1 Citizen Corps and Nebraska’s Community Preparedness Campaigns DISABILITY PREPAREDNESS SUMMIT November 5, 2007 Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission State Capitol – Sixth Floor, West P.O. Box Lincoln, NE

2 USA Freedom Corps  Response to 9/11 - call for Americans to serve a cause greater than themselves  Build a culture of service and responsibility  Strengthen National Service under one umbrella Corps National Service Partners AmeriCorps [1993] Citizen Corps [2002] Citizen Corps [2002] Peace Corps [1961] Senior Corps [1993] Senior Corps [1993] Learn and Serve America AC*VISTA Corporation for National and Community Service

3 Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission  Nebraska’s Commission for National and Community Service  “Mobilizing Nebraskans to strengthen their communities through volunteering, collaboration and national service programs.”  Commission Programs  AmeriCorps Program  Disability Program *  Training Program  Citizen Corps Program *  Community Service Awards Recognition  National Days of Service

4 Nebraska Volunteer Service Commission  Lead Agency in Nebraska for Disaster Preparedness  For Community Service and Volunteerism  For Administering State Citizen Corps Program  For Funding Local/Regional Citizen Corps Councils  For Disability Preparedness  Commissioners Serve as Nebraska State Citizen Corps Council

5 Emergency Management Contiuum Response Prevention/ Mitigation Preparedness Recovery

6 What is Citizen Corps?  Grassroots Initiative for Citizen Personal Responsibility  Personal, family, neighborhood preparedness  Trained, informed and prepared citizens - take care of themselves & help others in a crisis  Organized community-based structure  Citizens play a role in hometown security & community safety  Promotes volunteer & community service

7 Citizen Corps is Citizen Preparedness To ensure that all Nebraskans have the necessary information, education and skills to protect themselves, their families, homes and businesses during the first 72 hours of a disaster. PeopleTakingACTION!!

8 Citizen Corps Partner Programs Volunteer Programs Organized to Assist First Responders Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates and trains citizens in basic disaster response skills Fire Corps Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to provide support to fire and rescue departments Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) helps medical, public health, and other volunteers offer their expertise Neighborhood Watch/USAonWatch Neighborhood Watch/USAonWatch incorporates terrorism awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers

9 Citizen Corps Link in the Community Personal Responsibility Personal Responsibility: - SELF - FAMILY - NEIGHBORHOOD - SCHOOL - WORK

10 Citizen Corps Preparedness  Councils develop action plans for prepared public  Councils manage donations  Councils manage volunteers  Councils develop variety of partnerships  Councils organize special projects & community events  Councils mobilize the community  Councils are inclusive in planning and outreach to persons with special needs

11 Citizen Corps Council  A group of leaders from different sectors of the community  Leadership from elected officials. Examples: Mayors, City Council, County Commissioners, Sheriffs  Leadership from emergency management and the first responder community. Examples: Law Enforcement, Fire, Emergency Medical, and Health Care  Leadership from volunteer, community service, and faith based community. Examples: American Red Cross, Salvation Army, VOAD, AmeriCorps, VISTA, Human Services orgs

12 Citizen Corps Council  A group of leaders from different sectors of the community  Leadership from existing community sub- structure. Examples: Voting Precincts, Census Tracts, Water & Sewer Districts, Transportation Sector, Schools Examples: Voting Precincts, Census Tracts, Water & Sewer Districts, Transportation Sector, Schools  Leadership from major industry and other community leaders. Examples: Educational Institutions, Business Leaders, Unions, Trade Associations, Local Media Executives  Other representatives who can speak to the different populations. Examples: Elderly, Minority, Non/Limited-English Speaking Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Low Income Examples: Elderly, Minority, Non/Limited-English Speaking Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Low Income

13 Citizen Corps Regions

14 Focus of Nebraska’s Citizen Corps Program  Strengthen and Grow Local Citizen Corps Councils  Implement Community Preparedness Campaigns

