Disability and Communication Access Board
State of Hawaii
|
|
Emergency Preparedness E-News
for Individuals with Disabilities and Special Health Needs
July 2011 Issue 19 |
| Greetings!
One of the easiest things to do when preparing for an emergency is to get to know your neighbors and co-workers. Living in a busy community with your family, work and other activities make it seem like there's no time to add anything else to your "To Do" list. However, developing good relationships with those around you may make a difference during an emergency.
I live in a townhouse association and know many of my neighbors. If something happens and I need assistance, I ask a neighbor for help. It is a natural tendency to ask someone you know. I also offer assistance to neighbors, co-workers and others who ask me. When I am at work, if something unexpected happens I offer help when I see someone in need. If we get to know our neighbors and co-workers and develop relationships, it will become a natural tendency to assist each other during an emergency or disaster. Make time in your day to get to know the people around you. You'll be glad you did! The Emergency Preparedness E-News is written to keep the community aware of issues and events related to emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities. Please feel free to send DCAB information that you would like to have included in a future issue. We look forward to hearing from you. Aloha,Debbie JacksonPlanner |
|
Live Aloha in Your Neighborhood
On Oahu, 13,633 islanders have joined together to protect and promote island living with a connection to the 'aina,' a culture of aloha and local economic self-reliance through an organization called Kanu Hawaii.
With the beginning of hurricane season, Kanu Hawaii created a group focused on emergency preparedness called "Get Ready." They are sponsoring workshops for families to learn how to get prepared as well as share information through neighborhood and community presentations. The workshops cover when and where to evacuate and how to prepare a "Go Kit" and "Stay Home Kit." Also included in the workshop will be discussion about how best to help our neighbors.
For more information, visit the website by clicking on Kanu Hawaii. You can also contact James Koshiba the Executive Director at (808) 206-8446.
Aloha to Robin Brandt from the Pacific Basin Rehabilitation, Research and Training Center for this information. |
|
FCC - Providing Accessible Emergency Information
The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) issued a Public Notice on June 17, 2011 to remind video programming distributors (VPDs) of their obligation to make emergency information accessible to persons with hearing or vision disabilities. VPDs are broadcasters, cable operators, satellite television services and "any other distributor of video programming for residential reception that delivers such programming directly to the home" of their obligation to make emergency information accessible to persons with hearing and vision disabilities. The FCC's rules were developed to ensure critical details of emergency information broadcasted on television are accessible to viewers with hearing or visual disabilities. There are no exemptions to these rules. Emergency information that is heard must be made accessible using closed captioning or other methods of visual presentation including open captioning "crawls," or "scrolls" that appear on the screen. Emergency information that is seen must also be made accessible for regularly scheduled newscasts, the newscaster must make sure that it is read aloud. This is especially true if emergency information interrupts programming (a crawl going across the screen containing emergency information) needs to be an aural tone to alert persons with vision disabilities of emergency information so they can tune to another source, such as radio, for more information. To view the entire public notice from the FCC, click on one of the following links: word documentprintable documenttext documentThank you to Rod Macdonald who forwarded the above information to DCAB from the FCC. |
|
HECO Emergency Preparedness Tips
 The June 2011 Hawaiian Electric Company's (HECO) Consumer Lines (the printed information enclosed with your monthly electric bill) provided excellent information about preparing for hurricane season. For those of you who missed it, the information is excerpted below.
Hurricane season has begun, so it's time to focus on your emergency preparations. A home survival kit is essential for emergencies that may result in extended power loss. It is recommended that you gather the following supplies:
- Battery-powered portable radio that receives the NOAA Weather Radio information;
- Flashlights, battery-powered lanterns;
- Extra batteries;
- First aid kit and prescription medications;
- Five- to seven-day supply of foods that won't spoil without refrigeration;
- Water for drinking (1 gallon per day for each person), cooking, washing and sanitation;
- Extra pet food, supplies and water;
- Personal hygiene and sanitary supplies;
- Extra pair of eye glasses, hearing aid batteries;
- Ice chest and ice or frozen ice packs;
- Camp stove or canned heat stove with fuel or hibachi and charcoal; and
- Manual can opener, matches or lighter.
