2012 Whole Community
Conference
Children and Disasters
July 18 - 19, 2012
Lauralee Koziol – Federal Emergency Management Agency
Stephanie Brady – The Independent Living Center, Joplin
FEMA’s Children’s Working
Group
 Administrator Fugate established FEMA’s Children’s Working
Group in August 2009 - comprised of a Chair, Lead Coordinator and
participants representing virtually all Directorates and Offices
throughout FEMA
 Responsible for leading FEMA’s efforts, in partnership with other
Federal agencies and non-governmental organizations to ensure that
the needs of children were considered and integrated into overall
disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery efforts
initiated at the Federal level.
 Coordinated and collaborated closely with experts from other Federal
agencies and stakeholders to address and elevate the needs of
children as they relate to disasters.
FEMA’s Children’s Working
Group
 Children integrated into several planning and guidance documents to
include, Comprehensive Preparedness Guidance (CPG) 101 v.2 –
serves as a framework for all planning guidance
 FY 2010 – FY 2012 Homeland Security Grant Program Guidance
and Children in Disasters Supplemental Resource – provides
clarification as to how grant dollars may be used to support
preparedness and planning activities for children
 National Response Framework, National Disaster Recovery
Framework and other Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8
Frameworks – focus on a unified and collaborative approach of
addressing our Nation’s disaster related resources by engaging the
whole community
FEMA’s Children’s Working
Group
 Availability and pre-staging of infant and toddler supplies,
consumable medical supplies, and durable medical equipment –
planning is inclusive to all populations within the community
 Partner closely with Departments of Education, Health and Human
Services and Justice to support the development of emergency
preparedness plans and overall efforts of addressing children’s
disaster related needs during peace time and in disasters
 FEMA has clarified reimbursement eligibility for child care services
under the Stafford Act – “emergency sheltering”
 Lessons Learned and Information Sharing – “Children and Disasters”
webpage
Youth Preparedness
 http://citizencorps.gov/getstarted/youth/youthindex.shtm
 Catalogue of Programs: Lists existent programs throughout the country
 Youth to the Forefront Literature Review: Research-based resource of
youth and disasters information from various academic sources
 Community Preparedness Webinar Series: Include school-specific
webinars
 Ready Kids: Geared toward children and families, provides resources to
develop a family plan, build an emergency kit, and play preparednessrelated games
 Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical
Assistance Center: Center is run by the Department of Education’s
Office of Safe and Healthy Students, provides technical assistance for
schools, school districts, and institutions of higher education and
addresses emergency management issues and questions
Reunification
 In late 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast
area of the United States causing the displacement of tens of
thousands of individuals from their homes and communities
 Approximately 5,000 children were separated from their
parents / legal guardians. Within hours, the Department of
Justice requested that the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children (NCMEC) establish a hotline to handle calls
of displaced children and adults
 As a result of NCMEC’s efforts, the last of the 5,192 children
displaced by the storm was reunited with her family in
Houston, TX in March 2006
Post-Katrina Emergency
Management Reform Act of 2006
1) In general - Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in coordination with the
Attorney General of the United States, shall establish within the
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children the National
Emergency Child Locator Center. In establishing the National
Emergency Child Locator Center, the Administrator shall
establish procedures to make all relevant information available to
the National Emergency Child Locator Center in a timely manner
to facilitate the expeditious identification and reunification of
children with their families.
