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State of Hawaii
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October Supplement 2012
| Issue 28 |
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Emergency Preparedness E-News
for People with Disabilities and other Access and Functional Needs
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 Go Kits Ready!
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DCAB received more information for October 2012 and decided to include a supplemental issue. The picture in the heading box is of the people staffing the University of Hawaii, Center on Disability Studies and DCAB booth at the Ewa Emergency Preparedness Fair in September. Thanks to all of the work of the City & County's Department of Emergency Management staff, the fair was well attended and information was shared with many visitors.
DCAB has been working with State Civil Defense and the Department of Health to review the 2009 Interagency Action Plan for the Emergency Preparedness of Persons with Disabilities and Special Health Needs to see what the next steps will be in revising the plan. All three partners agree the plan needs to be revised to have the language consistent with FEMA information related to emergency management for people with disabilities and other access and functional needs. DCAB can make that basic change.
DCAB also plans to visit each county in December to see what progress has been made on goals and objectives and obtain community feedback about what needs to be included, deleted or changed to the Interagency Action Plan. Please watch for announcements about when we will be in your area, and come to the forum and provide feedback related to emergency management, people with disabilities and other access and functional needs in your community.
Let's go into the holiday season in good spirits and enthusiasm. This will result in a positive outcome for an updated version of the Interagency Action Plan. Thank you in advance for your participation in the planning process. The more we plan and prepare, the more we are ready to face what the future holds for us!
Aloha, Debbie Jackson
Planner 
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 Volcanoes Park Earns Tsunami, Storm Ready Designations |  Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will now get updated information about what to do if a tsunami hits the coastline, or if inclement weather threatens the park's highest slopes because park officials recently completed the process of getting the National Weather Service's Tsunami Ready and Storm Ready designations. The application process codified many of the park's warning systems and evacuation plans, which "naturally evolved" over several years according to Chief Ranger Talmadge Magno. Chief Ranger Magno said one highlight is an "early notification for backpack users on the coast to make them aware of the tsunami potential on the coastline." The Chief added that new literature was placed at coastal campsites throughout the park to remind hikers if they feel an earthquake to move inland immediately. Hikers have only minutes to know and use escape routes during earthquakes. The park also added several new weather radios, which broadcast weather advisories, to the dispatch center and other areas where park staff and visitors are located. Those broadcasts will help park staff get more information to make decisions about what emergency actions they should take. The entire designation process took approximately 18 months. The park has 32 miles of coastline and also includes the slope and summit of Mauna Loa which is 13,677 feet above sea level. Tsunami inundation zones are marked with new signs. Excerpted from West Hawaii Today, October 2, 2012 |
FEMA 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge
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 On September 28, 2012, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced applications are being accepted for new funding to build community resilience through a Whole Community approach, in communities across the U.S. This is the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge program.
In the announcement, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate stated that "The goal of this program is to empower communities to collaborate and develop innovative ways to respond to disasters. The Rockefeller Foundation and FEMA are providing the opportunity for the program that will be administered by the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation. The LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation will act as a third-party intermediary to encourage local communities to engage in creative activities that enhance disaster resilience. Funding levels will range, with a maximum award of $35,000. Applications are open to most local, state, and tribal agencies and governments; business entities; associations; organizations and groups. Submissions will be accepted through October 26.
Important assessment areas that will be evaluated for the awards will include the applicants' demonstration that their approach to community resilience is innovative, collaborative with community stakeholders, sustainable, and repeatable. The approach must enable other communities to replicate their successful outcomes and be beneficial to the community in measurable ways.
FEMA recognizes that the government approach to disaster management needs to be enhanced by community efforts. The Whole Community must actively be involved in all phases of preparedness, response, and recovery. These awards are designed to invest and enhance the Whole Community effort.
More information on the Challenge program criteria and application process can be found at www.fema.gov and www.ResilienceChallenge.org.