15 Community Preparedness Campaigns Components Spontaneous Volunteer Management Spontaneous Volunteer Management Procedures to manage spontaneous volunteers to provide support services in local communities Procedures to manage spontaneous volunteers to provide support services in local communities Disaster Preparedness for Special Populations Disaster Preparedness for Special Populations Plan for inclusion in planning, identifying, preparing and assisting persons with disabilities, non-English speaking. low-income & others in disaster situations Plan for inclusion in planning, identifying, preparing and assisting persons with disabilities, non-English speaking. low-income & others in disaster situations Partnering with the Faith Groups Partnering with the Faith Groups Partnerships with faith groups in local community Partnerships with faith groups in local community Pet Disaster Preparedness Pet Disaster Preparedness Plan for pets/animals in the community Plan for pets/animals in the community

16 Disaster Preparedness for Special Populations  Encourage diversity  Build inclusive community preparedness program  Enhance community strength

17 Preparedness Impact for the Disability Community  Disaster Preparation  Notification  Evacuation  Sheltering & Interim Services  Recovery Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

18 Disability Preparation Problems  No electrical backup  Food and water not stored  Backup Medication not available  Homes not prepared with firebreaks  No evacuation plans  Disability groups & individuals not included in Disaster Planning  Durable medical goods not stockpiled  Shelter sites not surveyed for accessibility Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

19 Disability Preparation Recommendations  Distribute disaster prep literature statewide  Establish enhanced 911 systems  Create home safety awareness teams  Create awareness about defensible space  Include disability organizations, & transit agencies in planning  Assure public safety personnel are knowledgeable about communicating with & evacuating all types of persons w/disabilities  Create list of critical items to stockpile in case of emergency  Educate media about persons with disabilities and their needs Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

20 Disability Notification Problems  Haphazard notification systems  Television and Radio signals not available in remote areas  Inadequate time from evacuation orders to the actual fire threat  Evacuation orders were confusing, especially to persons with mental or cognitive disabilities  Some warning messages not accessible to blind or deaf persons Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

21 Disability Evacuation Problems  Evacuees rushing to reach safety created traffic jams  Evacuation plans not always followed  Persons with disabilities were stranded in homes or apartments with no way to leave  Para-transit vehicles were blocked from reentering evacuation zones  Family members were not allowed access to fire zones to aid relatives who had not been in contact  Lists that identified persons with disabilities needing assistance were outdated Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

22 Shelter and Interim Services Problems  Shelters were not always accessible to persons with disabilities  Communication equipment was not accessible  Interpreters were not available during early stages  Disabled volunteers turned away  Presence of media and their equipment contributed to problems with access  Shower and bathroom facilities were not accessible  Service animals were initially not allowed in shelters Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

23 Shelter and Interim Services Recommendations  Disability staff should be included in shelter operations and planning  Interpreter lists should be available for people who are deaf  Media areas should be designated so they do not impede access for persons with disabilities  Sheltering, and all services provided, should be designed with accessibility in mind  All volunteers should be trained on disability etiquette  Access should be maintained at shelters at all times Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

24 Disability Recovery Problems  Evacuees were not centrally located, making resettlement difficult  The large number of donated goods stressed transit systems’ ability to return victims efficiently  Vacant rentals are limited or non-existent  Large increases in rent due to diminished housing stock  Stress and mental anguish continue, leading to increases in depression and even suicide  Health problems caused by ash and dust Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

25 Disability Recovery Recommendations  Volunteer Organizations should be enlisted to help persons with disabilities and seniors in all aspects of recovery stage  Emergency rent controls should be considered  Arrangements should be made with transit providers to return both evacuees and belongings after a disaster  Include mental health services in recovery services provided Source: State Independent Living Council, Sacramento, CA

26 Don’t Forget “Other” Family Members Service Animals and Family Pets

27 Service Animals and Family Pets  Vaccinations up to date  Adequate food, water & medications  Pet carrier to use in case of evacuation  Leash to exercise pet in populated areas

28 Today’s Disability Preparedness Summit   Better understanding of the needs of persons with disabilities   New directions for inclusive community organizing   Resources from programs already in existence   New partnerships for community volunteer leadership   Tips on developing local action plans   Ideas for the future direction of the state disability preparedness initiative

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