Functional needs guidance and resource book

              Oklahoma State Department of Health
August 2010
Functional Needs Guidance
And Resource Book
Emergency Preparedness and Response Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book i
Table of Contents
I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................ 1
A. Functional Needs Populations – Defined ............................................................................................. 1
B. Authorities .......................................................................................................................................... 2
C. Situations ............................................................................................................................................ 2
D. Planning Assumptions .......................................................................................................................... 2
II. PREPAREDNESS ........................................................................................................................................ 3
A. Planning Networks ............................................................................................................................... 3
B. Assessments, GIS, and Registries ......................................................................................................... 4
Assessments ......................................................................................................................................... 4
HIPAA ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Geographic Information System (GIS) .................................................................................................. 4
Registries .............................................................................................................................................. 5
C. Education, Training, and Exercises ....................................................................................................... 5
Education ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Training ................................................................................................................................................ 6
Exercises ............................................................................................................................................... 7
III. RESPONSE................................................................................................................................................ 7
A. Crisis and Risk Communications .......................................................................................................... 7
Messages .............................................................................................................................................. 8
People‐First Language ........................................................................................................................... 8
B. Transportation .................................................................................................................................... 9
C. Evacuations ....................................................................................................................................... 10
Evacuation Considerations to Accommodate Specific Needs ............................................................ 11
D. Mass Shelters .................................................................................................................................... 13
Needs Assessment .............................................................................................................................. 14
Check‐In ............................................................................................................................................. 15
Guest Tracking ................................................................................................................................... 15
Tips for Accommodating Your Community ......................................................................................... 15
Congregate Areas ............................................................................................................................... 18
Bathroom & Wash Facilities/Assistance ............................................................................................. 18
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E. Shelter‐in‐Place ................................................................................................................................. 18
F. Pet Shelters/Kennels .......................................................................................................................... 19
Service Animals .................................................................................................................................. 20
Household Pet .................................................................................................................................... 20
IV. PARTNERS ............................................................................................................................................. 20
A. State Level ......................................................................................................................................... 20
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped .............................................................................. 21
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management ......................................................................... 21
Oklahoma Department of Human Services ........................................................................................ 21
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services ......................................... 21
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services ............................................................................. 22
Oklahoma Developmental Disability Council ...................................................................................... 22
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps ...................................................................................................... 22
Oklahoma State Department of Health .............................................................................................. 22
B. Local Level ......................................................................................................................................... 23
American Red Cross ............................................................................................................................ 23
Animal Control/Shelter ....................................................................................................................... 23
Behavioral/Mental Health Entity ........................................................................................................ 23
Community Organization .................................................................................................................... 24
County Health Department ................................................................................................................. 24
Emergency Management .................................................................................................................... 25
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Entity .......................................................................................... 25
Energy Co‐op ...................................................................................................................................... 25
Faith‐Based Organization .................................................................................................................... 26
Transportation Providers (Metro‐transit; Para‐medical) .................................................................... 26
United Way Chapter ........................................................................................................................... 27
Other .................................................................................................................................................. 27
Appendix A – DEFINITIONS ......................................................................................................................... 29
Appendix B – AUTHORITIES ........................................................................................................................ 35
Appendix C – RESOURCE LIBRARY ............................................................................................................... 41
Appendix D – TASK FORCE MEMBERS ........................................................................................................ 43
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Appendix E – HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT (HIPAA): PRIVACY DURING
AN EMERGENCY ................................................................................................................................. 45
Appendix F – ALPHABETICAL RESOURCE LIST ............................................................................................. 47
Appendix G ‐ ADA TOOLKIT ......................................................................................................................... 51
Appendix H‐ ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................. 53
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Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 1
I. INTRODUCTION
Natural disasters negatively impact everyone. Preparing for disasters and emergencies is important for
all individuals, and is especially critical for those with functional needs who may need specialized
assistance during an emergency. To help reinforce the importance of pre‐planning for functional needs
populations, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is providing this document to assist local
entities during the planning process. This tool will help guide local planners in identifying the specialized
resources needed to address the needs of these populations.
It should be understood that a person with functional needs is not automatically defined as a person
with medical needs. Planning for functional needs populations should be included within Emergency
Support Function #6 Mass Care, Housing and Human Services Annex of the State Emergency Operations
Plan (EOP) or Annex H of the local EOP.
A. Functional Needs Populations – Defined
Numerous states have embraced the term “special needs” to include the following: people with
disabilities, senior citizens, the deaf community, children, non‐English speaking populations, and people
without transportation. These groups represent a large and complex variety of specific concerns and
challenges for emergency responders and planners. Many of these groups have little in common, but
given the definition, it is conceivable that “special needs” could cover more than 50% of the nation’s
population rendering the term rather meaningless1, especially in emergency planning.
Although, terminology continues to evolve, OSDH will use the collective term “functional needs” to
describe populations that need “functional support assistance” and “access” before, during, and after
emergency situations. The term “functional needs” is more descriptive of the “assistance requirement”
by these individuals for independent living and during occurrences of natural, human‐caused, or
technological disasters. Many State and local governments are addressing their Emergency Operations
Plans (EOPs) to specifically include the “functional needs” population. This change in focus facilitates a
more effective “whole community” approach to emergency planning efforts. This concept is also
consistent with language contained in the National Response Framework (NRF).
Functional needs include, but are not limited to:
a. Maintaining independence,
b. Communication,
c. Transportation,
d. Supervision, and
e. Routine medical assistance.
Additional terms are defined in Appendix A – Definitions to ensure emergency planners are using the
same terminology.
1 Kailes Disaster Services and “Special Needs”: Term of Art or Meaningless Term? (2005)
(http://www2.ku.edu/~rrtcpbs/findings/pdfs/SpecialsNeeds.pdf)
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B. Authorities
The United States has numerous regulations and laws designed to prohibit discrimination and ensure
adequate access to services for individuals with functional needs. This guidance is based upon
responsibilities and requirements outlined in Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Additional authorities are listed in Appendix B – Authorities.
State and local governments must comply with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the
emergency‐ and disaster‐related programs, services, and activities they provide.2 This requirement
applies to programs, services, and activities provided directly by state and local governments as well as
those provided through third parties, such as the American Red Cross, private nonprofit organizations,
and religious entities.3 Under Title II of the ADA, emergency programs, services, activities, and facilities
must be accessible to people with disabilities4 and generally may not use eligibility criteria that screen
out or tend to screen out people with disabilities.5 The ADA also requires making reasonable
modifications to policies, practices, and procedures when necessary to avoid discrimination against a
person with a disability6 and taking the steps necessary to ensure effective communication with people
with disabilities.7
C. Situations
1. Some individuals with functional needs will identify the need for assistance during emergency
situations; others will not.
2. Local planners have access to their jurisdictions’ demographic and ethnographic profiles.
3. Major needs of individuals with functional needs may include, but are not limited to,
preparation, notification, evacuation and transportation, sheltering, first aid and medical
services, temporary lodging and housing, transition back to the community, clean‐up, and other
emergency‐ and disaster‐related programs, services, and activities.
4. Some people may utilize service animals. Accommodations for these animals should be
considered when developing evacuation and sheltering plans. NOTE: Service animals are not
considered pets. These animals perform specific functions to assist their owner in activities of
daily living. Additionally, in order to be permitted into a shelter with their owner, the service
animal cannot pose a direct threat to other animals or individuals residing in the shelter and
must have had prior training to remain calm in public situations.
D. Planning Assumptions
1. Local resources are limited. The intent of Title II, ADA will be followed to ensure that emergency
management programs, services, and activities will be accessible to and usable by individuals
with functional needs without causing undue financial or administrative hardship on State or
2 42 U.S.C § 12132; see generally, 28 C.F.R. §§ 35.130, 35.149
3 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(b) (1).
4 28 C.F.R. § 35.149 ‐ 35.151.
5 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(b) (8).
6 28 C.F.R. § 35.130(b) (7).
7 28 C.F.R. § 35.160 ‐ 35.164.
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local governments providing the emergency and disaster‐related response and recovery
operations and services.8 Responsibilities and requirements outlined in Title II, ADA will be
prioritized and instituted in order to provide for immediate, life saving needs during response
operations to the return and transition into the community during recovery operations.
2. Persons with functional needs are included in the local planning process and in training drills
with emergency managers, first responders, voluntary agencies, and disability agents.
3. Community resources such as certified interpreters, health care personnel, and housing
managers will provide assistance to members of the community and emergency response
personnel.
4. Collaboration and partnerships with functional needs stakeholders, community and faith‐based
organizations (CBO, FBO), and non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) provide community
resource capacity for preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.
5. Mutual‐aid agreements and memorandums of agreement/understanding (MOA/MOU) with
neighboring jurisdictions and partner agencies provide additional emergency capacity resources.
6. Some members of the community may have to be evacuated without or may be separated from
the durable medical supplies and specialized equipment they need (i.e., wheelchairs, walkers,
telephones, etc.). Every reasonable effort should be made by emergency planners to ensure
these durable medical supplies are made available or are rejoined with the community member.
7. Frequent public education programs with an emphasis on personal preparedness and local
jurisdiction self‐identifying registries should be available in accessible formats and languages so
that they reach most, if not all, people in a community.
8. Emergency human services are vital for the long‐term recovery of a community and are as
important as the repairs to its physical infrastructure.
9. A sustained long‐term commitment to providing human services is needed to restore all
residents to a state of mental, physical, and social well‐being.
II. PREPAREDNESS
A. Planning Networks
Effective planning involves engaging disability navigators, disability organizations, community and faith‐based
organizations, non‐governmental organizations, and other private sector groups that assist or
provide services to individuals with functional needs. For information on how to select the right
individuals for planning, please read Why and How to Include People with Disabilities in Your Planning
Process?, (Appendix C – Resources for web link). No single person or agency can provide all of the
expertise needed for comprehensive planning. A multi‐agency approach is needed at all stages of the
planning process including the initial assessment of plan purpose, situational needs and assumptions,
and the development of a draft concept of operations. Members of this planning network should assess
how their efforts can be coordinated to ensure an integrated response.
8 28 C.F.R. §§ 35.130(b)(7), 35.150(a)(3), 35.164.
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Focus should be on improving the understanding of agency‐based assets, capabilities, and limitations as
well as identifying opportunities for improvement and cooperation. This includes the development of
mutual‐aid agreements and memorandums of understanding and agreements (MOU/MOA) regarding
sharing of resources during emergency events.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) hosts a statewide task force on functional needs
populations planning for all hazards disaster preparedness. The Task Force seeks to educate, as well as
identify gaps and possible resources for the functional needs populations in Oklahoma. These resources
will assist in the emergency planning and care for the functional needs of individuals before, during, and
after disaster occurrences. For more information on this task force, contact the Emergency
Preparedness & Response Service (EPRS) at the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). Task
Force members and others assisting with the creation of this document and other resources may be
found in Appendix D – Task Force Members.
