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CERT Conference March 6, 2014 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT and

Improve your CERT Program by Incorporating People with Disabilities/Elderly & People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs. Tips for Full Inclusion. CERT Conference March 6, 2014 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT and Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT. Introductions.

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CERT Conference March 6, 2014 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT and

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  1. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Improve your CERT Program by Incorporating People with Disabilities/Elderly & People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs Tips for Full Inclusion CERT Conference March 6, 2014 Kathryn A. Gerk, Richmond Fire CERT and Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara CERT

  2. Introductions • Kathryn Gerk, CEM, • Richmond Fire OES CERT • Yolanda McGlinchey, • Santa Barbara City Fire CERT CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

  3. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Welcome…. • Do you know what PWD/e is? • Do you know what AFN is? • Have you incorporated AFN in your CERT program?

  4. What we will cover today: • Basic ADA Issues and full inclusion for CERT Programs • Challenges and best practices • The Good, the Bad & Misunderstood • CERT PWD/E Outreach Packet

  5. GOAL AND PURPOSE • Raise the awareness of Seniors & PWD in CERT neighborhood plans • Improve Neighborhood Resilience CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

  6. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Total Inclusion • FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate mandate • FULL Inclusion • Planning • Training • Communications • Transportation • Response and Recovery

  7. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 ADA ISSUES; Tips and Best Practices • Always treat everyone with respect • People with Disabilities/Seniors & PAFN = over 30% population and growing • Include them in your planning • “Nothing about us without us”

  8. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Basic ADA Issues and CERT - Training • Accessibility to ALL • Always identify your audience • At or BEFORE registration if possible • Do you have any special requirements

  9. Basic ADA Issues and CERT – Training/Drills • ALWAYS Safety First – work with student – ask what they feel comfortable with and what they need • Consider CERT Workgroups bring Persons with Disabilities to table – include them in planning CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

  10. Basic ADA Issues and CERT • Be Prepared - know your neighbors – If you are not sure – ASK • SAFETY FIRST • Accessibility • Mobility issues • Lighting • Audio

  11. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Lessons Learned from Past Disasters • Hurricane Katrina • People left behind • Unprepared and unable to fend for self • Poor communications ability • Disconnected from the community Superdome – Photograph Courtesy – Alison Wright

  12. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Hurricane Sandy

  13. Issues Facing At-Risk Groups • Maintaining independence • Communication • Transportation • Supervision • Medical care

  14. Esther • 89 years old • Lives alone • Has no car, family lives out of state • History of heart disease • Laura • 5 years old • Parents are undocumented immigrants • James • 35 years old • Blind • Lives with fiancée

  15. Lessons LearnedHurricane Katrina - 2005 • 73% of Hurricane Katrina-related deaths in New Orleans area were among persons age 60 and over, although they comprised only 15 percent of the population in New Orleans • Most had medical conditions and functional or sensory disabilities that made them more vulnerable • AARP, We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters, 2006

  16. Why get involved? • You know the people in your neighborhood • CERT Teams are in a unique position to help prepare • Planning before an emergency can save lives, reduce illness and injury • Doing something NOW is better than hoping for assistance after emergency

  17. CERT Neighborhood Teams • CERT Buddy System • Preparedness for EVERYONE • Tips and Best Practices

  18. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 How can CERT help? • Buddy System in the Neighborhood • CERT Training for all – Empower all • More Resilient Neighborhoods

  19. What are the benefits? You can: • Identify strategies that empower PWD/E individuals to prepare for emergencies • Strengthen your CERT Neighborhood Team • More resilient community

  20. CERT Buddy System Pair up in the neighborhood – • Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster

  21. CERT Buddy System • Strengthens the neighborhood • Speeds up recovery efforts

  22. Preparedness for everyone • Basic Concepts • Neighborhood Teams – Everyone has a CERT job • Everyone has own “special needs”

  23. BASIC CONSIDERATIONS • Know who your neighbors are • Include everyone in your planning efforts • Ask how everyone can help one another • Ask what neighbors need to be better prepared - Assistance? Collaboration?

  24. Preparedness for everyone • Think ahead…make an emergency plan • Communication during emergency • Make an emergency kit • Does not need to be complicated or expensive • Stay informed • Local emergency plans and services • Get involved • Know your neighbors and check on those at-risk • Join CERT Team

  25. Personal Preparedness for PWD/E • Create an emergency support network • Work with providers and social support networks to develop contingency plans for an emergency • Complete and make copies of Vial of Life and carry a medications list in your wallet • Develop a transportation plan

  26. Personal Preparedness for PWD/E • Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms • Work with providers and social support networks to develop contingency plans for an emergency • Develop food and fluid supply lists for special dietary needs • Pack a Go Bag with essential supplies

  27. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 CERT Buddy System CERT’s Pair up with Seniors and PAFN in neighborhood – • Strengthens everyone's ability to survive the next disaster • More resilient neighborhoods • Speeds up recovery efforts

  28. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Disability vs. Ability • Mobility • Communication • Hearing • Sight • Resilient • Know the community • Eyes & ears of neighborhood • Experience with daily challenges

  29. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Training • Work with Independent Living Resource Agencies • Develop relationships with Visiting Nurses Associations • Work with your local Operational Area and American Red Cross • Learn your district – Develop Relationships

  30. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood • The Good – Everyone can have a position on a team

  31. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood • The Bad Don’t try and change the program because of the need, keep the program the same to assist with the need

  32. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 The Good, The Bad and The Misunderstood • Misunderstood People with AFN can’t do CERT

  33. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Tips on How to Incorporate in CERT Exercises • Add them to your CERT Planning Team • Get them involved in creating the scenario

  34. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Best Practices on how to incorporate • Network • Network • Network…

  35. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 • 1. Assessment • 5. Review & Revise Actions • 2. Build Work Groups • 4. Collaboratively Address the Action Items – Training & Drills • 3. Develop Action Items Continuous Improvement

  36. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Best Practices • Independent Living Resource Center Drill • Santa Barbara County All CERT Drill in Lompoc, CA

  37. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Lessons Learned • Everyone can play a part • Knowing the limits of all your players • Understanding the facilities you are working and teaching in • Treat everyone as if there are no limits

  38. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Best Practices – Richmond Fire OES • CERT Neighborhood Teams • Neighbors helping neighbors • CERT Buddy System • Neighborhood resilience • Emergency Kit

  39. CERT NEIGHBORHOOD PWD/E Outreach Packets • Developed by C8 CERT Seniors/ PWD Subcommittee • Grant from SUASI • Help improve preparedness for all 08/24/13 WC CERT PWD/E Workshop, Kathy_gerk@ci.richmond.ca.us

  40. CERT NEIGHBORHOOD PWD/E Outreach Packets • Distributed across CCC CERT’s • Asking CERT Neighborhood Teams to distribute • Collaboration helps everyone

  41. CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014 Lessons Learned • Everyone needs to be prepared to increase everyone's chances for survival • CERT’s are THE “boots on the ground first responders” • Neighborhood resilience • Remember – PWD/E used to challenges – they are a resource to your neighborhood!

  42. CONCLUSION – We are all in this together • Right thing to do • Right time • For the Good of the whole community CERT State Regional Conference March 6, 2014

  43. QUESTIONS?Thank You • Working together increases everyone's chances for survival • Kathryn Gerk, CEM, Richmond Fire OES CERT • Kathy_gerk@ci.richmond.ca.us • Yolanda McGlinchey, Santa Barbara City Fire CERT • YMcglinchey@SantaBarbaraCA.gov

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