PLANNING FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHER ACCESS AND FUNCTIONAL NEEDS:EVACUATION AND TRANSPORTATION

This presentation was created by Nusura, Inc. for the Orange County Sheriff’s Division of Emergency Management

Facilitator Introductions June Kailes Gary Gleason Andy Neiman

Participant Introductions Name Title Agency/organization Role during an emergency Any burning issues

Logistics Safety Electronics Breaks Contact Info Survey feedback

Agenda Evacuation basics Evacuation & transportation strategies Coordination & communications Key AFN considerations

Evacuation Objectives Expedited movement out of harm’s way Access control Safe re-entry

Evacuation and Transportation Planning

The goal is to ensure the evacuation needs of the whole community, including those with AFN, are planned for.

AFN evacuation planning must be based on an existing community evacuation plan or be a part of a larger, community evacuation planning effort.

Transportation-related Vulnerability

People who do not drive or do not have access to a personal vehicle for the purposes of evacuation, re-entry, and recovery.

When considering transportation-vulnerability, remember that some people who do not have transportation-related vulnerability in normal times may have them in a disaster.

The vast majority of transportation-related vulnerability is associated with evacuation, and planning for re-entry and recovery should also be considered.

Notice vs. No Notice Events Notice

Intact infrastructure including roads, communications, and power

Staged/progressive evacuation Service continuity Excess self-evacuation of non-required individuals

No-notice Damaged infrastructure and assets Situational awareness difficult Population needs less known May be complicated by additional requirements such

as decontamination

Evacuation Strategies Support self-evacuation

Provide resources and support that make self-evacuation or evacuation with friends or family possible.

Reduces the burden and costs of facilitated evacuation.

Evacuation Strategies, continued Two primary transportation-related evacuation

strategies: Accessible transit including, but not limited to, transit

vehicles that are lift-equipped, suitable for transporting those on oxygen, etc. Used primarily to help those with mobility-related

functional needs, and features vehicles that are lift-equipped, suitable for transporting those on oxygen, etc.

Access to mass transit for the purposes of evacuation. Used primarily to help those with transportation-related

access challenges such as no access to a personal vehicle or lacking the financial means to evacuate.

Non-evacuation Related Transportation Strategies

Non-evacuation support strategies to consider: Buses which bring people to recovery

centers Subsidizing public transit fees Reentry busing Providing transportation to obtain personal

preparedness supplies

Evacuation-related Challenges Loss/Separation from adaptive

equipment Loss of power Loss/disconnection from service

providers First-time customers Lacking resources to evacuate self

Personal Preparedness Emphasize and support personal preparedness as

part of all planning strategies. Personal preparedness provision for people with

access and functional needs to consider include: support networks adaptive equipment and batteries service animals and their provisions rendezvous locations and components accessible transportation medications and medical supplies food and water important legal documents

Planning Collaboration Collaborate with partners already

working in transportation and evacuation Accessible transit agencies

Paratransit systems Dial-a-Ride

Mass transit systems Airport shuttle providers School transit systems

AFN Planning Elements Mutual Aid/MOUs/Contracted Support Evacuation Intelligence: Needs &

Resources Resource Coordination Communication

Mutual Aid/MOUs/Contracts Asset management Cost sharing agreement/reimbursement Liability

Evacuation Intelligence: Need Where are the transportation-vulnerable

populations and what type of assistance will they require?

Use existing hazard vulnerability assessments, census data, etc.

Evacuation Intelligence: Resources What transit and transportation

resources are available? Pre-disaster surveys of resources

Type by passenger capacity, fuel type, space for durable medical equipment, owner, and special considerations regarding disaster commitment

Post-disaster survey of resources Plans should include procedures for identifying

and reporting in on the status of resources (what is damaged, what is available, etc.)

Resource Coordination Disasters result in scarce resources Resource distribution and asset

allocation must be prioritized and prioritization process documented

AFN coordinator in the EOC

Communication With transit service providers With individuals with disabilities and

other AFN With disability and AFN service and

advocacy organizations Include back-up and non-traditional

communication strategies

A note on registries Registries have limited utility and, often, lots of

problems including: Many don’t register Many are afraid to self-identify with a particular limitation Some see registry participation as commitment from

community to provide services Instead seek population statistics and other registry

type information from agencies and organizations who serve individuals with access and functional needs

Collaborate with these agencies to develop process by which they will contact and/or connect individuals requiring assistance with responders during an emergency

Evacuation-Transportation Considerations

Medical triage Non-ambulatory

space Personal care

attendants Distance to

boarding location Accessible stops,

routes to stops (curb cuts)

Accessibility by service animals

Aisle and doorway widths

Space for personal property

Accessibility by service animals

Time on/in vehicle

Key AFN-related Evacuation Plan Elements

An inventory of assets by type Clearly defined evacuation thresholds

and protocols Language detailing prioritization

procedures Procedures for scheduling emergency

trips Consideration fare waivers Procedures for communicating

evacuation-related information to people with AFN

Questions?

Discussion Question 1 A successful evacuation often depends on

availability of vehicles. A number of interviewees reported a

concern about not knowing how many accessible vehicles are available, how accessible they really are, if they are committed to more than one function, etc.

Please discuss these issues and planning strategies to solve them.

Discussion Question 2 What evacuation/transportation

concerns do you have? What ideas and solutions does the group

have?

Thank You! Please complete the course feedback

form before you leave