B. Assessments, GIS, and Registries
Assessments
Assessments provide an informed estimate of the number and types of individuals with functional needs
residing in the community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides Snap Shots of
the State’s Population Data (SNAPS) version 1.5. It provides a “snap shot” of key variables for
consideration in guiding and tailoring health education and communication efforts to ensure diverse
audiences receive critical public health messages that are accessible, understandable, and timely.9 This
data on State and local communities can provide baseline information for emergency planning. To
manage the data more effectively, select five or more broad categories of population descriptors. This
can potentially cut down on redundancy when compiling information from various lists including other
government agencies and private organizations.
HIPAA
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act’s (HIPAA’s) Privacy Rule will assist planners in
understanding their ability to obtain data from agencies and private groups serving functional needs
populations. The Privacy Rule controls the use and disclosure of protected health information held by
“covered entities” (healthcare providers who conduct certain transactions electronically, healthcare
clearinghouses, and health plans). The Privacy Rule permits covered entities to disclose information for
public health and certain other purposes. Transportation and social service providers are not likely to be
subject to the Privacy Rule and may be permitted to disclose the number of individuals they serve. For
more information on how the Privacy Rule applies to disclosures during emergency situations, see
Appendix E – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy: During An
Emergency.
Geographic Information System (GIS)
After defining the functional needs populations within the community, demographic and registry
information can be entered into a database management program. This database maps communities,
9 CDC. http://emergency.cdc.gov/snaps
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facilities, and households where persons with functional needs reside relative to response assets and
hazard scenarios. Mapping is used by some fire departments and emergency managers in evacuation
planning. Geographic dispersion can go a long way towards strengthening relationships with State and
local organizations and can play key roles in preparedness, response, and recovery. The best method for
locating functional needs populations should include Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
technology, such as the U.S. Census, combined with community collaborations and networking. GIS
databases have been used extensively for many years to help institutions, business, and federal, State,
and local governments collect and analyze information to make better solutions.
Registries
Registries are databases of individuals who voluntarily sign up and meet the eligibility requirements for
receiving emergency response services based on need(s). Not everyone who requires assistance during
an emergency will enroll. Many people choose not to disclose their personal data for the following
reasons:
a. They fear their financial assets will be taken.
b. They fear legal consequences (in the case of undocumented workers).
c. They think the privacy of their medical information will not be protected, making them targets
of crime and fraud.
d. Their function‐based or medical needs are new, temporary, or incurred as a result of the
disaster.
e. They do not believe they have a need for assistance.
While the State does not retain a registry of functional needs individuals, registry database management
can be discussed at the local level. Encourage self‐identification within these communities. Prepare and
distribute information on voluntary pre‐registration to identify individuals who will need assistance or
accommodations during an emergency. Those who need individual notification and/or assistance in
order to evacuate their homes and workplaces can register with their local Emergency Management
Department in advance. The best advice is to inquire if your local Emergency Management provides pre‐registration
services. It is imperative the confidentiality of the registrant be strictly protected.
Another registry option is through the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
known agencies/organizations that service individuals with functional needs. The MOU should describe
the process by which the agency/organization would contact and/or connect individuals requiring
evacuation/transportation assistance with first responders during an emergency.
C. Education, Training, and Exercises
Emergency plans and procedures are only useful when accompanied by comprehensive training and
exercise programs. These programs are meant to strengthen the overall effectiveness of plans by
“testing” all or some components of the process. They also identify strengths, weaknesses, and solutions
to improve existing procedures and protocols. From past experiences it is clear, if included, individuals
with functional needs can:
a. Assist emergency planners in developing plans that take into consideration functional needs
issues within their community.
b. Identify weaknesses and gaps in plans that require further development.
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c. Help develop solutions and resources within the community that can support the emergency
management system.
d. Articulate emergency needs within their communities.
e. Encourage overall greater collaboration, coordination, and communication before, during, and
after disasters.
f. Provide opportunities to build awareness about functional needs and emergency preparedness
issues.
Emergency management agencies and other response agencies should partner with functional needs
organizations and advocacy groups to identify how to address these issues in planning, training, and
exercise. It should be a matter of protocol to include such agencies and programs in these endeavors.
Education
Public education on personal and family preparedness is one component of effective response.
Encouraging individuals with functional needs to take responsibility for their own safety and security will
benefit emergency managers and responders. Everyone should have preparedness, evacuation, and
sheltering plans. A general rule of thumb is to plan to be self‐sufficient for at least three days. Individuals
with functional needs should be encouraged to prepare these plans that include provisions for support
networks, evacuation (if needed), adaptive equipment, service animals, pets, effective communication,
rendezvous components, accessible transportation, medications, food, water, sanitation, and other
individual go‐kit needs. An emergency support network can consist of friends, relatives, neighbors, or
aides who know where the person resides, what assistance he or she needs, and who will join the
person to assist them in seeking shelter or when sheltering‐in‐place. If a person’s plan depends on
assistance from others, it is essential that all persons fully understand and commit to their role, and that
these individuals also establish backup plans as a safeguard against unforeseen contingencies. A family
emergency preparedness plan for those with functional needs may be accessed on the OSDH website;
see Appendix C – Resources for the web link.
Training
People with functional needs have been involved in all different aspects of emergency management
training as developers, trainers, and participants. In the emergency management spectrum there are
several types of training that should be inclusive and incorporate functional needs issues. These include
the following:
a. First responder training (fire, law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services (EMS));
b. Community‐based training and education (community disaster preparedness and outreach);
c. Volunteer training (Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps (OKMRC), Volunteer Organizations Active
in Disasters (VOADs), American Red Cross (ARC));
d. Emergency management agency training on specific hazard annexes/plans (tornado, flood,
evacuation, sheltering, pandemic flu, HazMat, terrorism, etc.); and
e. Cross‐training.
It is important to provide training on emergency preparedness issues (command structure, evacuation,
sheltering, etc.) for functional needs populations, and equally important to train the emergency
preparedness community on functional needs issues. This will help foster a better understanding of each
perspective.
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The FEMA Emergency Management Institute (EMI) offers free online Independent Study courses: IS‐
197.EM ‐ Special Needs Planning Consideration for Emergency Management and IS‐197.SP ‐ Special
Needs Planning Considerations for Service and Support Providers. Visit the EMI web site
http://traininig.fema.gov/index/asp or contact EMI for more details.
Exercises
Exercises and drills are used to test the effectiveness of plans. The Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) lists seven types of exercises. They
include seminars, workshops, tabletop exercises, games, drills, functional exercises, and full‐scale
exercises. This variety provides options to best suit the need. DHS‐funded exercises are required to
follow HSEEP guidelines. Also supporting HSEEP are the Target Capabilities and the Exercise Evaluation
Guides. Those responsible for integrating functional needs into exercise programs should be familiar
with this material.
After an exercise or drill, an after action report (AAR) should be developed to capture the following:
exercise successes, needed improvements, and points of failure, as well as to determine steps for
corrective actions. By partnering with functional needs organizations and advocacy groups, workable
solutions to identified gaps should be easily addressed.
III. RESPONSE
A. Crisis and Risk Communications
The primary goal of emergency messages is to motivate people to take a desired action before and
during a crisis. This is easier said than done. It requires an understanding of how to reach the targeted
populations in ways that grab their attention and change how they think so they will take action. This is
a major challenge for individuals with disabilities. The National Organization on Disability (NOD)
identifies three types of disabilities of concern for emergencies and disasters: sensory, mobility, and
cognitive. The following definitions are from NOD’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative:
• Sensory: Persons with hearing or visual limitations, including low vision, total blindness,
hard‐of‐hearing (HOH), or deafness.
• Mobility: Persons who have limited or no mobility of their legs or arms. They generally
use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, and other devices as aids for
movement.
• Cognitive: The terms “developmental” and ���cognitive” most commonly include conditions
that may affect a person’s ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, do math, or
follow instructions.
Understanding risk communications starts with examining the many places and points where
vulnerability intersects and then targeting those points with good science and effective practices. Risk
communication principles and practices are universal. Every community’s risk communications should
have the objective of equity in outreach so that no one is left unprotected. Outreach and networking
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with functional needs population groups can enhance experience in training, identify how best to alert
and notify, and help identify and meet unexpected resource needs during an emergency.
Messages
Messages delivered during an emergency should provide information about transportation, evacuation,
and sheltering locations. Message content should include the following: incident facts, health risk
concerns, pre‐incident and post‐incident preparedness recommendations, and locations to access
assistance in a format or language that a broad spectrum of the community can understand. The base
content of these messages should be composed and translated into other languages in advance (with
opportunity for collaboration and input from all interested stakeholders), leaving placeholders to insert
the specifics of each emergency situation and the protective actions recommended.
Composing warning messages, directions, announcements, offers of assistance, and other public
information accessible to people with disabilities requires awareness of different needs, and familiarity
with the capabilities and limitations of various communications technologies. There are many
communication methods that can be used such as, phone, radio, television, bill inserts, word‐of‐mouth,
typed reports, different languages, audio amplifier devices, certified American Sign Language (ASL)
professionals, and social and community networks. For people to act, they must understand the
message, believe the messenger is credible and trustworthy, and have the capacity to respond. It is
essential to utilize multiple redundant channels and alternative formats in alerting populations to an
emergency. Yet, for cultural and linguistic minorities, readying the optimal communication media is a
time‐intensive task that must be accomplished at the local level prior to an emergency.
People­First
Language
Emergency planners, first responders, and emergency managers should use people‐first language while
communicating with the public in any disaster or emergency situation. People‐first language emphasizes
the person, not the disability. By placing the person first, the disability is no longer the primary, defining
characteristic of an individual but one of several aspects of the whole person.10 Using appropriate terms
can reduce barriers instead of creating barriers in any public situation. The chart below contains
examples of people‐first language:
Say: Instead Of:
People with disabilities. The handicapped or disabled.
Paul has a cognitive disability (diagnosis). He’s mentally retarded.
Bob has a physical disability (diagnosis). He’s a quadriplegic/crippled.
Sara has a learning disability. She’s learning disabled.
Children without disabilities. Normal/healthy/typical kids.
Nora uses a wheelchair/mobility chair. She’s wheelchair bound or confined to a wheelchair.
Accessible parking, hotel room, etc. Handicapped parking, hotel room, etc.
Sue communicates with her eyes/devices/etc. She’s non‐verbal/mute.
10 The North Carolina Office of Disability and Health with Woodward Communications. (2002) Removing Barriers‐
Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication.
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Note: A few communities prefer not to be recognized as having a disability, and as such, people‐first
language would not apply to them. One such example is the Deaf community. They do not recognize
deafness as a disability rather they see it as their way of life. They prefer to be recognized as the Deaf
community and not a community with a hearing disability.
B. Transportation
Populations that will require transportation assistance during emergency response and recovery include:
a. Individuals who do not have access to a vehicle but can independently arrive at a pick‐up point;
b. Individuals who do not have access to a private vehicle and will need a ride from their home;
c. Individuals who live in a group setting or assisted living environment and will need a ride from
such facilities;
d. Individuals who are in an in‐patient medical facility or nursing home;
e. Individuals who are transient, such as people who are homeless and have no fixed address, and
f. Individuals with limited English proficiency.