The article goes on further to explain how to prepare for potential fluctuations or power outages and safety precautions to take: - Routinely use surge protectors to protect household electronic devices such as computers and home entertainment equipment.
- During a storm or power outage, turn off and unplug all unnecessary electronic appliances and equipment. When power returns, gradually plug in appliances.
- If someone in your home uses electrically powered life-support medical equipment, have a back up plan. The individual may need to be taken to a hospital. When going to an emergency shelter, take necessary medical equipment and medications along.
- If you evacuate to a shelter for safety, shut off the power supply to your home at the main breaker or switch.
Contact the Department of Emergency Management in Honolulu or your county Civil Defense agency. Websites for county Civil Defense agencies are listed below in "Quick Links." "HECO offers more detailed safety information in their Handbook for Emergency Preparedness. It is available online, or you can go back and click on the title of the Handbook. You need to register for the HECO website and go to the "Safety and Emergency" link across the top of the page. When you get to that page, in the left navigation bar, click on the "Emergency Preparedness" link and it will take you to the Handbook. It is the 2011 Edition of the Handbook in printable format. Print copies are available from the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), Maui Electric Company (MECO) and Hawaii Electric Light Company (HELCO). Just call their offices and ask for a print copy and one will be mailed to you. The phone numbers are listed below: HECO: (808) 543-7511 MECO: (808) 871-9777 HELCO: (808) 969-6999 Hilo Customer Service (808) 392-3584 Kona Customer Service (808) 885-4605 Waimea Customer Service Information from HECO Consumer Lines, Volume XXX, No. 6, June 2011 |
Pacific EMPRINTS Fourth Annual Conference
 Please join Pacific EMPRINTS at their "FOURTH ANNUAL PACIFIC PREPAREDNESS CONFERENCE: Challenges for Practice, Policy and Public Health" at the Ala Moana Hotel on September 16, 2011. The conference sponsors are the Pacific Emergency Management, Preparedness and Response Information Network and Training Services (Pacific EMPRINTS) at the University of Hawaii and Hawaii State Civil Defense.
The goal of the conference is to address timely topics at the forefront of emergency planning, preparedness, management and response concerns. Learn from National and State experts in the field with decades of knowledge and experience; Network with disaster management and preparedness partners, discuss collaborative opportunities, new approaches, perspectives, and ideas; Explore systematic and coordinated options to heighten resiliency in the Pacific region including culturally appropriate approaches. The target audience of the conference is emergency management professionals., first responders, health care professionals, public health professionals, faith-based organizations, librarians, disaster planners, policy makers, government leaders, military health personnel, laboratory personnel, disability service providers, mental health professionals, community advocates, long-term care professionals, social service leaders and volunteer organizations. For more information and to register, visit www.emprints.hawaii.edu/events/conf11.aspx. |
|
Kauai Emergency Response Field Day
 | | Photo from the ARRL website |
On Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., the Kauai Amateur Radio Club (KARC) operated under "emergency" conditions at the Nawiliwili Yacht Club's clubhouse. The public was invited to see what amateur radio operators can do over a 24-hour period.
Residents and visitors had an opportunity to meet and speak to Kauai amateur radio operators and saw for themselves what the program involved. Members had some of the latest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and also historic Morse Code during the emergency communications demonstration.
During an emergency when other forms of communications do not work, radio gear will be set up for emergency situations using generators providing power and some field antenna set up, while KARC tries to connect to radio operators around the world. The slogan of the National Association for Amateur Radio Clubs is "When all else fails, ham radio works." They send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, the Internet or other infrastructure that can go out during a crisis.
Participants to the event learned that the rapid communications of ham radio operators can quickly save lives when other means of communication failed or become overloaded.
To learn more about how to get your own FCC radio license or how ham radios are used in emergency situations, visit the websites of the National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) or Kauai Amateur Radio Club (KARC).
Source: The Garden Isle, June 23, 2011.
|
|
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
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# |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
