Functional Needs Support Services Disaster Response
Mid-Atlantic ADA Conference
September 14, 2012
Federal Laws Prohibiting Discrimination of Emergency Programs Based on
Disability
 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
 Stafford Act of 1988
 Rehabilitation Act of 1973
 Fair Housing Act Amendments of 1988
 Architectural Barriers Act of 1968
 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (EHA) of 1975
 Telecommunications Act of 1996
Defining FNSS
Services that enable people to maintain their usual level of
independence in general population shelters. These services
include:
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Reasonable modifications to policies, practices and procedures
Provisions for Durable Medical Equipment (DME)
Provisions for Consumable Medical Supplies (CMS)
Provision for Personal Assistance Services (PAS)
Provision for equal access communication
Other goods and services as needed
Planning
Planning for the Whole Community
Integrating and Coordinating the Access and Functional Needs of
Children and Adults with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness,
Response and Recovery; Before, During and After a Disaster.
A “Whole Community” Approach
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Understanding and meeting the true needs of the entire affected
community.
Engaging all aspects of the community (public, private, and civic)
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in both defining those needs and devising ways to meet them.
Leveraging the skills and resources of existing support systems
Strengthening the assets, institutions, and social processes that
work well in communities on a daily basis to improve resilience
and emergency management outcomes.
Planning Recommendations
Advance Planning:
• Know demographics
• Create local resource lists for various
supplies
• Develop relationships with agencies
providing services to those with access and functional needs
• Prepare for serving those with functional and access needs e.g. higher
volunteer staff ratios, training, cross-train MRC volunteer
Rights & Responsibilities
The Americans with Disability Act and other
laws apply to:
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Preparation
Notification
Evacuation and transportation
Sheltering
First aid and medical services
Temporary lodging and housing
Transition back to the community
Other emergency- and disaster-related programs,
services, and activities
Environment
During Disasters
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Pre-existing conditions, both physical and psychological, are frequently
exacerbated during times of extreme stress for some if not addressed
immediately can become critical
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Previously healthy individuals may have new medical/mental health
needs due to the disaster
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People do not always “know” what they will need in the shelter—they
may be in shock or otherwise distracted because of the disaster
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Individuals may come to the shelter without assistive technology,
medications, durable medical equipment, need for effective
communication – this leads to people felling vulnerable, dependent and
at increased risk for injury
Shelter
Sheltering disaster victims is one of the core services provided by the
American Red Cross in most disasters. People count on the Red
Cross to provide a safe place for those impacted by disasters and
emergencies.
Sheltering Objectives
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Having sound working knowledge of the accessibility and
nondiscrimination requirements applicable under Federal disability
rights laws
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Being familiar with the demographics of the population of people with
disabilities who live in our community
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Involving people with different types of disabilities in identifying the
communication and transportation needs, accommodations, support
systems, equipment, services, and supplies that residents and visitors
with disabilities will need during an emergency
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Identifying existing and developing new resources within the
community that meet the needs of residents and visitors with
disabilities during emergencies
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Risk and Host planning for sheltering a displaced population based on
current studies, historical and behavioral data
Best Practices
Tool for Estimating FNSS-Related Needs – State of Florida
Mission:
The vision of the NCR Access and Functional Needs Committee is to be an
inclusive group of organizations and individuals committed to the safety
and security of those with access and functional needs
Emergency Management Driven - Whole Community Involvement Assistive Technologies Partner Open House - Video Series – Disaster
Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Access and Functional
Needs Committee – Aurora Colorado
FAST Teams
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FAST will help assess people with access and functional needs and
assist them by helping them get what they need to stay in a general
population shelter.
FAST will help distinguish people who have access and functional
needs from those who have medical needs.
Alabama Interagency Response
Coordinating Committee
 Formed two days after the tornadoes
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Daily conference calls during response
60 members including state and nonprofit agencies who serve people
with disabilities and chronic illness, individual advocates, university
faculty and students
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Integral participation by FEMA, American Red Cross & HUD
The Alabama Emergency Response Coordinating Committee
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American Red Cross
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FEMA – Office of Disability and Inclusion
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Two events – the tornadoes and the flood
HUD
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Alabama VOAD
Alabama Children’s Rehabilitation Service
Alabama Department of Mental Health
Alabama Institute of Deaf and Blind
Alabama Department of Education
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Alabama Emergency Management Agency
State legislative representatives
Governor’s Office on Disability
The Alabama Emergency Response Coordinating Committee
Alabama Disability Advocacy Network
Alabama Disability Advocacy Program
Alabama Council for Developmental Disabilities
Office of the Mayor – City of Birmingham
Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham
Arc of Alabama
Alabama Head Injury Foundation
United Way
Lakeshore Foundation
Independent Living Resource Center
United Cerebral Palsy
Positive Maturity
Local broadcast and social media
Mississippi Response
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Using a taskforce model combined ESF 6 and ESF 8 to develop a
sheltering plan
Developed a Co-location model that would address the many needs
and requirements
Leveraged State and local community resources that support
individuals with Access and functional needs
Pennsylvania Response
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Independence: Worked with disability leaders to develop a DME loaner
project
Equal Access: Provided assistive technology in the Disaster Recovery
Centers
Leveraging Resources: In collaboration with ODHH, developed videos
in ASL, open caption and narrated English
Utilizing Technology Provided VRI and VRS
Response Recommendations
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Ensure a registration process that assesses client needs
Plan for additional shelter registrars
Plan for prioritization, waiting areas, a system to avoid gridlock and
long lines
Consider having Disaster Health Services (HS) and/or Disaster Mental
Health (MH) in a secondary area away from registration desk
Allow clients to self-present once settled into the shelter
Response Recommendations
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Keep HS and MH close to each other; many of the clients are in need
of both services
Consider creating a request log to track requests, who you spoke with,
outcomes; use this to expand resource lists
Educate all staff and volunteers on how they can help individuals with
functional needs within the shelter
Contact Information
Katherine Galifianakis, Director, Mass Care –
American Red Cross
Katherine.galifianakis@redcross.org
202-303-5527