Communities should work together to coordinate evacuation plans in advance. Many people with
disabilities do not drive and routinely use public para‐transit systems operated by public transit (Metro‐
Lift, Share‐A‐Ride) and may call on such services before, during, and after an emergency. If these
services are unavailable during the emergency, plans must include a way to forward requests to
emergency services or transportation coordinators and to alert customers the request has been
forwarded. If long‐term care facilities have contracted for accessible evacuation transportation, they
must not all plan to use the same contractor, or if they do, they must be sure the contractor has
sufficient vehicles to meet all needs.
There are approximately 64 Federal programs that support transportation services for functional needs
populations on a daily basis. Of these programs, approximately 34 operate vehicles or contract for
services. Examples of these programs include local area agencies on the aging, mental health day‐habilitation
programs, and vocational rehabilitation programs. Steps should be taken to include social
service providers, transportation providers, and transportation planning organizations in determining
transportation needs and to develop agreements for emergency use of drivers and vehicles. Once plans
are established, training opportunities should be determined. Exercises should be conducted to identify
additional challenges posed by evacuating hospitals, individuals, and fixed facilities with varying
functional needs.
Vans and buses vary as to the number of individuals they can accommodate, and the types of lifts,
ramps, and wheelchair securing devices they employ. The process of inventorying these vehicles should
identify overall occupant capacity, any limitations regarding the size or type of wheelchairs, or
limitations on other equipment they can safely transport. Operators need to be trained in the safe
operation of lifts, ramps, tie downs, and other mechanical devices associated with vehicles.
Some public‐ and private‐sector transportation providers are reluctant to provide service without
memorandums of agreement (MOA) with State or local jurisdictions regarding liability and
reimbursement. Such agreements typically require time, money, and legal representation that are
usually resources not readily available in government. Additionally, private transportation providers
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often will not provide transportation without formal sheltering agreements being in place to eliminate
unexpected complications.
C. Evacuations
Not all disasters require individuals to flee their homes or businesses. However, safe and effective
evacuation of all people with varying levels of functional need should be a central objective. Planners
should consider the demographic composition of the community, the transportation necessary for
evacuation, and the capacity to provide shelters that meet the range of needs that exist within the
community. Evacuation planning should take into account regulations, licensing, and other mandated
responsibilities as well as resources, hazard analyses, and evaluation of emergency circumstances.
Issues such as personal assistance devices, service animals, supplies, and equipment, as well as help and
support of family members, friends, pets, and/or directly employed aides are important to many people
with functional needs. Consider multiple formats for accessible communications when preparing
evacuation communications. Allow for flexibility and accommodation beyond what is envisioned.
Responders must be trained on the importance of allowing individuals with disabilities to bring personal
care assistants or family members, service animals, durable medical equipment (DME), and
communication devices with them. Policies and procedures should be made and followed to assure safe
transport of DME and communication equipment of the public. Policies need to reflect an understanding
that these supports are not optional.
The rule should be that if a person says it is important for them to bring particular people, animals, or
equipment with them, they should be allowed to do so unless granting the request would likely result
in imminent harm to the person or others.
People with disabilities should not be routinely transported to health care facilities simply because they
have disabilities. Needs assessment decisions should be informed by an understanding that there is a
difference between living with a disability and needing to be transported to a health care facility
because of illness. In addition, transporting a person to a health care facility is voluntary on their part; a
person cannot be made to go to a healthcare facility.
Exercises to evaluate evacuation plans for fixed facilities, daycare programs, medical facilities, and large
public buildings should be conducted routinely. These plans should include alarm systems and methods
to personally notify people who are deaf or hard‐of‐hearing, and ensure individuals who have low vision
or are blind can independently find exits and safe rallying points for evacuations.
The demands of multiple‐trip and long‐distance travel will be especially challenging for some individuals
both physically and mentally. Emergency managers should designate and advertise staging areas for
long‐distance transportation and provide additional transportation in the form of over‐the‐road buses,
school buses, or intercity rail to shelter locations outside the jurisdiction. In general, over‐the‐road
motor coaches rather than school buses, city buses, or para‐transit vehicles are preferred for evacuating
people between metropolitan areas. In many cases, there will be individuals living in the community
who will not be able to get to designated staging areas on their own. Given available resources, plans
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should include mechanisms to assist these individuals. Once individuals are transported from their initial
location to a pick‐up point, adequate accessible vehicles should then be available to transport them to
the designated shelter location.
Evacuation Considerations to Accommodate Specific Needs
Depending upon the emergency/disaster and risk‐to‐benefit decision making, individuals requiring acute
medical care will require evacuation 24 hours before the general population. The following
considerations are essential for comprehensive community evacuation planning.
Adult Day and Congregate Care Facilities
a. Any health care facility licensed by the State of Oklahoma must be incompliance with the
national codes and standards adopted by the Oklahoma State Fire Marshal’s Office including,
but not limited to, the Life Safety Code of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and
the International Building Code. These codes and standards include requirements for sprinkler
systems, fire alarms, building code issues, means of egress, and other important fire safety
measures. In the event that power is lost and must be restored in stages, it is recommended
that local jurisdictions prioritize congregate settings where individuals are dependent on life‐sustaining
equipment.
b. The decision to evacuate a congregate care setting and/or individuals with special health
conditions residing in private residences requires careful planning and assessment of the risk.
Local emergency management and fire departments should work with these facilities to help
ensure their plans adequately and realistically address hazards and emergencies common to
that location.
c. During snow or ice storms it is extremely important to weigh the risks of moving people during a
power‐outage versus sheltering‐in‐place (see II. E Shelter‐in‐Place below).
Child Care Facilities
The Child Care Licensing Requirements (Supplement III) established by the Oklahoma Department of
Human Services (OKDHS) states that child care providers must be prepared to respond to a wide variety
of emergency situations (see also OKDHS‐OAC 340:110‐3‐11 “Emergency preparedness”). It may be
evacuating children and taking them to a safe place or protecting them from outside threats by keeping
them safe inside the facility. A disaster plan is critical and should be in place. The disaster plan should
include response actions for natural, human‐caused, or technological disasters including, but not limited
to:
a. Evacuation,
b. Fire,
c. Flooding,
d. Ice storms,
e. Lockdown and lockout,
f. Shelter‐in‐place, and
g. Tornado.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 12
High­Rise
Buildings
For jurisdictions with high‐rise buildings, work with the local emergency management, fire department,
or representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to establish policies
and procedures to target full evacuation. The plan should include specific instructions, both written and
oral, for all residents.
Jurisdiction to Jurisdiction
a. This usually takes advance planning to ensure that capabilities for supporting functional needs
populations are defined (e.g., transportation and receiving shelters).
b. Emergency managers should designate and advertise staging areas for long‐distance
transportation and provide additional transportation in the form of motor coaches, school
buses, para‐transit, or rail to shelter locations outside of the jurisdiction.
c. Sustaining individuals awaiting evacuation is also critical. No jurisdiction has the capability to
simultaneously evacuate its entire population. Therefore, if a phased evacuation is implemented
and some individuals must wait for 12 or more hours, the jurisdiction should determine how
they will be sustained during that period.
Public and Senior Housing
A nursing home, independent living facility, or assisted living facility should have a disaster plan in place.
Multi‐family apartments should also have disaster plans in place for all hazards. The facility’s disaster
preparedness plan should be reviewed by employees, customers, renters, and all families that live in the
facilities. The all hazards disaster plan for public and senior housing should include the following:
a. Contacts in place with transportation and other facilities to provide housing for displaced
residents;
b. The number of vehicles to transport residents must be adequate for everyone in the facility;
c. Identification method for all residents, service animals, and pets before, during, and after the
emergency situation;
d. Procedures to ensure medical supplies/equipment are identified with their owners;
e. Procedures for sharing the evacuation plans with residents and family members or friends to
ensure all are aware of the evacuation plans, and
f. Designated pick‐up locations where residents can meet family members.
Schools
a. The evacuation of schools should be thoroughly planned prior to an emergency. According to
Title 63 O.S. § 176, all public schools in Oklahoma are required to have a minimum of two fire
drills per semester. The first fire drill shall be conducted within the first fifteen (15) days of each
semester. The second fire drill must occur after the first thirty days (30) days of the semester. All
students and teachers at the public schools shall participate.
b. Although not statute, it is recommended that all schools, both public and private, have an all‐hazards
plan that addresses: acts of violence, threats, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, structural
fire, wildfire, internal and external hazardous material releases, medical emergencies, and any
other hazard deemed necessary by school officials and local emergency authorities. The plan(s)
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 13
should also be based on the unique architectural, geographical, and student population
characteristics of the school.
o School‐based emergency plans should include procedures and processes for ensuring the
full‐participation of students and staff, including those with disabilities, in the event of an
evacuation, lockdown, or shelter‐in‐place.
o Each school‐based emergency management plan should identify how to best address a
variety of disabilities including: visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive, attention, and emotional
to adequately consider their needs and vulnerabilities.
o Plans should also outline procedures for reunifying the students with their parents at a pre‐identified
reception site. The parent/child reunification process is often a highly emotional
and chaotic event, and having staff with the appropriate skill sets to manage such situations
is critical.
Workplaces and Public Venues
Business and public venue managers have the responsibility of developing plans to be prepared for an
emergency and are encouraged to work with their local emergency manager regarding these plans. As
part of the emergency planner’s preparedness message to employers, emphasis should be placed on:
a. The necessity for commitment to emergency preparedness from senior‐level management
within an organization;
b. The importance of timely and accurate emergency communications that are accessible to all
employees and visitors, including individuals with special needs;
c. A two prong planning process that combines clear guidelines for all occupants of the premises,
while being customizable to meet the unique circumstances of employees and visitors with
functional needs; and
d. Rigorous and regular practice of the employer’s emergency plan, providing opportunities to
evaluate procedures and keeping the issue in the minds of agency managers and employees.
D. Mass Shelters
The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) is the lead organization for the ESF#6
Mass Care, Housing and Human Services at the State level. Local emergency management and the
American Red Cross (ARC) will work with OEM to designate and coordinate shelters during times of an
emergency or a disaster. The management, operation, and staffing of the shelter is the shared
responsibility of the local government and the ARC. Regardless of who operates a shelter, the Americans
with Disabilities Act (ADA) generally requires shelter operations to be conducted in a way that offers
individuals with disabilities the same benefits provided to people without disabilities (e.g., accessibility,
reasonable modifications, effective communication, safety, comfort, general medical care, support of
family and friends). To the maximum extent possible, shelter and support plans should include persons
with functional needs along with others in the community and the co‐location of a shelter for pets.
When setting up a mass shelter, the following should be taken into consideration when addressing
functional needs.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 14
Needs Assessment
A needs assessment is the process of sorting individuals needing immediate medical attention from
those that are healthy. In a disaster, a needs assessment can occur in several places: 1.) at the
evacuation site and/or on the bus before the evacuees depart the disaster area, 2.) at the shelter site
before/while leaving the bus, or 3.) after the evacuee has already settled into the congregate area of the
shelter. To be successful, all three assessments should occur; however, this may not always be the case.
