Disaster & Disability: Katrina’s Impact
http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=11
National Organization on Disability announces formation of new
independent task force of disability and emergency management leaders
October 5, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Releasing the findings of their Hurricane Katrina rapid
assessment teams, the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.)
announces the formation of a new task force of disability and emergency
management leaders.
"To dramatically lessen the system-wide challenges which resulted in
terrible individual tragedies, we are forming an independent task force
composed of disability and emergency management leaders,” said Michael
R. Deland, Chairman and President, National Organization on Disability.
“The task force report will be widely disseminated to stakeholders and
decision-makers at all levels of government to help form the foundation
for a safer America."
In response to the devastation and tragic loss of life caused by
Hurricane Katrina, N.O.D. deployed four rapid assessment teams to
investigate the status of response and recovery for the special needs
populations, which included people with disabilities, the elderly and
medically managed individuals. Their goal was to identify and review
systemic points of weakness, as well as and opportunities for immediate
actionable corrections that will alleviate suffering during emergency
response operations. The assessment teams were comprised of nationally
recognized disability and emergency management specialists. N.O.D.’s
efforts were funded by the U.S. Department of Education Rehabilitation
Services Administration.
"I'm delighted that our grant monies were able to fund an essential
examination of the special needs of the people with disabilities in
disasters,” said John H. Hager, Assistant Secretary of Education, U.S.
Office of Education and Rehabilitative Services. “I'm optimistic that
this effort will result in improved preparedness measures for people
with disabilities." The Special Needs Assessment 4 Katrina (SNAKE)
project was an extremely fast operation with the singular goal of
identifying systemic points of breakdown and actionable corrections
which can alleviate suffering. The project was initiated in the spirit
of humanitarian oversight for the benefit of all. This was an extremely
time-sensitive operation as the opportunity to capture appropriate data
and accounts will dissipate with the closing of several major evacuation
shelter operations.
SNAKE gathered data on gaps in response efforts and on long-term
recovery needs. It also collected information to support or disprove
“stories” that emerged from the disability and senior communities.
In addition to the independent task force, N.O.D.’s immediate calls for
action include:
* A direct liaison position created to coordinate the special needs
of people with disabilities at all levels of government
* Emergency information available in accessible formats
* The need for daily living and medical needs of people with
disabilities with the providers of these services at all levels of
government
* The cross-training of emergency managers and disability
organizations to integrate the special needs and requirements of
each other
* The immediate collaboration between disability design experts and
housing contractors to increase the construction of temporary and
permanent accessible housing
“We need to formulate and implement thoughtful new policies which will
help ensure the safety and speed the recovery of people with
disabilities in future tragedies,” said Dick Thornburgh, a founding
Director of N.O.D. and Governor of Pennsylvania during the Three Mile
Island nuclear disaster. "I enthusiastically endorse the National
Organization on Disability convening a task force of key stakeholders to
formulate recommendations for decision-makers at all levels of government.”
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The full report of the Special Needs for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE)
Project is available in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF Formats. To
download either version of the report, click on the one of the links below:
Report on SNAKE Project: Adobe PDF Version
<http://www.nod.org/Resources/PDFs/katrina_snake_report.pdf> (126 KB)
Report on SNAKE Project: Microsoft Word Version
<http://www.nod.org/Resources/PDFs/katrina_snake_report.doc> (171 KB)
TV Worldwide's web cast of the October 5 SNAKE briefing can be viewed by
clicking on the link below:
TV Worldwide Web Cast of October 5th SNAKE Project Briefing
<http://www.tvworldwide.com/showclip.cfm?ID=6249&clip=2>
The CART transcript from the October 5th SNAKE Project Briefing is
available in Microsoft Word and Adobe PDF Formats. To download either
version of the transcript, click on the one of the links below:
CART Transcript from October 5th SNAKE Project Briefing: Adobe PDF
Version <http://www.nod.org/Resources/PDFs/katrina_snake_briefing.pdf>
(123 KB)
CART Transcript from October 5th SNAKE Project Briefing: Microsoft Word
Version <http://www.nod.org/Resources/PDFs/katrina_snake_briefing.doc>
(163 KB)
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About National Organization on Disability
The National Organization on Disability, founded in 1982, promotes the
full and equal participation and contribution of America’s more than 54
million men, women and children with disabilities in all aspects of
life. For more information, contact N.O.D. at 202/293-5960; TDD:
202/293-5968; or visit www.nod.org.
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For more information, contact:
Mary Dolan
(202) 955-6313 (office) ? (202) 368-1083 (mobile) ? [log in to unmask]
Maura Keaney
(202) 659-7902 (office) ? (202) 409-7584 (mobile) ?
[log in to unmask]
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Read also:
N.O.D. Announces Immediate Deployment of Special Needs Rapid Assessment
Team for Hurricane Katrina
<http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=1538>
N.O.D. to Release Findings of Assessment of Katrina’s Impact on
Disability and Special Needs Communities on October 5
<http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=1544>
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