Planning for various types of disasters through an “all hazards” approach to emergency preparedness is essential to enhance Texas’ ability to respond to, recover from, and mitigate against the unexpected.  By preparing for all hazards, the more than 4 million Texans with disabilities obtain a broad range of knowledge and resources that can be effective during any kind of disaster.

Why is this important?

The Kaiser Family Foundation took a poll of people from New Orleans who evacuated to the Astrodome, asking: “Which of these was the biggest reason you did not leave ( New Orleans earlier)?”  Twenty-two percent of the respondents said, “I was physically unable to leave.”  In addition, 23 % said, “I had to care for someone who was unable to leave.”  Combined, this represents 45% of the population of New Orleans that could not leave New Orleans early for disability-related reasons. 

Where are Texans with disabilities?

Many Texans with disabilities live in homes, condos, and apartments, alone or with families.  Many Texans with disabilities, given education about preparing for disasters, can make individual plans and react to disasters as do other Texans. The following link will list the number of Texans with a disability by County, based on the 2000 U.S. Census: http://txsdc.utsa.edu/data/census/2000/dp2_4/county/tab-007.txt

Some Texans with disabilities live in subsidized apartments in order to maximize limited incomes.  To find where such apartments are located in Texas navigate to:

http://www.hud.gov/apps/section8/step2.cfm?state=TX%2CTexas 

You can search by city, county or zip code.  The results provide the name and address of the owner, allowing local emergency planners to contact and discuss emergency preparedness.

How do I get started?

Since communities in Texas have fire protection and prevention services, the National Fire Protection Association has developed materials for individuals with disabilities that focus on home, work, school and community.

National Fire Protection Association

This contains numerous links to information on evacuation of people with disabilities.

http://www.nfpa.org/categoryList.asp?categoryID=824&cookie%5Ftest=1

Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Forms/EvacuationGuide.pdf

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Forms/EvacuationGuide.doc

Personal Checklist for Evacuation for People with Disabilities

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Forms/Chklst.doc

Evacuation Plan for Students with Disabilities

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/Fact%20sheets/EvacStudentDisabilities.pdf  (PDF)

What resources are available for emergency planners regarding Texans with disabilities?

See the Emergency Preparedness for People with Special Health Care and Mobility Needs section:

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/pages/newsroom.htm

Emergency Supply Kit

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/documents/emergency_supplies_kit.pdf

Accommodating Individuals With Disabilities in The Provision Of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services: Reference Guide

http://www.fema.gov/oer/reference

Lessons Learned from FEMA Management Initiatives: Basic Information and Tools for developing emergency plans to support people with special needs or disabilities

Video and print materials available.

http://emilms.fema.gov/IS197SP/index.htm

Texas Ready or Not: Have a Plan

http://www.texasprepares.org/ReadyOrNot/Client/Home.aspx

Guide:  http://www.cdihp.org/evacuation/toc.html

An ADA Guide for Local Governments – Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/emergencyprep.htm

ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments, Access for All in Emergencies and Disasters

http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7shelterprog.htm

Strategies in Emergency Preparedness for Transportation-Dependent Populations/

Transportation and Emergency Preparedness Checklist

http://www.emergencyprep.dot.gov/

“Transportation Equity in Emergencies:  A Review of the Practices of State Departments of Transportation, Metropolitan Planning Organizations, and Transit Agencies in 20 Metropolitan Areas.” (Project # PA-26-8001)

Report: http://www.fta.dot.gov/civilrights/civil_rights_6343.html

National Organization on Disability:  Emergency Preparedness Initiative

http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=11

Evacuation of People with Disabilities from High-rise Buildings (OSHA Fact Sheet)

http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/evacuating-highrise-factsheet.pdf

Research

National Council on Disabilities

Saving Lives:  Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning

Report:  http://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/publications/2005/saving_lives.htm

Emergency Management Research and People With Disabilities:  A Resource Guide

      This resource guide is the culmination of cooperative efforts by The National Institute

      Disability and Rehabilitations Research, NIDRR, the Department of Education, the       

      Research Subcommittee of the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency

      Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities, (ICC), and the New Freedom

      Initiative Subcommittee of the Interagency Committee on Disability Research 

      (ICDR). The guide provides a listing and description of research projects funded by

      the federal government and nonfederal entities, research recommendations that have                 

      come out of conferences on emergency management and disability, and a

      bibliography of relevant research publications.

           PDF Version:

           http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/guide-emergency-management-pwd.pdf

           HTML Version:

           http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/research/pubs/guide-emergency-management-pwd.doc

National Center on Accessible Media:  Research on Accessible Emergency Communication

http://ncam.wgbh.org/news/pr_20050915.html

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation:  This is the State agency charged with overseeing the implementation of the Texas Accessibility Standards.  New or renovated buildings then are required to be surveys for accessibility based on the Texas Accessibility Standards.

http://www.license.state.tx.us/a/abtas/htm

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

P.O. Box 12157

Austin, Texas 78711

Telephone: (512) 463-6599

Toll-Free (in Texas): 800-803-9202

Fax: (512) 475-2871

Relay Texas-TDD: (800) 735-2989

How can I find disability organizations in my area?

Call “211” and ask for disability organizations in your geographic area.  Call and meet with local representatives, learn their concerns, and share preparedness information.

To see if your community has a local committee on people with disabilities, go to:

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/disabilities/localcom/listcom

To contact Centers for Independent Living in Texas, go to:

http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/texas.html

What is the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities?

In existence since 1949, the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) works toward a state where people with disabilities have the opportunity to enjoy full and equal access to lives of independence, productivity, and self-determination. The Governor appoints twelve members to serve on the Committee, seven of whom must be people with disabilities. Representatives from six state agencies serve as ex officio or advisory members; the Committee meets about four times per year. 

The GCPD makes recommendations on disability issues to the Governor and Legislature; promotes compliance with disability-related laws; promotes a network of local communities/committees doing similar work; and recognizes employers and media for employing and positively depicting Texans with Disabilities.  To learn more, visit our web site at:

http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/disabilities

Prepared by:

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities

P. O. Box 12428

Austin, Texas 78711

512-463-5739 or dial 7-1-1 for Relay Services

Recommendations of the Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities

to the Governor for the 2008-2009 biennium

regarding EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT are as follows:

GOAL

Promote safety of Texans with disabilities by adequately preparing for disability-related issues during disasters.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.  Promote inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency planning efforts at local, regional, state, and federal levels.

2.  Promote public awareness of the statewide registry available through 2-1-1 for people who need assistance evacuating.

3.  Promote early personal emergency planning awareness by people with disabilities through state agencies, service providers, and contractors.

4.  Support local emergency plans to include a review of the accessibility of shelters, and encourage local emergency personnel to approve emergency plans of facilities to ensure effectiveness and non-duplication of reliance on local providers.

5.  Promote audible and visual depiction of emergency information on television.

Prepared by:

Texas Governor’s Committee on People with Disabilities

P.O. Box 12428

Austin, Texas 78711

512-463-5739 or dial 7-1-1 for Relay Services