A needs assessment at the evacuation site is the responsibility of the home state or disaster area. Past
experience shows this is conducted rather hastily and should not solely be relied upon. The amount of
time spent in transit and the immediate care needed following the trip may take a toll on some. Healthy
individuals can become sick from a long ride to a shelter. A person with diabetes may have a drop in
blood sugar and persons who are incontinent may need to shower and change clothes. All of these
situations are in the functional needs framework for assistance. Preparing for the buses to arrive with
functional needs populations is imperative.
Needs Assessment Teams
To prepare for arrival, the receiving site should plan on a specialized team to help identify and assist
those with functional needs (as resources are available). A needs assessment team may consist of the
following:
a. Home health aides (HHA) – to identify and assist with mobility and general needs;
b. Paramedics – to identify and respond to immediate medical needs;
c. Mental health staff – to identify immediate mental health states as well as coach needs
assessment team members on how to identify dangerous personnel or how to cope with
feelings that may arise during the receipt of evacuees/customers;
d. Language and/or Certified American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters – to translate for people
who have hearing/speech disabilities, people who are deaf, people who are blind or have
difficulty understanding English, and
e. Runners – to assist people who have limited mobility with their belongings as directed by a HHA
or nurse.
Needs Assessment Criteria
Identifying persons with functional needs as soon as possible may be vital in saving lives or reducing
trauma. If possible, assess in groups before they enter the shelter. Some suggested criteria to look for
or inquire about to expedite the identification of specific populations include:
a. Families with small children,
b. General health problems (incontinence),
c. People who are blind or have low vision,
d. People who are deaf or heard‐of‐hearing (HOH),
e. People who have developmental cognitive disabilities,
f. People needing assistance with mobility (wheel chair, cane, walker),
g. People who do not speak/read English and are without a translator,
h. People who feel sick (muscle aches, headaches, or nausea),
i. People with a fever, cough, or sore throat,
j. People with diabetes,
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 15
k. Senior citizens, and
l. Women who are pregnant.
Check­In
For those that meet the criteria, ask them to exit the bus and provide them direction to the correct
check‐in area. These lines may take a little longer per person, but the proper amenities should be made.
When setting up a check‐in station for functional needs populations consider having the following:
a. Baby changing table,
b. Chairs,
c. Wheelchairs, walkers, and canes,
d. Translators including American Sign Language (ASL) certified in Quality Assurance Screening Test
(QAST) 3‐5 (the QAST 3‐5 is a method used by the Department of Rehabilitation Services to
evaluate the proficiency of individuals interested in becoming employed as interpreters for the
deaf in the state of Oklahoma),
e. Extra aides to assist people with personal items (including animals), and
f. Extra aides to escort people to and from the restroom (some may need personal assistance prior
to check‐in).
Guest Tracking
Guest tracking is essential in providing an accurate accountability of the guest population. The
populations in emergency shelters can change suddenly and rapidly with the movement of guests.
Tracking methods vary by primary location sites. No matter the type of tracking method used (electronic
or paper), the essential personal information needed to provide proper care of individuals should be
included. Examples of the type of personal information necessary include: name, home address, age,
emergency contact information, immediate medical history, and medication list.
Tips for Accommodating Your Community
One of the most important tasks in emergency preparedness is evaluating your community before,
during, and after the disaster. This involves knowing your community and their “functional needs” prior
to any natural, human caused, or technological disaster situation. The following tips will assist you in this
“whole community” approach when planning for functional needs populations in local shelters. (The
Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council has an excellent resource pocket guide that provides
further “Tips for First Responders.”)
People Who are Blind or Have Low Vision
a. Provide a tour of the activated shelter using a proper guide technique to ensure their awareness
of the facility layout and available accommodations, as well as the accessibility of all the areas.
If unsure of the proper guide technique, ask the individual how to properly guide them. The tour
should take them to all of the following areas:
o Bathrooms,
o Dining areas,
o Exits,
o Information center,
o Medical clinics,
o Recreation areas,
o Security areas,
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 16
o Showers,
o Sleeping area, and
o Telephone center (if available).
b. Provide all communication material and emergency alerts in accessible formats. Accessible
communication formats include:
o Audio messages,
o Braille,
o Designated readers for ALL shelter documents,
o Documents with large black font printed on cream color paper, and
o Lighted magnifying glasses.
c. Always state their name if known and identify yourself when you approach the individual, so
they know you are speaking to them.
d. Never use head gestures to acknowledge what they are saying to you. Remember, they cannot
see your face gestures. In addition, do not use hand gestures, they cannot see which direction
you are pointing.
e. Provide a buddy system in the event an emergency occurs in the activated shelter. The buddy
will ensure the safe movement of the individual if the need to evacuate or shelter‐in‐place
occurs in the shelter.
People Who are Deaf or Hard­of­Hearing
a. Provide all communication material and emergency alerts in accessible formats. Accessible
formats include:
o American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters, Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST)
Certified Level 3‐5,
o Certified and/or computer based methods (Purple or DeafLink),
o Written documents, maps, or pictographs detailing emergency procedures,
o Neck loops for Hard‐of‐Hearing (HOH), and
o Visual strobe alarm or vibrating pad for alarms (e.g., smoke, tornado).
b. Ensure the person is aware of all activated areas within the shelter. Either provide a tour of the
activated shelter with a sign language interpreter or provide a descriptive layout/map to ensure
awareness of all the activated facility areas. (A list of areas is included above in the “People
Who Are Blind or Who Have Low Vision” section.)
c. Establish eye contact with the individual, not with the interpreter, if one is present.
d. Hearing aids do not guarantee the person can hear and understand speech. They increase
volume, not necessarily clarity.
e. Keep in mind when providing verbal instructions to those with hard‐of‐hearing that:
o Side conversations or background noises may interrupt the emergency information you are
trying to convey, and
o The person may have difficulty understanding the urgency of your message, so be patient.
f. Provide the person with a flashlight to signal their location in the event they are separated from
the rescue team. This will facilitate signing in the dark.
g. Provide a buddy system in the event an emergency occurs in the activated shelter. The buddy
will ensure the awareness of the individual of alarms, warnings or announcement of general
information related to the activated facility.
People Who Have Mobility Disabilities
a. Provide a tour personnel for assistance in this function should be provided due to limited
mobility movement or strength) or descriptive layout/map of the activated shelter for location
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 17
and awareness of all areas within the shelter. The following areas should be included in the tour
and/or layout:
o Accessible bathrooms,
o Accessible showers,
o Dining area,
o Exits,
o Information center,
o Medical clinic,
o Recreation area,
o Security area
o Showers area,
o Sleeping area, and
o Telephone station (if available).
b. Keep all aisles clear of objects in your shelter.
c. Always ask the person how you can help before attempting any assistance.
People Who Have Cognitive Disabilities
a. Provide a tour and descriptive layout/map of the activated shelter for location and awareness of
all areas within the facility. (A list of areas is included above in the “People Who Are Blind or
Who Have Low Vision” section.)
b. Provide instructions/rules of activated shelter in simple and short sentence format (7th grade
reading level or lower).
c. Point to your ID picture as you say who you are and your role in the shelter.
d. Use pictures and objects to illustrate your words.
e. Give extra time for the person to process and respond to what you are saying.
f. Provide, if possible, quiet time for rest to lower stress and fatigue.
g. Repeat reassurances (for example, “You may feel afraid. That’s OK. We’re safe now.”)
h. Point to any protective equipment as you speak about the use of the item.
People with Bariatric Needs
a. Provide a tour (breaks should be used for rest periods depending on your customer) or
descriptive layout/map of the activated shelter for location and awareness of all areas within
the facility.
b. Provide beds, wheelchairs, and chairs for accommodation of need.
Seniors
a. Provide a tour or descriptive layout/map of the activated shelter for location and awareness of
all areas within the facility.
b. Repeat questions and answers if necessary. Be patient! Some elderly persons may respond
more slowly to a crisis and may not fully understand the extent of the emergency.
c. Reassure the person that they will receive medical assistance without fear of being placed in a
nursing home.
d. Explain to the senior that this relocation is only temporary. Seniors may fear being removed
from their homes, be sympathetic and understanding.
e. Provide a buddy system if you suspect the person has dementia or Alzheimer’s. Do not leave the
person unattended.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 18
People with Service Animals
a. Do not separate the owner from the service animal.
b. Remember – a service animal is not a pet.
c. Do not touch or give the animal food or treats without the permission of the owner.
d. Keep in mind when the dog is wearing its harness, it is on duty.
e. Hold the leash and not the harness in the event you are asked to take the dog while assisting the
individual.
f. Remember, service animals are not registered and there is no proof the animal is a service
animal. If the person tells you it is a service animal, treat it as such. However, if the animal is out
of control or presents a threat to the individual or others, remove it from the site. Find a place
for the animal and the owner to stay during the duration of the emergency.
Congregate Areas
An active emergency shelter takes planning. It is not necessary to segregate populations according to
their functional needs. Functional needs groups can encompass a wide variety of disabilities or
conditions. Detailed planning using the layout of the shelter prior to the activation can ensure a more
functional environment and create smoother operations. Examples of these needs may include: a
medical clinic area, sleeping/quiet area, and family or group gathering areas such as entertainment,
child care, or meal areas.
Bathroom & Wash Facilities/Assistance
When identifying a shelter, proper bathroom facilities should be considered; especially if the site does
not have an adequate number of accessible bathroom/shower facilities. The toilets/showers must be
accessible for everyone in the shelter. Mobile facilities are available for rent in some areas that can
provide adequate access to all customers, if onsite facilities are not adequate. Examples of shelter
accessible facilities and personnel are as follows:
a. Showers, sinks, and stalls should accommodate persons with mobility disabilities (wheelchairs,
walkers, and canes);
b. Ramps should be available to ensure all people may access the mobile facilities; and
c. Health aides should be available all hours of the day (and night) to assist persons to and from
the bathroom.
E. Shelter­in­Place
Evacuation will not always be possible or desirable in an emergency, and people with functional needs
must also prepare to shelter where they are. Local plans should include ways to check on people and get
personal care assistance to those who need it. Local plans should also include guidance for individual
preparedness during shelter‐in situations. Individual needs vary, but during a prolonged emergency,
some individuals will need assistance from others in meeting their basic needs. Plans should call for
linkages with community‐based organizations, home care, and other agencies for assistance. Clear
instructions on how to request assistance should be provided to people who are sheltering.
Deciding to evacuate a congregate setting and individuals with special health care needs residing in
private residences requires careful planning and assessment of risk. Most states require facilities to have
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 19
plans in place for emergencies. These facilities are ultimately responsible for their residents. Local EOPs
should pre‐identify these locations and have an estimate of the number of individuals residing in each.
Emergency managers and facility managers should work together to help ensure plans adequately and
realistically address hazards and emergencies common to that location.
When advance warning permits and when shelter‐in‐place poses a greater risk to the individual than
evacuation, individuals who require acute medical care should be evacuated 24 hours before the
general population. Facilities in neighboring jurisdictions should be ready to receive those displaced
individuals (agreements should be in place before the incident), and proper resources, including medical
supplies and appropriate staff, should be in place at the receiving facilities.
