As we move into hurricane season, the Disability and Communication Access Board (DCAB) began by co-sponsoring speakers from the Mainland to come and conduct a workshop titled "Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Needs of People with Medical Dependencies During a Disaster."  The Department of Health, Executive Office on Aging and DCAB collaborated to offer a workshop on Oahu, and the Department of Health went on to work with various other community agencies to take the training statewide. 

On July 20, 2013, the City and County of Honolulu sponsored the Pearl Ridge Emergency Evacuation Fair, and DCAB shared a booth with the University of Hawaii's Center on Disability Studies Feeling Safe Being Safe peer trainers to inform the public about the emergency preparation needs of People with Access and Functional Needs (PAFN). The picture in the header is of Joey and Christian Chowen, Feeling Safe Being Safe Peer Trainers, with Mayor Caldwell at the Pearl Ridge Fair.

DCAB conducted a series of trainings during July for Neighbor Island counties about how to determine whether or not an evacuation site is accessible for everyone, including PAFN. The counties are beginning to work on a plan to assess all sites used for evacuation shelters in conjunction with the State Department of Education. The majority of shelters are located on Oahu, and initial planning is underway to determine the best course of action to conduct similar trainings in the City & County of Honolulu.

Tropical Storm Flossie kept us busy during the early part of the summer. It was a real life situation to remind us that it is hurricane season, and the more prepared we are the better we can handle a storm or emergency if it does happen. Do not wait until the disaster is upon us to prepare. Basic planning should include the following:

1. Create a family plan to communicate and how to meet later if you are separated.
2. Assemble a 7-day emergency supply kit in case you need to evacuate.
3. Know the location of the nearest shelter(s).
4. Keep a battery-operated radio, flashlight and spare battery handy at all times.
5. Sign up for Nixle at www.nixle.com/dem to receive emergency alerts and community messages via e-mail and/or text messaging.
6. Visit the Department of Emergency Management website at www.oahuDEM.org for more information and to view a list of hurricane shelters.

(Last paragraph and list excerpted from Star Advertiser, 7/27/13)

  Aloha,
Planner

Second Edition of Homeowner's Handbook 

To begin September as National Preparedness Month, Get Ready, Ewa Beach presents the third annual Emergency Preparedness Fair on September 7, 2013. This is a free event open to all residents of Oahu. It will provide preparedness information and items for your evacuation or shelter-in-place kit. The event will be held at Ewa Makai Middle School located at 91-6291 Kapolei Parkway in Ewa Beach, HI 96706 beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. 

 

The theme of this year's event is KIT (Keep It Together), what you need in your kit, different types of kits, how to store your kit, and leave the fair with a cinch bag and basic items for your kit.

Event sponsors include Target, D.R. Horton, Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), Pali Momi Medical Center, Carmel Partners/the Waterfront, Haseko, Safeway and City Mill. Exhibitors include the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Emergency Management, State Civil Defense, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), American Red Cross, Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, National Weather Service, city first responders, medical professionals, private industry and many other agencies.

For more information, contact the Ewa Beach Emergency Preparedness Committee (EPC) at (808) 682-0111 or e-mail GetReadyEwaBeach@gmail.com.

On October 13th, the UN International Day for Disaster Reduction (IDDR) will focus on the issues surrounding some one billion of the world's people who live with disabilities and disaster risks. These persons, by-and-large, still have no significant representation in the planning and decision-making processes to reduce these risks or build resilience. The International Day intends to switch on and amplify the conversation that must take place on the needs of persons with disabilities in potential disaster scenarios.

Given the lack of data on disability issues generally, the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) is conducting this survey to ascertain the needs of persons living with disabilities and disasters. The International Day will further invite persons living with disabilities as well as society at large to get involved by expressing concerns, needs and recommendations on the International Day web page that can enhance implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) - the global disaster risk reduction plan that was adopted in 2005 for 10 years.

The HFA explains, describes and details what is required from all different sectors and actors to reduce disaster losses. It was developed and agreed on with governments, international agencies, disaster experts and many others. The HFA outlines five priorities for action, and offers guiding principles and practical means for achieving disaster resilience. Its goal is to substantially reduce disaster losses by 2015 by building the resilience of nations and communities to disasters.

In 2015 the HFA will complete its 10 year term. Findings from the survey and other information gathered during the observation of IDDR 13 will be used to influence the remaining two years of the Framework and as well as the pre HFA consultations which began in March 2012. The goal is a post 2015 Framework that is more disability inclusive.

If you are a person with a disability or a caregiver, click on the following link to take the survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XJFJD96

The survey is also available in foreign languages at the following sites:

 أستبيان 2013  حول التعايش مع الأعاقات و الكوارث
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IDDR-2013-ARABIC

遭受灾害的残疾人士生活状况调查 - 2013 中文版
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/IDDR-2013-CHINESE

Sondage 2013 a propos des personnes handicapees en situation de catastrophe naturelle
http://fr.surveymonkey.com/s/NJZ9YX7

Опрос за 2013 год о роли людей с ограниченными возможностями в процессе снижения риска бедствий
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M7W9D9K

Encuesta del 2013 sobre discapacidades y desastres
 http://es.surveymonkey.com/s/KMD6RNJ

The survey will continue until September 25, 2013. Please share the links with your networks.

For more information, visit the UNISDR web site at:
http://www.unisdr.org/2013/iddr/#.Uhu8oRZxsuJ.

