News
for Individuals with Disabilities and Special Health Needs
 
November 2010                                                                                    Issue 14

    Image of Hurricane icon    Image of Flood icon    Image of Earthquake icon    Image of Tsunami icon
 
Images used here are from the Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards by Dennis J. Hwang and Darren K. Okimoto from the University of Hawaii's Sea Grant College Program.

In this issue
Project Lifesaver Expands in Hawaii County
Big Island 'Safe Room'
Civil Defense Sirens Short on Big Island
Planning for All Members of the Community
Take a Look

Greetings!

On November 5th, Governor Lingle sent a note with paychecks to all state employees to remind them that state employees are considered civil defense workers and maybe assigned to response or recovery duties in the event of an emergency or disaster. This is included here as a community reminder that even though hurricane season ends on November 30, 2010, there is still potential for earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural or man-made hazards. We all need to remain prepared for any type of emergency, because we never know when one may occur.

This E-News is written to keep the community aware of issues and events related to emergency preparedness as it relates to individuals with disabilities. Please inform DCAB about what you would like to see in the newsletter. E-mail your comments and suggestions to [email protected]. Your feedback is appreciated!

Have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Debbie Jackson
Planner

Project Lifesaver Expands in Hawaii County 

 

Image of Project Lifesaver logoThe Emergency Preparedness E-News of February 2010, Issue #5, reported about Project Lifesaver in Hawaii County. The following is updated information about the program.

 

Caregivers have most difficult jobs around. It's compounded when the person being cared for has dementia. The person may be at high risk for wandering anytime of the day or night. This is where Project Lifesaver helps.

 

The Hawaii County Office of Aging (HCOA) is supporting the Hawaii Fire Department to continue the Project Lifesaver Program that began in 2007. Project Lifesaver is a National program that places personalized radio transmitters on identified individuals. These transmitters will assist Hawaii Fire Department personnel locate individuals who have wandered off and cannot help themselves.

 

Project Lifesaver helps to reduce caregiver anxiety and save lives of older individuals who become lost. The families ability to keep older individuals, who wander off, at home improves and the family may decide not to place them in an institution. If you, or someone you know, live in Hilo and would like more details about participating in Project Lifesaver, please call the Aging and Disability Resource Center at 961-8626.

 

Excerpted from The Silver Bulletin, October 2010, page 5.


 Big Island 'Safe Room' 

 

FEMA Safe RoomOn October 30, 2010, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported that one of the proposed changes to the County of Hawaii's building code included a requirement for a residential 'safe room.' The requirement to build a 'safe room' would increase the construction cost of a home by approximately $3,000.

 

If this proposed change is approved, it would mandate that the 'safe room be designed to:

  1. hold eight (8) people;
  2. be anchored to the home's foundation;
  3. withstand 160 mph winds;
  4. feature a phone line; and
  5. have an impact-protected window.

According to the Hawaii-Tribune, these and other proposals to the county building code were not well received by those attending the public hearing on Wednesday, October 24, 2010.

 

The State Building Code was adopted about six months ago, and the counties have two years to pass local amendments or the state codes will apply.


Civil Defense Sirens Short on Big Island

 

Image of County of Hawaii SealDCAB has been monitoring Bill 291 in the County of Hawaii. This bill would require developers on new coastal developments to pay for warning sirens, and was proposed after February's tsunami scare revealed that the Big Island's coastal areas were not adequately covered with sirens.

 

An article in the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported that in 2006, State Civil Defense (SCD) completed an analysis and identified sixty three (63) sites on the Big Island where there were no tsunami warning sirens. The 2007 Legislature appropriated money to SCD for sirens, however $8.5 million dollars more is needed for 100 additional sirens.

 

Bill 291 was introduced by Pete Hoffmann, Kohala representative on the Hawaii County Council, to pay for coastal sirens on the Big Island so residents in those areas will be warned. The bill has been moving forward. On November 24th, it will be heard by the Leeward Planning Commission and then reviewed by the Windward Planning Commission. Both commissions will make recommendations to the County Council.

 

According to the Star Advertiser article, SCD is planning to install 51 new sirens on the Big Island by early next year. The state is finalizing bid solicitations for the sirens, and they may be awarded sometime in January. DCAB will continue monitoring the status of Bill 291.  


Planning for All Members of the Community

 

Image of Blue FEMA LogoA news release dated November 16, 2010 reported that FEMA Deputy Administrator, Rich Serino addressed the American Ambulance Association's 2010 Conference in Las Vegas. In his remarks, Deputy Administrator Serino spoke about the importance of working together as a team to respond to and recover from emergencies. He urged the audience to incorporate the needs and capabilities of the entire community, including children and individuals with disabilities in planning for disaster response and recovery.

 

Deputy Administrator Serino went on to acknowledge that the American Ambulance Association as a critical member of the national emergency management team and urge that all agencies need to work together to keep the community safe. The conference provided Deputy Administrator with an opportunity to hear directly from the American Ambulance Association, as a first responder providing medical transportation and emergency medical services in communities throughout the country, about their needs and how FEMA could to to support them.

 

For more than 35 years, Deputy Administrator Serino has had experience as a volunteer on the Boston ambulance squad and he retired last fall as Chief of the Boston Department of Emergency Medical Services and Assistant Director of the Boston Public Health Commission.


Take a Look

  
Image of Man using laptop computerThe following links were provided by the community, and were previewed by DCAB staff. The first two are about Mr. Richard Richard Devylder, who was one of the speakers at the 2010 FEMA Conference Capacity Building Conference in Baltimore, MD. Mr. Devylder is the Senior Advisor for Accessible Transportation at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The last link is a newsletter with two options for viewing. The first is for individuals who use magnification software, and the second is for individuals who use screenreaders.

 

Richard Devylder at the 20th ADA Anniversary Celebration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8LrfEY0r-s

 

A Day in the Life of Richard Devylder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l96aNpaZ-xc&feature=channel

 

NFPA's e-ACCESS newsletter November/December 2010

 

Single Column format for those using magnifying software

http://e.nfpa.org/a/hBM6ndsAQPK-TB8VwV6NhUkUZWy/link3

  

Multi-column format for those using screenreaders:

http://e.nfpa.org/a/hBM6ndsAQPK-TB8VwV6NhUkUZWy/link2

 

Hope you found the information on these links both interesting and useful!


Contact Information
 Image of State Seal of Hawaii              
 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
 Web site: 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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