During ice storms or snowstorms when power outages are imminent, facility locations should weigh the
risks of evacuation versus shelter‐in‐place. During previous disasters Oklahoma has witnessed the
evacuation of nursing facilities to nearby nursing or community facilities only to have those locations
lose power as well. To avoid moving customers in the cold and on icy surfaces with the possibility of
slips, trips, and falls, the facility should work with the emergency management to plan for shelter‐in‐place.
If possible, the facility should have a back‐up generator. If this is not possible, emergency
managers should work with the local energy co‐op partners ESF#12 to prioritize those facilities to come
back online.
F. Pet Shelters/Kennels
When people evacuate it is important to remember that many may bring their “pets” and in today’s age,
many of them are thought of as family. There are several types of animals that may arrive at a shelter
so it’s important to understand the laws around them and be prepared ahead of time to receive them.
The PETS Act (Pets Evacuation and Transportation Act of 2006) amends the Robert T. Stafford Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act to ensure that State and local emergency preparedness operational plans
address the needs of individuals with household pets and service animals following a major disaster or
emergency. 11
When setting up a pet shelter, keep placement in mind. Setting up the pet shelter directly next to the
general population shelter will allow owners to come out and tend to their own pets. In local areas,
animal shelters or animal control centers may be able to assist in identifying or providing necessary
equipment, food and water supplies, and the “physical building” of the pet shelter during emergencies.
The following equipment and supplies should be considered when planning for and setting up a pet
shelter:
a. Cages,
b. Collars,
c. Food and water,
d. Food/water bowls,
e. Leashes,
f. Medications for pest control, and
g. Vaccinations.
11 The Pets Evacuation and Transportation Act 120 U.S.C. § 1725 (2006)
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 20
Service Animals
Service animals are permitted in all places (may not be confined to a kennel) that serve the public as
long as the animal is not out of control or otherwise posing a direct threat to the health or safety of
individuals. Access includes transportation with their owners/handlers during evacuations. In accessing
forms of transportation, planners should cover the presence of service animals and the potential need
to assist animals during evacuations. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), only two (2)
questions may be asked to determine if an animal is a trained service animal:
a. Is the animal required because of a disability?
b. What tasks or work has this animal been trained to perform?
If the answers to these questions reveal that an animal has been trained to assist a person with
disabilities, that person should be allowed to access services, programs, activities, and facilities while
accompanied by the service animal. Service animals do not require certification, identification cards or
licenses, special equipment, or professional training. The animal should be kept with the handler to the
greatest degree possible to minimize movement trauma and ensure general safety to both. Emergency
personnel and owners must address potential medical needs of the service animal to maintain the
animal’s health. As a result, transportation must include provisions to carry any necessary medications
for animals as they would for a human passenger.
Household Pet
A household pet is a domesticated animal, such as a dog, cat, bird, rabbit, rodent, or turtle that is
traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes. Normally these types
of animals should be kept out of the mass shelter and in a nearby pet shelter for care. Household pets
do not include reptiles (expect turtles), amphibians, fish, insects/arachnids, farm animals (including
horses), nor animals kept for racing purposes.
IV. PARTNERS
A. State Level
State agency resources are coordinated in emergencies by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency
Management when local resources are depleted. The list of partner agencies below offer planning
information and guidance specific to functional needs populations and may be contacted if you have
questions while putting your plan together. In an emergency it is important to remember the proper
channel for requesting assets is through your local emergency management agency. They will forward
the request to the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management. From there, your request will be
coordinated with the appropriate state agency.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 21
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Contacts
Primary: Vicki Golightly, Public Information Officer
Office Phone: 405‐521‐3514 Email vgolightly@okdrs.gov
Services/Resources: Information on purchasing signature guides and information on guiding people
with visual disabilities.
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
Contacts
Primary: Linda Soos‐Davis, Manager, Human Services
Office Phone: 405‐521‐2481 or 405‐962‐2807 Email Linda.Soos‐Davis@oem.ok.gov
Additional Contact: Suzie Carter, Deputy, Human Services
Office Phone: 405‐521‐2481 or 405‐962‐2807 Email Suzie.carter@oem.ok.gov
Additional Contact: AmBer Somerlott, Officer, Human Services
Office Phone: 405‐521‐2481 or 405‐962‐2807 Email Amber.Murphy@oem.ok.gov
Services/Resources: OEM is the primary coordinating agency for all state services. In addition, OEM is
in charge of coordinating ESF#6, Mass Care and Sheltering responses.
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Contacts
Primary: Mark Gower, Information Security Officer & Dir. for Emer. Prep. &
Response/Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
Office Phone: 405‐522‐0522 or 405‐919‐4258 Email mark.gower@okdhs.org
Additional Contact: Morris Holmes, Information Security Officer
Office Phone: 405‐522‐2722 Email morris.holmes@okdhs.org
Additional Contact: Laquetta Russell, Information Manager
Office Phone: 405‐522‐4249 Email laquetta.russell@okdhs.org
Services/Resources: Home Health Aides, Area Agencies on Aging, mobility supplies, transportation
vehicles equipped with wheelchair accessibility, pagers (for persons with hearing
disabilities), collapsible ramps, foreign language interpreters, ASL interpreters,
and hard‐of‐hearing (HOH) audio accessible equipment.
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Contacts
Primary: Tom Thomson, Coordinator of Tobacco Cessation and Disaster Response
Office Phone: 405‐522‐8310 Email tthomson@odmhsas.org
Additional Contact: Bryan Hiel, Access Specialist
Office Phone: 405‐522‐2359 Email bhiel@odmhsas.org
Services/Resources: Coordinate behavioral health professionals and vans available for transport.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 22
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Contacts
Additional Contact: Hope Crumley, Program Manager, Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Office Phone: 405‐522‐7930 Email Hcrumley@okdrs.gov
Services/Resources: Contact list for Certified American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters. Information
on the following items: television listening system, television ears loops,
telephone handset amplifier, and educational material on hard‐of‐hearing (HOH).
They can also supply educational information on the deaf community.
Oklahoma Developmental Disability Council
Contacts
Primary: Rick Barcus, Director, Planning & Grants Management
Office Phone: 405‐521‐4965 Email Rick.Barcus@okdrs.gov
Services/Resources: Provide the “Tips for First Responders” pocket guide.
Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
Contacts
Primary: Kendal Darby, Statewide Administrator
Office Phone: 405‐297‐7055 Email darbyk@emsa.net
Additional Contact: Debi Wagner (OSDH), Executive Statewide Volunteer Coordinator & Statewide
Coordinator
Office Phone: 405‐271‐0900 Email DebraMW@health.ok.gov
Services/Resources: Coordinate statewide access of pre‐identified public health and medical
volunteers which may be used in public health initiatives and response.
Oklahoma State Department of Health
The Oklahoma State Department of Health has multiple services and divisions that deal with functional
needs populations on a day‐to‐day basis. Each service has been listed below with a description of
services available during disasters. All planning information may be coordinated through the Emergency
Preparedness & Response Service.
Contacts
Primary: Glenda Ford‐Lee, Statewide At‐Risk Coordinator, Emergency Preparedness &
Response
Office Phone: 405‐271‐0900 Email GlendaFL@health.ok.gov
Additional Contact: Lynnette Jordan, Asst Service Chief, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Office Phone: 405‐271‐0900 Email Lynnette@health.ok.gov
OSDH
Service/Division
Services/Resources
Emergency
Preparedness &
Response Service
Coordination and research of Functional Needs Populations as a whole. OSDH can
provide training, presentations, and outreach to educate populations, groups, and
first responders on response efforts for functional needs in emergency situations.
Long Term Care
Service
Provide contact and outreach to licensed nursing facilities across the state.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 23
B. Local Level
As discussed in “Section II. Planning,” it is important to identify your partners, or planning networks, so
proper resources may be documented and/or located before the emergency occurs. Below is a
template to help you begin identifying possible planning networks in your local community. Please keep
in mind not all local communities will have each type of agency. To also help you identify needed
resources, Appendix F, Alphabetical Resource List includes an alphabetical listing of supplies,
equipment, and services and possible agencies or organizations that may have those items.
American Red Cross
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local chapter, the American Red
Cross might provide the following assets: shelter, food, water, health and mental health services. They
also may handle inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provide blood and
blood products, and help those affected by disaster to access other available resources for recovery
assistance.
Others Defined During Planning:
Animal Control/Shelter
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local animal control services, the
following assets might be provided: pet leashes, pet cages, pet food and water, feeding bowls,
vaccines/medication, and general medical attention.
Others Defined During Planning:
Behavioral/Mental Health Entity
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local behavioral or mental health
services, the following assets might be provided: mental health counselors and mental health
physicians.
Others Defined During Planning:
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 24
Community Organization
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local community organizations the
following assets might be provided: food, water, clothing, shelter, transportation, childcare, and baby
supplies.
Others Defined During Planning:
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
County Health Department
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: The local county health department may provide the
following assets: emergency planners, public health nurses, immunizations, epidemiologist, laboratory
tests, and other emergency items or personnel. They also coordinate health and medical responses
(ESF#8 or Annex H) at the local level.
Others Defined During Planning:
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 25
Emergency Management
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local area Emergency Management
Services, the following assets might be provided: shelter, medical equipment, emergency medical care,
emergency transportation, and resources to network family needs that are affected by the disaster.
Others Defined During Planning:
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Entity
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local area EMS, the following assets
might be provided: cots, blankets, hygiene kits, wheel chairs, wheeled stretchers, and walkers. In
addition, they might be able to supply the following items: portable radios and charging systems,
durable medical equipment, oxygen bottles and respiratory PPE, nebulizers, paramedical personnel, and
transport of medically ill patients.
Others Defined During Planning:
Energy Co­op
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local energy company, the following
information may be accessible for emergency situations: people with electrical powered medical
equipment and senior citizens.
Others Defined During Planning:
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 26
Faith­Based
Organization
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local area faith‐based organizations,
the following items might be provided: shelter, food, water, clothing, cots, blankets, hygiene kits, toys,
childcare, and baby items. They may also be able to provide chaplains or counselors.
Others Defined During Planning:
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
Transportation Providers (Metro­transit;
Para­medical)
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: Depending on your local area transportation services,
the following assets might be provided: para‐transportation vans or buses for those who use
wheelchairs, walkers, and medical beds. They also might be able to provide vans, buses, and other
transportation vehicles for people without transportation within your community.
Others Defined During Planning:
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 27
United Way Chapter
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities: The United Way must be contacted through the
American Red Cross for assets during emergencies.
Others Defined During Planning:
Other
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
Name of agency or chapter:
Primary Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Second Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
Third Contact Name:
Work #: 24/7 #: Email:
General Description of Resources/Capabilities:
Others Defined During Planning:
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 28
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 29
Appendix A – DEFINITIONS
The Federal Government has identified several factors that indicate a need for specific types of response
planning. These factors include:
a. Age (Children / Adult),
b. Chronic Disease,
c. Cultural/geographic isolation,
d. Economic disadvantage,
e. Limited language competence,
f. Pregnant Women,
g. Physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory disability, and
h. Transportation disadvantage.