FEMA's newest preparedness campaign is almost here.

 

This nationwide community-based initiative is designed to increase emergency preparedness and resilience through hazard-specific drills, group discussions and exercises. It also urges everyone in America to practice preparedness actions before a disaster or emergency strikes.

 

The campaign will be unveiled September 5th at the National Academy of Sciences conference during  National Preparedness Month and will highlight the leading natural disasters threats affecting the U.S. today.

 

Prior to the unveiling, join the preparedness conversation in a 30-minute TweetChat, "Debunking the Myths of Preparedness." The chat will start at 10:15 AM on September 5. Experts will address popular preparedness myths. To follow the conversation, use #PrepareAthon or follow @PrepareAthon.

 

Keep up with all the action in a live webcast of the unveiling and learn how to keep your family safe in the face of disaster.

 

From the Individual and Community Preparedness e-brief, August 28, 2013 Issue

 

The following sections of the "Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards," Second Edition are revised:

 

  1)      Evacuation Guidance for Local Tsunami

  2)      Recent Tsunami Events

  3)      Guide for Installing the Hurricane Plantation Tie (HPT) Clips

  4)      Completing the Continuous Load Path Connection

  5)      More Options for Window Coverings

  6)      Determine Your Flood Risk

  7)      More Options for Home Strengthening

  8)      Updated Information

  9)      Interactive Format

10)      Coming Soon

 

Hawaii State Civil Defense revised and published an updated list of Hurricane Evacuation Shelters. Shelters are listed by County and includes a graphic next to specific sites to indicate whether or not it is a "Special Health Needs Shelter" (a red square with a white hand in it) or a "Pet Friendly Shelter" (a green paw print).

According to the brochure, during an emergency or threat of disaster, Civil Defense information will be broadcasted over local radio and TV stations. When an evacuation is necessary, these broadcasts may include information about the location of public emergency shelters in affected areas. Additional information, including location of shelters designated for "people with special health needs," and facilities to house pets may be established when volunteers are available to open such specialized shelters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that when people evacuate to a shelter, including people who have disabilities and other access and functional needs (PAFN), that they go to a general population shelter closest to their home or work. Shelters should not be designated specifically for "people with special health needs." In the future, "special needs shelters" should no longer be part of a shelter list. PAFN will go to a general shelter, as long as he or she can function independently (with or without a caregiver).

Public emergency hurricane shelters do not stock supplies, so please bring provisions from your emergency supply kits. Supplies should include at least seven (7) days of food, water, and personal items for yourself (including medication), family members and pets. Please review the list of public emergency shelters and note the two (2) or three (3) closest to your home and/or work place. Shelters are listed in alphabetical order by areas in each county. The revised list includes public schools, as well as county district parks and facilities that may be used as a shelter. During a disaster call your County Department of Emergency Management or Civil Defense Agency for information about which sites are being opened as shelters.

A copy of the list is available on the Hawaii State Civil Defense web site at http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/documents/2013HurEvachelters.pdf.

The following list of supplies are suggested by Civil Defense, the American Red Cross, and other emergency aid agencies as the minimum that should be kept in a safe and close location. Check and replace items as needed.

 

Home Survival Kit: 

• Water, a three-day supply at 1 gallon per person per day
• Nonperishable foods
• Flashlight, with extra batteries
• Portable radio, with extra batteries
• Lantern, with extra fuel and mantles
• Candles
• Matches or lighters, in a waterproof container
• Hibachi or barbecue, with charcoal and lighter
• Can opener, nonelectric
• Leatherman or similar type multitool
• First-aid kit
• Household chlorine bleach
• Whistle to signal for help
• Personal hygiene supplies
• Extra prescription medications, including an extra pair of prescription eyeglasses
• Sleeping bags or blankets and tent
• Change of clothing and extra shoes or boots for each family member
• Pet food
• Ice chest, blue-ice packs in household freezer
• Disposable plates, napkins, kitchen utensils, paper towels, etc.
• Extra plastic bags
• Several rolls of duct or heavy-duty masking tape
• Cash
• Extra set of car keys
• Pens and pencils
• A map
• List of family physicians and their phone numbers
• Copies of personal identification, proof of residency
• One photo of each family member in case of separation 

Prepare for the storm:

• Put all loose items in yard, including trash cans, into garage or secure storage area
• Cover windows with plywood screwed into frame or with permanent shutters. In case windows do shatter, some experts advise taping the interior glass with a grid pattern of masking, duct or strapping tape to keep most of the shards from flying.
• Turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting and keep it closed.
• Turn off propane tank. If instructed by a utility, turn off other utilities.
• Unplug small appliances.
• Place extra pet food and water where pets can find shelter away from storm. Keep in mind that most shelters do not accept pets.
• Fill bathtubs with water to flush toilets, sponge baths. 

Family evacuation plan: 

• Prepare a plan together that will identify the route to a public shelter and include a map; identify two other potential shelters in case the first cannot be reached.
• Make sure each family member possesses either a cell phone or access to one phone number that everyone can call, i.e., family member in another community or on another island, in case of separation.

919 Ala Moana Blvd., Room 101
Honolulu, HI 96814

FAX: (808) 586-8129
E-mail:  DCAB General Delivery

Website: DCAB Home Page

Call toll free from Neighbor Islands:

County 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#