2 votes
I disagreeI would strongly suggest and support a grant program that would assist the elderly and special needs community with providing disaster preparedness training along with providing them with a disaster kit that suits their needs. This type of training can be conducted in their homes at their request and would help the local communities with identifying those who will require assistance during a disaster.
11 votes
I disagreeThis includes assisted-living, residential care homes, board and cares, adult residential and other special needs facilities. I have put a Disaster Prepardeness Task Force in place in San Diego County to represent such communities...so in the event of an evacuation, they will receive the assistance to relocate from one facility to another - with the collaborative efforts of the local, city and county emergency services. ...more »
This includes assisted-living, residential care homes, board and cares, adult residential and other special needs facilities. I have put a Disaster Prepardeness Task Force in place in San Diego County to represent such communities...so in the event of an evacuation, they will receive the assistance to relocate from one facility to another - with the collaborative efforts of the local, city and county emergency services. I have been working on this project since April 2010, voluntary...speaking at events, attending meetings for providers and administrators - to raise Disaster Preparedness Awareness - and help them become proactive and self-reliant at the same time - as they are responsible for the direct, quality care of the elderly and special needs they oversee in their facilties. I would like to take this model to other cities, counties and states. I enjoy doing this and very passionate about it...a Disaster Preparedenss Evacuation system is NEEDED for our Elderly and Special Needs communities! If there are existing-like systems/task forces out there, please let me know!
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7 votes
I disagreeThis includes assisted-living, residential care homes, board and cares, adult residential and other special needs facilities. I have put a Disaster Prepardeness Task Force in place in San Diego County to represent such communities...so in the event of an evacuation, they will receive the assistance to relocate from one facility to another - with the collaborative efforts of the local, city and county emergency services. ...more »
This includes assisted-living, residential care homes, board and cares, adult residential and other special needs facilities. I have put a Disaster Prepardeness Task Force in place in San Diego County to represent such communities...so in the event of an evacuation, they will receive the assistance to relocate from one facility to another - with the collaborative efforts of the local, city and county emergency services. I have been working on this project since April 2010, voluntary...speaking at events, attending meetings for providers and administrators - to raise Disaster Preparedness Awareness - and help them become proactive and self-reliant at the same time - as they are responsible for the direct, quality care of the elderly and special needs they oversee in their facilties. It would be nice if there are grants out there for projects like this...so I can take this model to other cities, counties and states. I enjoy doing this and very passionate about it...a Disaster Preparedenss Evacuation system is NEEDED for our Elderly and Special Needs communities!
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25 votes
I disagree
I suggest that government and large corporations offer grant funding to local organizations that would stimulate a grassroots response to community disaster education and resilience. This initiative would focus on recruiting volunteers (retired, self-employed, etc.) to teach community disaster education and disaster resilience through the churches and other faith-based organizations, schools, and civic organizations in ...more »
I suggest that government and large corporations offer grant funding to local organizations that would stimulate a grassroots response to community disaster education and resilience. This initiative would focus on recruiting volunteers (retired, self-employed, etc.) to teach community disaster education and disaster resilience through the churches and other faith-based organizations, schools, and civic organizations in their areas.
It would be cost-effective as a “train-the-trainer” program. This would augment the services and training offered by Emergency Preparedness, the ARC, and other larger disaster response organizations whose focus is largely on response and whose manpower is limited.
In 2005 I started a nonprofit, Community in Crisis, Inc. to teach disaster education and preparedness in small, rural communities, primarily through churches. We received a grant from the BCBS Foundation of N. C. to teach Latino and Vulnerable Populations. In the last five years we’ve taught our seminars in over 50 churches in eastern N. C. However, in the last year we’ve had to dissolve due to lack of funding.
As an individual I’ve continued to teach when asked. My teaching includes a component of disaster mental health, as I am a licensed therapist and specialize in corporate crisis response and PTSD as well as being a marital therapist. I understand the long-term result when there is a lack of education in rural communities and believe that every citizen should have access to this information and learn how to help others.
My focus is strictly education in small communities and rural villages that would likely not receive much help in the event of a large disaster. We do not compete with CERT, Emergency Preparedness, or other large disaster response agencies. In fact, a component of our training is teaching about these and what they do, and how to interact with them responsibly.
My vision is to write a manual and create a set of DVD training videos specifically for churches and rural organizations. We also teach via audio recordings aired over short-wave satellite in Asia, Africa, and South America through World Harvest Radio in South Bend, Indiana.
Recently I was asked by the Methodist Conference of El Salvadore to teach my seminar to pastors there and did so this past July. I taught 40 pastors disaster mental health, counseling techniques, understanding the emotional needs of vulnerable populations, and community disaster response with limited resources. This went so well there are plans for expanding this to invite Guatemala and Honduras next year. We are seeking funding for this now. Any help or direction you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
I will be glad to help you in any way as well.
Deborah Dunn, LMFT
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