To help further identify these populations for your comprehensive community response plan, a list of
descriptions and definitions are included below for reference and teaching purposes.
Access and Functional Needs
Children and adults with access and functional needs may have physical, sensory, mental health,
cognitive, and/or intellectual disabilities affecting their ability to function independently without
assistance. Others who may also have access and functional needs include, but are not limited to,
women in late stages of pregnancy, elders, and individuals needing bariatric equipment, communication
assistance, or transportation.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
The activities a person normally performs in daily living, including any daily activity performed for self��care
(such as feeding themselves, bathing, dressing, and grooming), work, homemaking, and leisure.
Blindness
The term “blindness” means central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a
correcting lens. 12
Children
Children who are days old to 17 years old are more susceptible to the consequences of natural, human‐caused,
or technological disasters. Medical attention, food, and safety in a shelter are very important for
young children’s mental and physical well‐being. An important factor to remember is that children are
not little adults; training to address their special needs is necessary for disaster preparedness planning in
a community.
12 Definition of Blindness by the United State Congress 42 U.S.C. § 416 (i) (1) (B) (Supp. IV). [1]
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 30
Chronic Disease
Arthritis, hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory disorders are some of the leading causes
of activity limitations among adults aged 65 or older but can also affect those younger. Chronic disease
evacuees can become medically unstable as the event continues so it is important to identify these
people during the early stages of the emergency.
Cultural/Geographic Isolation
People can be isolated whether they live in a remote location or in the middle of a densely populated
urban core. Rural populations include ranchers, farmers, and people who live in sparsely populated
towns. They are vulnerable due to lack of capacity, resources, equipment, and professional personnel
needed to respond to a large‐scale crisis. Others in densely populated urban areas can be isolated due
to social or cultural issues where they may keep themselves locked in their homes.
Deaf
The people who use lowercase deaf are referring to the audiological condition of not hearing. The
uppercase Deaf is used when referring to a particular group of deaf people who share the American Sign
Language (ASL) and a culture.13
Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a brain disorder/disease caused from the abuse of drugs. This disorder leads to
changes in the brain’s structure and function. Individuals may develop and exhibit destructive physical
and/or mental problems associated with dependencies or drug addictions. Some of the most common
drug dependencies and addictions which may cause destructive addictive behaviors include: alcohol,
heroin, meth, marijuana, and prescription drugs.
Durable Medical Equipment
Durable medical equipment must be prescribed by a physician. This equipment should be medically
necessary for the treatment of an illness, injury, and/or the prevention of a patient’s medical
deterioration. Durable equipment is defined as “equipment which can be repetitively used.” Examples of
such equipment includes: walkers, hospital beds, crutches, wheelchairs, and oxygen equipment.
Economic Disadvantage
The economic disadvantage is a wide‐ranging category because many special populations live at or
below the federal and state poverty levels. Buying extra food and water on a “fixed income” is very hard
for those people who live day‐to‐day in poverty. Individuals/families within the “poverty thresholds” of
the federal government are often overlooked in disaster plans and drills. However, once the disaster
event occurs, the populace considered “economic disadvantage” could become at least 15% of your
evacuees in an activated shelter. The public health emergency planner or emergency manager should
consider the federal poverty guidelines of their geographic location when planning for disaster
responses for functional needs populations in their area.
13 Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture (1988)
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 31
Functional Needs
Refer to Section I.A. Functional Needs – Defined.
Hard‐of‐Hearing
Hard‐of‐hearing (HOH) can denote a person with a mild‐to‐moderate hearing loss. This term can also
denote a deaf person who doesn’t have/want any cultural affiliation with the Deaf community. 14
Hearing Disability
Persons with a hearing disability range from a mild hearing loss to total deafness.
HIV Positive/AIDS Patients
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is the virus which causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS). If an evacuee states that they are HIV positive or AIDS positive, promptly call the local county
health department in your area. Any evacuee that states they are HIV positive or an AIDS patient must
have their medical regimen continued for continuity of treatment. Typically, local and state health
departments work in collaboration with other providers to ensure that the patient continues therapy for
HIV or AIDS.
Intellectual Disability
Intellectual disability is characterized both by a significantly below‐average score on a test of mental
ability or intelligence and by limitations in the ability to function in areas of daily life, such as
communication, self‐care, and getting along in social situations and schools activities. Intellectual
disability is sometimes referred to as a cognitive disability or mental retardation.
Limited Language Competence
Limited language competency affects people with limited or no English speaking or reading skills, and/or
people with low literacy skills in any language. Having pictorials to explain what you want the person to
understand is very important for the limited language competency individual. A language interpreter
may be used for those individuals who speak other languages or cannot read. Persons who have little to
no hearing may also have a limited language competency but a hand‐held pager may help.
Low Vision
Low vision is a significant reduction of visual function that cannot be fully corrected by ordinary glasses,
contact lenses, medical treatment, and/or surgery. People with severe low vision may be classified as
partially sighted and/or legally blind.
14 Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture (1988)
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 32
Mobility Disability
Mobility disability refers to the inability of a person to use one or more of his/her extremities, or a lack
of strength to walk, grasp, reach, or lift objects. It also includes people who have difficulty with one or
more activities of daily living (ADLs) such as getting around inside the home, getting in or out of bed or a
chair, bathing, dressing, eating, and toileting. The use of a wheelchair, crutches, a cane, or a walker may
be utilized to aid in mobility.
Pregnant Women
A woman carrying a developing embryo or fetus inside her body is considered pregnant. Pregnant
women will require special care to protect the mother and child during a response. Prenatal care should
be provided as needed. Mothers and medical staff should stay on alert because disasters can prompt an
early labor.
Senior Citizens
Senior populations (over 65) can produce unique circumstances to disaster planning in any community.
The senior age group will demonstrate different needs in the event of a disaster occurring in any
community. Certain characteristics of older adults may prevent them from adequately preparing for
disasters and may hinder their adaptability during disasters. In addition to chronic health conditions,
older adults may have low physical mobility or cognitive ability, diminished sensory awareness, and
social and economic limitations.
Special Needs Populations
Refer to Section I.A. Functional Needs – Defined.
Transportation Disadvantaged
Populations that will require transportation assistance during emergency response and recovery include:
a. Individuals who do not have access to a vehicle but can independently arrive at a pick‐up point;
b. Individuals who do not have access to a private vehicle and will need a ride from their home;
c. Individuals who live in a group setting or assisted living environment and will need a ride from
such facilities;
d. Individuals who are in an in‐patient medical facility or nursing home; and
e. Individuals who are transient, such as people who are homeless, and have no fixed address.
Tuberculosis Patients
Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious disease caused by germs that spread from person to person
through the air. If you suspect that an evacuee might have TB, promptly call the Tuberculosis nurse at
the local county health department in your area. Any evacuee with a productive cough should be
evaluated for TB. Typically, local and state health departments work in collaboration with other
providers to ensure that the patient completes therapy/treatment for TB.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 33
Visual Disability
A visual disability/low vision affects a person’s ability to see and includes:
a. Color blindness,
b. Complete blindness,
c. Inability to detect small changes in brightness,
d. Inability to see images clearly and distinctly,
e. Loss of visual field, and
f. Sensitivity to light.
Individuals who have a visual disability can be sensitive to light reflections in many environments. Dark
eye glasses may be needed for comfort in bright lighting.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 34
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 35
Appendix B – AUTHORITIES
Statute Agency Authority
US Public Law 93‐288 Federal government Provides authority to respond to emergencies and
provide assistance to protect public health;
implemented by Federal Emergency Management
Act.
1973 Rehabilitation Act,
Section 504
29 U.S.C. §794 (1973)
Federal government Prohibits federal agencies and federally funded
programs from discriminating on the basis of
disability. Section 504 applies to a number of
entities and federally funded activities not reached
by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Title VI of the 1964 Civil
Rights Act
42 U.S.C. §2000 (1964)
Federal government Protects individuals from discrimination on the basis
of their race, color, or national origin in programs
that receive federal financial assistance.
The Americans with
Disabilities Act, July 26, 1990
42 U.S.C. § 12101‐12213
(2000)
Federal government The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a
comprehensive civil rights law for people with
disabilities. The Department of Justice enforces the
ADA’s requirements in three areas: 1) Title I:
Employment by units of State and local
government, 2) Title II: Programs, services, and
activities of State and local government, and 3) Title
III: Public accommodations and commercial
facilities.
Robert T. Stafford Emergency
Management and Disaster
Assistance Act, Section 308
Federal government Prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, nationality, sex, age, or economic status in
all disaster assistance programs.
Individuals with Disabilities in
Emergency Preparedness –
Executive Order 13347
Federal government The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office
for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties oversees the
implementation of Executive Order 13347,
Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency
Preparedness, which was signed July 2004. This
Executive Order is designed to ensure the safety
and security of individuals with disabilities in all‐hazard
emergency and disaster situations.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 36
Statute Agency Authority
Pets Evacuation and
Transportation Standards
(PETS) Act, H.R. 3858, August
4, 2006
120 U.S.C. § 1725 (2006)
Federal government This Act is an amendment to the Stafford Act;
Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Disaster
Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) requires
FEMA to ensure state and local disaster
preparedness plans “take into account the needs of
individuals with household pets and service animals
prior to, during, and following a major disaster or
emergency.”
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), Closed
Captioning, 2006
Federal government Requires 100 percent of new, non‐exempt English
language programming on television stations to be
closed captioned. Stations giving out emergency
information in their audio make that information
available simultaneously to the hearing impaired
during breaking news situations.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC), Video
Description Rules, 2000 and
2001
Federal government Audio descriptions are integrated into natural
pauses to describe the actions that are happening in
the visual part of a program. The largest broadcast
television stations and multi‐channel video
programming distributors are to provide a limited
amount of video description.
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC),
Information and Referral 2‐1‐
1, 2000
Federal government The intent of this number is to assist “the elderly,
the disabled, those who do not speak English, those
who are having a personal crisis, the illiterate, or
those who are new to their communities, among
others, by providing referrals to, and information
about health and human service organizations and
agencies. This number is a possible available
resource for communication in disaster situations as
well.
O.S. §63 ‐ 683.4. Oklahoma
Emergency Management Act
2003
Governor
Oklahoma Department of
Emergency Management
(OEM)
Allows Governor to delegate authority to OEM
Director to carry out necessary functions to
preserve lives of the people of Oklahoma during an
emergency.
O.S. §63‐ 683.3. Oklahoma
Emergency Management Act
of 2003
Governor
Oklahoma Department of
Emergency Management
(OEM)
Allows Governor to declare a state of emergency as
that term is defined in O.S. §63‐ 683.3.
Gives Governor direction and control of emergency
management see O.S. §63‐ 683.8.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 37
Statute Agency Authority
O.S.§63‐ 1‐209:
Communicable Disease
Oklahoma State Department
of Health (OSDH)
Authorizes the OSDH to purchase and distribute
pharmaceutical agents to prevent the acquisition
and spread of communicable disease.
Authorizes the OSDH to adopt rules to distribute
prescription pharmaceuticals in public clinics.
Establishes a vaccine purchase fund for the
purchase of antitoxins, serums, vaccines and
immunizing agents.