FEMA and NCMEC Execute a
Formal Agreement in April 2011
 Allows FEMA to reimburse NCMEC for the deployment of
personnel to a Presidentially declared disaster to assist law
enforcement with the reunification of displaced children – NO cost
share
 Additional resources include workspace in a FEMA Joint Field
Office, Regional Office and/or Warm Cell location for NECLC
personnel to deploy resources and streamline communications and
coordination
 Ability to coordinate more effectively and efficiently with Federal,
State, and non-governmental partners to ensure the safety of our
nation’s children
Post Disaster Reunification of
Children: A Nationwide Approach
 National initiative created in January 2012 to support
FEMA/NCMEC agreement and facilitate the expeditious
reunification of children separated as a result of disaster
 Can be applied to existent emergency preparedness plans and
reunification procedures
 Consistent with Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 8
 Development team consisted of Federal, State, and non-governmental
organizations
 Document shared in April 2012 with all FEMA Regions, child and
disability advocates, voluntary organizations, children’s hospitals,
and others
Post Disaster Reunification of
Children: A Nationwide Approach
 Assist local and State governments in determining processes,
communication lines, and the identification of roles and
responsibilities necessary to facilitate the expeditious reunification
of children separated as a result of disaster
 Encourage stakeholders and community leaders to develop and build
upon existent relationships prior to a disaster
 Establish an understanding of how all responsible parties (leading
and supporting) can work together to support each other’s missions
 Identify tools and resources that could assist localities and States in
disaster related reunification efforts (i.e.., tracking & reunification
systems)
Unaccompanied Minors Registry
(UMR)
 Supports the ability to collect, store, report, and act on information related
to children missing or lost as a result of a disaster
 Allows for a more expedient and efficient reunification of unaccompanied
minors with their families and legal guardians when separated by a disaster
 Administered by the NCMEC and available during “ALL” disasters to
gather and share information with local law enforcement and assist in the
reunification of displaced children with their families or legal guardians.
 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and Team Adam Applications
 UMR Portal
 Approximate date of completion – late July/early August 2012
 Rollout – Fall 2012

Make A Plan
Families may not be together when disaster strikes, so it is
important to plan in advance: how you will contact one
another; how you will get back together; and what you will do
in different situations
 Family Plans can be found on Ready.gov
http://www.ready.gov/america/makeaplan/index.html
 Encourage educational, child care, medical, and recreational
facilities responsible for the temporary care of children to
share emergency preparedness plans with parents and legal
guardians
Joplin, Missouri 2011
Pre-Disaster Coordination Efforts
 COAD Participation (Community Organizations Active in
Disaster)
 Jasper/Newton County Healthcare Coalition—Emergency
Response Team
 CERT Training (Community Emergency Response Teams)
 Red Cross Volunteer Training
 Center and Community Emergency Plans
 Consumer Comprehensive Emergency/
Disaster Plans
 Disability Resource Council
What went well in Response
 FACEBOOK and Bright Futures/Rebuild Joplin Website!!!
 TILC had nearly immediate contact with Gay Jones, FEMA Disability Integration
Specialist with the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination
www.fema.gov/about/odic/
 Joplin Public Schools Used School Buses to Transport People
 TILC Sister Organizations assistance with search and rescue, debris removal,
location of consumers, delivering replacement equipment, etc.
 TILC made contact with the American Red Cross within three hours of the
disaster to transport people with disabilities and to deliver medical equipment to
shelters
 TILC staff and other disability groups set up resources
at the shelter and the Multi-Agency Resource Center
to provide intake and information
What went well in Early Recovery
 FEMA worked with various community and city groups to develop
task forces to facilitate recovery. (Housing Task Force, School and
Facilities Task Force, etc.) Crucial for disability organizations to
participate in each task force!
 TILC worked with the Housing Task force and the Disability Group to
develop a housing intake sheet to determine emergency housing
needs as well as priorities for the FEMA Temporary Housing Units
 Coordinating with FEMA to offer alternative options for registering for
assistance (mobile DRC, etc.)
 Trained FEMA CR staff in disability
awareness
 FEMA THU accessibility
I Am Joplin
Temporary Schools
 Temporary school facilities opened on August 17 –
temporary facilities are equipped with tornado shelters and
built to ensure that the shelters are easily accessible
 Every school opened on time as promised by the school
administration (6 public schools)
 Every student with a disability in public schools started on
time
 School and Bus Buddies for
kids with access and functional
needs
 New School Accessibility & Safe
Rooms