Work is underway to ensure that the needs of North Carolina’s most vulnerable populations are addressed during disasters. nearly 70 emergency management planners, first responders, state agencies, partner organizations, family members and self-advocates gathered today to hear details of a technical plan and discuss next steps to improve emergency preparedness for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
For the past year stakeholders met to determine sspecific ways to better prepare and serve the needs of the whole community. To address those unmet needs, North Carolina Emergency Management embarked upon the Emergency Preparedness Initiative, a four-year program to identify and prioritize action items needed to better prepare people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for emergencies.
“The aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Sandy revealed gaping holes in preparedness and response plans for the elderly and persons with functional needs,” said state Emergency Management director Mike Sprayberry. “This program is designed ot identify and address those needs for North Carolina residents.”
Through a series of meetings and planning sessions, the group examined communication, health, safety and transporation needs whether preparing for or responding to emergencies. They then determined how best to address those needs. The result was a detailed four-year technical plan and blueprint that outlined specific strategies to improve policies and plans, expand partnerships, enhance community awareness, develop specific tools or products and implement training for responsers and support professionals.
In addition to developing the technical plan, during the program’s first year, the group:
* Surveyed transporation service providers on capacity and cpability to serve individuals with access and functional needs during an emergency
* Through collaborative state partnership, identified a communication tool to use in shelters for occupants who have functional communication needs of limited English proficiency
* Improved accessibilty of the ReadyNC.org website
The Emergency Preparedness Initiative is made possible by a multi-year grant from the North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities.
“We each bear responsiblity for being prepared and protecting our famiiles in emergencies,” said Sprayberry. “But when it comes to populations with access or functional needs, even those who are prepared may need additional help when disaster strikes.”
Sprayberry said the group has done its homework; the technical plan now gives them the blueprint for what to do next and how to move forward during the next three years.
