National Disability Rights Network and Emergency Management

Our Position
The nation learned a painful lesson in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina during which thousands of people with disabilities, seniors, and other vulnerable populations were left behind because no plans for their evacuation had been developed.  Since then, NDRN has been working to ensure that people with disabilities are never forgotten in an emergency again.  NDRN believes disaster management and emergency preparedness plans at the local, state and national level, as well as in the private sector, must include people with disabilities.

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Taking Action
In March, NDRN signed a memorandum of agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that will strengthen the Network’s ability to collaborate with officials before, during and after an emergency and ensuring the needs and concerns of individuals with a disability are heard.  Read the agreement here.
Also in March, NDRN reached an agreement with the Red Cross to collaborate on issues affecting the disability community. Read that agreement here.

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Resources
April 30, 2010: FEMA Intergovernmental Advisory FEMA Urges Residents to Get Ready for Hurricane Season

• Persons with Disabilities and the Flu http://www.hhs.gov/od/
• You may also go directly to flu.gov Persons with Disabilities and Flu, by following this link http://www.flu.gov/individualfamily/healthconditions/disabilities/index.html
• To be taken directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently published: 2009 H1N1 Flu Information for People with Disabilities and Their Caregivers or Personal Assistants, please follow this link http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/disabilities/

October 7, 2009 - 5 Things You Can Do to Help Prevent the Spread of the H1N1 and Seasonal Flu (Department of Health & Human Services)
November 20, 2009: New resources on H1N1 for children and adults with disabilities from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Disability and the Centers for Disease Control.

• September 30, 2009 - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today released the following reports, testimony, and correspondence: Disaster Housing: FEMA Needs More Detailed Guidance and Performance Measures to Help Ensure Effective Assistance after Major Disasters. GAO-09-796, August 28
  http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-09-796 .
  
• September 30, 2009 - Detailed Report on the Status of Georgia Flood Activities
• September 29, 2009 - FEMA Statement: American Samoa Earthquake Tsunami Disaster

• September 24, 2009 - See DSHO-H1N1 for Dear State Health Officer letter from CMS regarding H1N1, discussing among other things high priority populations and presumptive eligibility
  
• The National Commission on Children and Disasters approved an Interim Report to President Obama and Congress. The report identifies several shortcomings in disaster preparedness, response and recovery and provides recommendations designed to make children an immediate priority in disaster planning…See Commission Urges President and Congress to Make Children a Priority in Disaster Planning - September 15, 2009.
  
• Preparing for H1N1 this Flu Season (September 17, 2009)
• Planning for 2009 H1N1 Influenza: A Preparedness Guide for Small Businesses and P&As- September 16, 2009
  Seasonal flu vaccine is now available and CDC leaders are encouraging everyone to take advantage of this vaccine early this year. It is anticipated that a vaccine for the H1N1 virus will be available sometime in early to mid-October.
  See http://www.flu.gov/professional/business/smallbiz.html/?date=091409for recently released guidance for H1N1 targeting small businesses – like the P&As. The guidance is intended to minimize the potential effects of widespread H1N1 flu in the coming weeks and months
• 2009 H1N1 Influenza
• H1N1 (Swine) Flu and You Questions & Answers
• Get Disaster Information Fact Sheet
• Fact Sheet - Spring Rainy Season
• FEMA North Dakota Flooding Press Release
• National Voluntary Organizations Assistance Guide
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Disaster Preparedness

• Disaster Preparedness Checklist
• Ready.gov (US Dept of Homeland Security)