Allows OSDH to issue complaint to an individual and
seek assistance of law enforcement; allows law
enforcement officials to take an individual into
custody and transport him/her to the place where
he/she can be isolated, quarantined, or treated;
allows due process for such individuals (the right to
a superior court hearing).
O.S.§63‐1‐820
Residential Care Act
OSDH Provides authority for a statewide program of
community living facilities for persons with
developmental disabilities or in need of behavioral
health services.
O.S. §63‐683.4. Oklahoma
Emergency Management Act
2003
Governor Provides authority for an emergency shelter
program to assist in providing safe and sanitary
shelters on a short‐term emergency or transitional
basis for persons who are destitute, mentally ill,
abandoned, or developmentally disabled, and other
poor persons.
O.S.§63‐1‐820
Residential Care Act
OSDH Provides authority for the development,
establishment and enforcement of basic standards
for the care and treatment of persons in hospitals
and other facilities in which medical, nursing or
other remedial care are rendered, and for the
construction, maintenance, and operation of such
facilities.
O.S. §63‐683.2. Oklahoma
Emergency Management Act
of 2003
Governor Provides the authority to make, amend, and rescind
the necessary orders and rules to carry out the
provisions of the Oklahoma Emergency
Management Act of 2003 within the limits of
authority conferred upon the Governor herein, with
due consideration of the emergency management
plans of the federal government.
O.S. §63‐1‐105a. Liability
Insurance
OSDH Provides important protections for persons who are
designated to act as agents of the State during a
public health or public safety incident.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 38
Statute Agency Authority
ESF#11 Agriculture and
Natural Resources Annex
Department of Agriculture,
Food and Forestry (ODAFF)
Allows the development of plans, procedures, and
organizational structure needed to ensure that
domestic animals and native and non‐native wildlife
are effectively controlled and cared for in the event
of an emergency.
Section 308.1
Institutional Group I
Section 308.2 Group I‐1
Congregate Care Facility
Section 308.3 Group I‐2
308.3.1
Child Care Facility
Office of the Oklahoma State
Fire Marshal
Institutional Group I occupancy includes, among
others, the use of a building or structure, or a
portion therefore, in which people are cared for or
live in a supervised environment, having physical
limitations because of health or age are harbored
for medical treatment or other care or treatment,
or in which people are detained for penal or
correctional purposes.
This occupancy shall include buildings, structures or
parts therefore housing more than 16 persons, on a
24‐hour basis, who because of age, mental disability
or other reasons, live in a supervised residential
environment that provides care services.
A child care facility that provides care on a 24‐hour
basis to more than five children 2 ½ years of age or
less shall be classified as Group I‐2.
Section [F] 903.2.4 Group H
Automatic Sprinkler
Office of the Oklahoma State
Fire Marshal
Automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided in
high‐hazard occupancies as required in Sections
903.2.4‐903.2.4.3.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 39
Statute Agency Authority
Section [F] 907.2.4 Group F
Manual fire alarm
Section [F] 907.2.6 Group I
Manual fire alarm system and
automatic smoke detection
system
Section [F] 907.9.1
Visible alarms.
Section [F] 907.9.1.1
Visible alarms Public and
common areas.
Section [F] 907.9.2
Audible alarms
Office of the Oklahoma State
Fire Marshal
A manual fire alarm system shall be installed in
Group F occupancies that are two or more stories in
height and have an occupant load of 500 or more
above or below the lowest level of exit discharge.
A manual fire alarm system shall be installed in
Group I occupancies. An electrically supervised,
automatic smoke detection system shall be
provided in accordance with Sections 907.2.6.1 and
907.2.6.2.
Visible alarm notifications appliances shall be
provided in accordance with Sections 907.9.1.1
through 907.9.1.4
Visible alarm notification appliances shall be
provided in public areas and common areas.
Audible alarms notification appliances shall be
provided and shall sound a distinctive sound that is
not to be used for any purpose other than that of a
fire alarm. The audible alarm notification appliances
shall provide a sound pressure level of 15 decibels
(dBA) above the average ambient sound level or 5
(dBA) above the maximum sound level having a
duration of at least 60 seconds, whichever is
greater, in every occupied space within the building,
Section 1006.1
Means of Egress Illumination
required.
Section 1007.1
Accessible means of egress
required,
Office of the Oklahoma State
Fire Marshal
The means of egress, including the exit discharge,
shall be illuminated at all times the building space
served by the means of egress is occupied.
Accessible means of egress shall comply with this
section. Accessible spaces shall be provided with
not less than one accessible egress. Where more
than one means of egress is required by Section
1015.1 or 1019.1 from any accessible space, each
accessible portion of the space shall be served by
not less than two accessible means of egress.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 40
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 41
Appendix C – RESOURCE LIBRARY
Federal
1. Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and
Human Services Reference Guide. FEMA. http://www.fema.gov/oer/reference/index/shtm
2. ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments. U.S. Department of Justice. Chapter
7, Emergency Management under Title II of the ADA with Addendums 2 and 3.
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada//pcatoolkit/chap7shelterchk.htm
3. An ADA Guide for Local Governments – Making Community Emergency Preparedness and
Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities.
4. At Risk Populations and Pandemic Influenza. Planning Guidance for State, Territorial, Tribal, and
Local Health Departments. Association of Territorial and Health Officials (ASTHO).
http://www.astho.org/pubs/ASTHO_ARPP_Guidance_June3008.pdf
5. Effective Emergency Management: Making Improvements for Communities and People with
Disabilities. National Council on Disability. August, 2009. http://www.ncd.gov
6. Emergency Transportation and Individuals with Disabilities. U.S. Department of Transportation.
http://www.disabilityprep.dot.gov
7. Evacuating Populations with Special Needs: Routes to Effective Evacuation Planning Primer
Series. U.S. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway Administration. April, 2009.
http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov
8. Interim Emergency Management Planning Guide for Special Needs Populations. Federal
Emergency Management Agency and DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. Version 1.0.
August 15, 2008. http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=45435
9. Long‐Term Community Recovery Planning Process: A Self‐Help Guide. FEMA, December, 2005.
www.fema.gov/library/file?type=publishedFile&file=selfhelp.pdf&fileid=651f13b0‐7fe7‐11db‐
9aa6‐000bdba87d5b
10. Public Health Workbook to Define, Locate and Reach Special, Vulnerable, and At‐Risk
Populations in an Emergency. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
www.bt.cdc.gov/workbook
National
1. A Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning. Connecticut
University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. December, 2005.
2. Emergency Shelter Accessibility Checklist: An Assessment Tool for Emergency Management Staff
and Volunteers. http://www.ct.gov/demhs/cwp/view.asp?A=1928&Q=386812
3. Employer’s Guide to Including Employees with Disabilities in Emergency Evacuation Plans.
http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/emergency.html
4. Removing Barriers: Planning Meetings that are Accessible to all Participants.
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/%7Encodh/pdfs/MeetingGuide.pdf
5. Tips and Strategies to Promote Accessible Communication.
http://fpg.unc.edu/~ncodh/pdfs/rbtipsandstrageies.pdf
6. Universal Access and Sheltering: Space and Floor Planning Considerations. Connecticut State
Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.
http://www.ct.gov/demhs/lib/demhs/space__layout_considerations.pdf
7. Disaster Services and “Special Needs”: Term of Art or Meaningless Term? Kailes (2005)
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 42
State
1. Information Technology Accessibility: A Guide for Assuring Equal Access For People with
Disabilities www.ok.gov/abletech/documents/EITbooklet.pdf
2. 2009 Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
www.ok.gov/OEM/Programs_&Services/Planning/State_Emergency_Operations_Plan_(EOP)/in
dex.html
3. Oklahoma Pandemic Influenza Management Plan
http://www.ok.gov/health/documents/2007%20OK%20State%20Pandemic%20Plan%20.pdf
4. Oklahoma Licensed Long Term Care Facilities
http://www.ok.gov/health/pub/wrapper/ltc.html
5. Oklahoma Surge Capacity Guidelines
http://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Public_Health_and_Medical_Sy
stem__Preparedness_and_Response/Hospital_&_Medical_System_Partners/Surge_Capacity/
6. Public Oklahoma Public Health and Medical Systems Preparedness and Response
http://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Public_Health_and_Medical_Sy
stems_Preparedness_and_Response/
7. Oklahoma Emergency Preparedness Plan
www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Public_Health_and_Medical_Systems_
Preparedness_and_Response/
8. Tips for First Responders www.okddc.ok.gov
Other
1. Center for Disability and Special Needs Preparedness http://www.disabilitypreparedness.org
2. Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers – June Isaacson Kailes
http://www.jik.com/disaster.html
3. EPI Guide for Emergency Managers, Planners & Responders: Revised Edition.
http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Feature.showFeature&FeatureID=1034
4. Low Vision Library: About Low Vision. http://low‐vision.org/en/About_Low_Vision
5. Planning for Post‐Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction. American Planning Association.
September 2005. Planning Advisory Services Report Number 483/484.
6. Special Population Planner. http://sourceforge.net/projects/spc‐pop‐planner.
7. Why and How to Include People with Disabilities in Your Planning Process? Nobody Left Behind
http://nobodyleftbehind2.org/findings/why_and_how_to_include_all.shtml.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 43
Appendix D – TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Thanks to the Functional Needs Task Force and others for the many hours of hard work and dedication
in contributing, reviewing and finalizing this document.
Special thanks to the State of New Hampshire for the basic guidelines of this document, from their State
Functional Needs Guidance, Emergency Operations Plan ‐ Support Annex version 3.0.
Debra Anderson, MA
Chief, Child Guidance Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Elizabeth Baldwin, RN, BSN
Public Health Nurse and Push Partner Coordinator, Emergency Response Program
Oklahoma City‐County Health Department
Rick Barcus
Director, Planning and Grants Management
Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council
Sgt. Frank Barnes
Emergency Manager
Oklahoma City Emergency Management
Suzie Carter
Human Services Officer, Individual Assistance
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
Hope Crumley
Program Manager, Services to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
Major Dean Findley
Oklahoma City Fire Department
Emergency Management Liaison
Glenda Ford‐Lee, MHR
Statewide At‐Risk Populations Coordinator, Emergency Preparedness and Response Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Jane Garner
Programs Field Representative, Aging Services Division
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Vicky Golightly
Public Information Officer
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 44
Mark Gower, CBCP
Information Security Officer & Dir. for Emer. Prep. & Response/Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery
Oklahoma Department of Human Services
Lynnette Jordan, MPH
Asst. Chief/Executive Coordinator SNS, Emergency Preparedness and Response Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
Sgt. Jason Knight
Oklahoma City Police Department
Oklahoma City Emergency Management
Michael Murphy
Director, Metropolitan Medical Response System
Emergency Medical Services Agency (EMSA)
Sheree Powell
Director, Public Information
Oklahoma Developmental Disability Services
Louis Smith
Health Facility Surveyor II, Long Term Care Service
Oklahoma State Department of Health
AmBer Somerlott
Human Services Officer, Individual Assistance
Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
Thomas Thomson, MEd., LPC, CPM
Coordinator of Tobacco Cessation and Disaster Response
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Carla Young
Mass Care Manager
American Red Cross
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 45
Appendix E – HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ACT (HIPAA): PRIVACY DURING AN EMERGENCY
A note about HIPAA: The HIPAA Privacy laws only apply to certain covered entities: general health
plans, billing clearinghouses and providers who conduct certain electronic billing and administrative
transactions. It is not intended to interfere with resident care or safety, and in most cases, does not
apply to emergency situations or sheltering operations.
