September is National Preparedness Month. Are you ready in the event of an emergency?
By Kelly Rouba
The devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the coastal areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana in the late summer of 2005 is something many of us will never forget. Yet as time passes, the public’s interest in seeing that effective emergency preparedness plans have been implemented in their own towns, and even their own homes, seems to be lessening.
As a reminder to those who have gone on with their busy lives, officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its subsidiary Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continue to promote emergency preparedness measures as part of National Preparedness Month each September. Stephen Kempf, Jr., regional administrator of FEMA’s Region II, is one government official on the forefront of this initiative who just happens have a special interest in serving those who disabilities.
Kempf, who was spinal cord injured while fighting a fire in January 1976, first began working with FEMA from 1990 until 1993 and later returned in 2005. Through his position, Kempf oversees emergency preparedness efforts in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
Kempf also supports the work of a unique initiative called the New Jersey Special Needs Advisory Panel (NJSNAP). The panel consists of representatives from government agencies, social service agencies, and the disability community who aim to identify and solve issues affecting the state’s special needs population when it comes to emergency preparedness.
Ahead of the Curve
According to Scott Elliott, executive director of the Progressive Center for Independent Living in New Jersey, NJSNAP was established about four years ago by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM). “We were ahead of the curve a little bit with hurricane and disaster planning here in New Jersey,” Elliott said, noting that New Jersey was one the first states to create a panel of this kind.
Today, other states are starting to follow suit since it is a known fact that Hurricanes Katrina and Rita took a significant toll on many lives, including more than 450,000 individuals with disabilities. Because locals were unprepared for the severity of the storm, a large number of people with disabilities went without medication, medical supplies and equipment, and other necessities for days on end. (For more about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, see “Measuring Katrina’s Impact on People with Disabilities” in the August issue of Action.)
To avoid situations like this, members of NJSNAP meet monthly to develop emergency preparedness programming and policy recommendations, said Mary Goepfert, an instructor with the NJOEM Field Training Unit.
NJSNAP also has been furthering efforts to create a State registry of individuals with special needs so that emergency personnel can properly assist them if a disaster occurs. Registries currently exist in several other states and New Jersey wants to get on board by encouraging individuals to enroll voluntarily, Elliott said.
Kempf has been encouraging New Jersey residents with special needs to register with their local law enforcement if a registry process is currently in place, something he hopes will soon be available throughout all of region II.
Since some individuals may be reluctant to disclose their disability, Kempf hopes they will take “confidence in knowing the person they’re dealing with is a trusted local official” and recognize that it is to their benefit to inform officials of their special needs in the event of a disaster or emergency.
“People have to put their trust somewhere, especially those of us who are disabled,” Kempf says, “because there are special situations we know quite well we won’t be able to handle ourselves.”
Through the registry, Kempf adds, “We find out what those needs are and can do our best to provide for them under emergency conditions,” whether it involves shelter, transportation, or medical issues. And he believes that having a registry to refer to will also enable emergency personnel to reach the special needs population early and get them out of harms way.
“To know where that many people with special needs are is a wonderful thing, not only for emergency management, but for the safety of those people,” Kempf added.
Get Ready
Aside from registering, individuals are also encouraged to develop their own emergency preparedness plan and to have a support system of friends or relatives who can be relied on to assist with evacuation, if necessary, and accommodating any special needs. Additionally, items needed for daily living should be stockpiled and ready to grab on a moment’s notice.
“What [government officials] are trying to do is to get people to look at the concept of self- reliance, at least for a 72-hour time period, and part of that is to have a ‘go-pack’ ready for when they are told to evacuate by authorities,” Kempf said.
A basic go-pack, or emergency supply kit, should include
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• first aid supplies
• toiletries
• bottled water
• ready-to-eat food
• a battery-operated or crank radio
• a flashlight.
Kempf also recommends including identification, cash or travelers checks, important documentation, and emergency contact numbers. He also advises that individuals with disabilities include prescription medications in their go-pack and be prepared to take along any special medical equipment during times of emergency. Those with service animals should have a portable kennel and any necessary pet supplies on-hand as well.
As a member of NJSNAP, Goepfert also stresses the need for individuals to have an emergency preparedness plan and kit. “If they are living independently, it will increase their chances of remaining independent. It will also enhance their ability to survive and, hopefully, thrive after a disaster strikes. And, it will enable them to more comfortably and safely endure adverse conditions.”
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.ready.gov. To learn more about the NJSNAP, visit www.ready.nj.gov.
Kelly Rouba is a regular contributor to Action.