Excerpted from FEMA's 9/28/12 program announcement
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| Emergency Management and Inclusion Webinar Series |  National, state, and local entities and communities are increasingly planning emergency management and preparedness to handle disasters. Emergencies and disasters can be particularly concerning for people with disabilities. Successful outcomes for people with disabilities in disasters will depend on how inclusive the plans are. These free webinars will focus on key strategies and approaches at various levels (federal, state, and local) toward emergency management and preparedness and the inclusion of people with disabilities. Part 1 of the series was conducted on September 13, 2012. If you were not able to participate in that portion, it has been archived and you can hear it when you have an opportunity. The topic of Part 1 was State, Local, and Community Response to Emergencies - How Disability Fits (Planning). Issues covered were how state and local agencies plan for emergencies. State plans were discussed including the emergency support functions (such as sheltering, communications, and evacuation). It also described how local jurisdictions' emergency plans are coordinated with state plans. In looking at the planning processes, it was also pointed out where people with disabilities need to be included and can be included in the process. There are also handouts available from Part 1. To hear Part 1, go to http://www.adaconferences.org/Emergency/Archives/. Part 2 of the webinar series is scheduled for October 25, 2012 from 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. Hawaii time. To register and participate in the webinar, go to http://www.adaconferences.org/Emergency/Register/ and complete the registration form. Dawn Skaggs from the University of Hawaii's Emergency Preparedness Initiative Grant Program is one of the featured speakers in Part 2 of the series. Sponsors of the webinar series are the Pacific ADA Center and Great Lakes ADA Center. The Pacific ADA Center serves Region IX that includes Hawaii. To learn more about programs offered through the Pacific ADA Center, visit their website at http://www.adapacific.org/. |
| FEMA ODIC Job Opportunities |  FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) is growing and has two vacancies in the Washington, DC area. ODIC is recruiting a Disability Integration Communication Specialist (GS-301-12) and a Senior Advisor (GS-301-14). Please follow the links below to each of the vacancy announcements in USAJOBS.GOV.
Anyone interested in applying for one of these exciting opportunities may wish to join FEMA and help integrate and coordinate national disability inclusive emergency management efforts.
Senior Advisor GS-301-14:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/328203800
Disability Integration Communications Specialist GS-301-12:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/328246800
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| 2012 "Great ShakeOut" |  The National Preparedness Month team reminds the public that earthquakes can happen at any time and occur anywhere. On August 23, 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hit Mineral, Virginia. This unexpected earthquake was felt as far north as New England and as far south as Georgia. The quake hit on the first day of school for many students on the east coast and emphasized the importance of school safety and being prepared for the unexpected.
FEMA announced that the 2012 "Great ShakeOut" will be conducted on October 18th. This is a drill , which can be conducted in as little as 90 seconds, provides a timely and relevant opportunity for the entire community to get prepared, practice what to do to be safe ("Drop, Cover, and Hold On"), and learn what emergency plans need to be improved. Schools, colleges, universities, businesses, organizations, and households can and will participate.The Resources section of each ShakeOut website provides drill manuals for K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and organizations, as well as other materials to plan, prepare, and promote your drill. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Education's Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools (REMS) Technical Assistance Center website, http://rems.ed.gov, provides and disseminates information, training and resources about emergency management to help schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education learn more about creating and maintaining emergency management plans. Additional information on all hazard planning and response can be found on FEMA's Ready campaign website, www.ready.gov. All schools, organizations, and households play a critical role in helping our Nation become better prepared for any disaster or emergency. Schools are especially important in providing our next generation of leaders with the tools to help teach their friends, families, and peers how to be ready for an earthquake and can help our entire country become more resilient in the face of a disaster. Participating in ShakeOut and other drills (and encouraging others to join you!) is a great way for your whole community to promote emergency preparedness. If you have any questions regarding the ShakeOut, please visit www.ShakeOut.org.
Information excerpted from a 10/3/12 letter from Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education and
Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security |
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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 PageCounty of Hawaii: (808) 974-4000, ext. 6-8121# County of Kauai: (808) 274-3141, ext. 6-8121# County of Maui: (808) 984-2400, ext. 6-8121# Molokai & Lanai: 1-800-468-4644, ext. 6-8121#
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