1. Shared information in a disaster
Question: Can health care information be shared in a severe disaster?
Answer: Providers and health plans covered by the HIPAA Privacy Rule can share resident information
in all of the following ways:
TREATMENT: Health care providers can share resident information as necessary to provide treatment.
Treatment includes:
• Sharing information with other providers (including hospitals and clinics)
• Referring residents for treatment (including linking residents with available providers in areas
where the residents have relocated)
• Coordinate resident care with other relief workers
Providers can also share resident information to the extent necessary to seek payment for these health
care services.
NOTIFICATION: Health care providers can share resident information as necessary to identify, locate,
and notify family members, guardians, or anyone else responsible for the individual's care of the
individual's location, general condition, or death.
The health care provider should get verbal permission from individuals, when possible; but if the
individual is incapacitated or not available, providers may share information for these purposes if, in
their professional judgment, doing so is in the resident's best interest.
• Thus, when necessary, the hospital may notify the police, the press, or the public at large to
the extent necessary to help locate, identify, or otherwise notify family members and others
as to the location and general condition of their loved ones.
• The sharing of information with other disaster organizations is authorized by law. It is
unnecessary to obtain a resident’s permission to share the information, if doing so would
interfere with the organization’s ability to respond to the emergency.
IMMINENT DANGER: Providers can share resident information with anyone as necessary to prevent or
lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health and safety of a person or the public. This action is
consistent with applicable law and the provider's standards of ethical conduct.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 46
FACILITY DIRECTORY: Health care facilities maintaining a directory of residents can tell people who call
or ask about individuals whether the individual is at the facility, their location in the facility, and general
condition.
Of course, the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to disclosures if they are not made by entities covered
by the Privacy Rule. Thus, for instance, the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not restrict the American Red Cross
from sharing resident information.
2. Notice of Resident Privacy—Covered Entities
Question: Do you have to provide a Notice of Privacy Practice (NPP) during emergency situations?
Answer: If you are a covered entity, you do not need to obtain acknowledgement during an emergency
situation, however, you should make a “good faith” effort to obtain that acknowledgement as soon as
possible.
Source: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa/
3. HIV/AIDS—Mental Health‐‐Addiction
Health information relating to HIV, Mental Health, and Addiction should never be shared without
specific authorization by the resident (not including mandated reporting requirements).
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 47
Appendix F – ALPHABETICAL RESOURCE LIST
Item Agency
Ambulances Local: EMS,
State: OSDH
Air Mattress Local: EMS and United Way,
State: OEM
Audio Accessible Equipment (for persons who are Hard‐of‐
Hearing) (television listening system, television ear loops,
telephone handset amplifier)
Local:
State: DRS – Hearing
Baby Beds (cribs) Local: EMS and Faith‐Based
Organizations,
State: OEM
Bariatric Chair Local: County Health Department
and EMS,
State: OSDH
Blankets Local: ARC, EMS, and United Way,
State: OEM
Canes Local: United Way,
State: ODDC
Canes (White) Local: United Way and DRS – Visual,
State: ODDC
Case Mangers (Mental Health) Local: County Health Department,
State: ODMHSAS
Child Care Services Local: United Way and Faith‐Based
Organizations,
State: DHS and OSDH
Child Guidance Staff Local:
State: ODMHSAS and OSDH
Clothing Local: ARC and United Way,
State: OEM
Crutches Local: ARC and United Way
State: OEM
Cots (general) Local: ARC, EMS, and United Way,
State: OEM
Dark Glasses Local: United Way,
State: ODDC and DHS
Educational Information (on cognitive disabilities) Local:
State: ODDC
Educational Information (on being deaf and Hard‐ of‐Hearing
(HOH))
Local:
State: DRS ‐ Hearing
Educational Information (on guiding people with visual
disabilities)
Local: DRS – Visual,
State: DRS – Visual
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 48
Diapers Local: EMS,
State: OEM
Generators Local:
State: OEM
Home Health Aide (HHA) Local: County Health Department
and OKMRC,
State: DHS and OSDH
Hygiene Kits Local: ARC,
State: EMS
Long Term Care Facilities Local: County Health Department,
State: OSDH
Mental Health Services Local: County Health Department,
State: ODMHSAS
Neck loops Local:
State: DRS – Hearing
Nebulizers Local: EMS,
State: OSDH
Oxygen Bottles Local: EMS and Hospitals,
State:
Pagers (for persons who are hard of hearing or deaf) Local:
State: DHS and ODDC
Pet Team (bowls, cages, food, leashes and medicine) Local: Animal Control,
State: Oklahoma Department of
Agriculture, Food and Forestry, and
OKMRC
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Local: EMS and Fire Department,
State: OEM and OSDH
Porta Potties Local: EM,
State: OEM
Radio (FRS) Local: County Health Department,
State: OEM and OSDH
Rehabilitation Specialist Local:
State: DHS
Showers (wheelchair accessible) Local:
State: OEM
Sign Language Interpreters (certified) Local:
State: DRS ‐ Hearing
Signature Guides/Writing Local:
State: DRS ‐ Visual
Smoke Alarms (visual, flashing light, or vibrating pad) Local:
State: OK ABLE Tech
Social Workers Local:
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 49
State: ODMHSAS
Stretchers Local: EMS,
State: OSDH
Telephone Handset Amplifier Local:
State: DRS ‐ Hearing
Television Ears Loops Local:
State: DRS ‐ Hearing
Television Listening System Local:
State: DRS ‐ Hearing
Towels and Wash Cloths Local: United Way,
State: OEM
Translation Services Local: County Health Department
and Hospitals,
State: OSDH
Travelers Aid (upward transitions) Local: United Way,
State:
Walkers Local:
State: OSDH and ODDC
Wheelchair Local: EMS and Hospitals,
State: OSDH and ODDC
Wheelchair Ramps Local:
State: OSDH and ODDC
Wheelchair Transportation (vans or buses) Local: EMS,
State: ODDC, DHS and ODMHSAS
Wheeled Stretchers Local: EMS,
State: OSDH
WIC (baby supplies) Local: County Health Department
and Faith‐based Organizations,
State: OEM
A full list of acronyms may be found in Appendix H.
Reminder: The above local agencies are recommendations to start identifying these resources. It is
possible that you may not have this type of agency in your area, or possibly that agency doesn’t possess
these resources. Get communities engaged and continue filling out this list with agencies in the local
area that can be contacted in an emergency.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 50
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 51
Appendix G ­ADA
TOOLKIT
Preparedness equipment for all hazards involving people with disabilities, senior citizens, and the Deaf
community should be centralized into an accessible toolkit. With this type of toolkit, the equipment can
be customized to fit each community and their specific demographical needs. Functional needs can be
addressed with the following items:
a. Audio, visual, or vibrating pad smoke detector,
b. Canes,
c. Certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters list for your area,
d. Collapsible ramps,
e. Contact list for accessible portable showers and bathrooms,
f. Crutches,
g. Dark glasses,
h. Forms, rules and instructions in accessible formats such as the following: Audio, Braille and
Large Print (16‐18 font, Arial, cream color paper),
i. Laptop for computer based communications with ASL provider,
j. Magnifying glass with light,
k. Shelter signs with large, black font and Braille writing,
l. Signature guides,
m. SoundPlus WIR 239 TV Listening System,
n. T.V. Ears Pro Loop,
o. Telephone handset amplifier,
p. Telephone Signaler,
q. Tips for First Responders flip chart,
r. TTY (Text Telephone),
s. Walkers,
t. White cane(s), and
u. Wireless computer network.
The lists of items above are just examples of what a local or county activated shelter could have in an
ADA toolkit. Each community will have specific resource needs that may not be included in the list
above, but still needed in their community. Working with community based organizations (CBO’s), faith‐based
organizations (FBO’s), advocacy groups for senior citizens, and organizations that focus on the
functional needs populations can expand your lists of items for the ADA toolkit.
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 52
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 53
Appendix H­ACRONYMS
AAR ‐ After Action Report
ACC ‐ Alternative Care Centers
ADA ‐ Americans with Disabilities Act
ADLs ‐ Activities of Daily Living
AIDS ‐ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
ALC ‐ Assisted Living Centers
ARC ‐ American Red Cross
ASL ‐ American Sign Language
CBO’s ‐ Community Based Organizations
CDC ‐ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CIT ‐ Crisis Intervention Team
DAV ‐ Disabled American Veterans
dBA ‐ Decibels
DHS ‐ Department of Human Services
DME ‐ Durable Medical Equipment
DRS ‐ Department of Rehabilitation Services
EMI ‐ Emergency Management Institute
EMS ‐ Emergency Medical Service
EOP ‐ Emergency Operations Plan
ESF ‐ Emergency Support Function
FBO’s ‐ Faith Based Organizations
FEMA ‐ Federal Emergency Management Agency
FRS ‐ Family Radio Service
G.I. ‐ Gastrointestinal
GIS ‐ Geographic Information System
HHA’s ‐ Home Health Aides
HIPAA ‐ Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act
HIV ‐ Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HOH ‐ Hard‐of‐Hearing
HSEEP ‐ Homeland Security Exercise & Evaluation Program
IBC ‐ International Building Code
ICF/ID ‐ Intermediate Care Facilities / Intellectually Delayed
ICF/MR ‐ Intermediate Care Facilities/ Mentally Retarded
Oklahoma State Department of Health | Functional Needs Guidance & Resource Book 54
ICS ‐ Incident Command System
IFC ‐ International Fire Code
ILI ‐ Influenza‐Like Inness
LTC ‐ Long Term Care
LTR ‐Long Term Recovery
MERC ‐ Medical Emergency Response Center
MHz ‐ Megahertz
MIPS ‐ Mass Immunization/Prophylaxis Strategy
MOA ‐ Memorandums of Agreement
MOU ‐ Memorandums of Understanding
MMRS ‐ Metropolitan Medical Response System
NFPA ‐ National Fire Protection Association
NGO ‐ Non‐Governmental Organization
NOD ‐ National Organization on Disability
NPP ‐ Notice of Privacy Practice
NRF ‐ National Response Framework
ODAFF ‐ Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry
ODDC ‐ Oklahoma Developmental Disabilities Council
ODMHSAS ‐ Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
OEM ‐ Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management
OKMRC ‐ Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps
OSDH ‐ Oklahoma State Department of Health
PETS Act ‐ Pets Evacuation and Transportation Act
PPE ‐ Personal Protection Equipment
SNS ‐ Strategic National Stockpile
TB ‐ Tuberculosis
TTY ‐ Text Telephone
UHF ‐ Ultra High Frequency
VFW ‐ Veterans of Foreign Wars
VOAD ‐ Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters
WIC ‐ Women, Infants and Children