2024 ACL and FEMA Emergency Preparedness Webinars | ACL Administration for Community Living

Below are recordings and responses to select questions for emergency preparedness and response webinars hosted by ACL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

ACL and FEMA Webinar Series

ACL and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) hosted a four-part webinar series to support individuals with disabilities and older adults — and the organizations that serve them — before, during, and after disasters.

April 18, 2024: Disasters in the Midwest (Recording coming soon)

This webinar focusses on Midwest disasters and the unique issues surrounding tornados, flooding, excessive heat, and other disasters and emergencies. This “fireside chat” with Alison Barkoff, who leads ACL, and Sherman Gillums Jr., Ed.D., who serves as the FEMA Disability Coordinator and ODIC Director, address the importance of collaboration, partnership, and stakeholder relationships in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Their discussion will be followed by a brief Q&A session.

Next, leaders from ACL’s aging and disability grantees in Midwest states discuss their experiences collaborating at the state and community levels to ensure older adults and people with disabilities are involved in emergency and disaster planning.

Responses to questions asked during webinar

Q: How are you collaborating with other states? My state's ESF 15 met this week and I informed them of today's event and recommend connecting to learn and share national best practices with the plethora of CoPs and other organizations addressing and supporting lifespan marginalized communities. ¡Gracias, for providing language access as well!

A: ACL collaborates with federal agencies like FEMA and contributes to frameworks like the National Disaster Recovery Framework to ensure the needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities are addresses during disasters.

Through initiatives such as webinars with FEMA's Office of Disability Integration and Coordination (ODIC) to bolster disaster preparedness and response efforts among those populations. In addition, ACL collaborated with ASPR in contributing to the development of the "Capacity-Building Toolkit for Including Aging & Disability Networks in Emergency Planning"- a resource that provides community-based organizations with guidance on effectively incorporating the needs of older adults and people with disabilities into disaster preparedness plans.

ACL's Center for Regional Operations (CRO) serves as a liaison to states, territories, and tribes in managing day-to-day operations related to Older Americans Act programs. The CRO provides leadership in disaster and emergency coordination and communications within ACL and across the regions.

Resource Recommendations:

ACL offers guidance and resources to state and local organizations to enhance emergency preparedness for older adults and people with disabilities. This includes best practices for individual and community preparedness, as well as materials for national preparedness month.

Q: Can we get the documents that have the statistics being referenced? These would be useful in making these points on a local level.

31% of adults who require personal assistance for daily care had to evacuate after a disaster compared to just 1% w/o a disability. (https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/ and/or https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/hhp/hhp52.html)
74% of evacuees who use a wheelchair reported experiencing a lack of food 1 month after a disaster compared with 9% who are able to walk. (https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/ and/or https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/hhp/hhp52.html)
70% of Deaf people who were evacuated reported living in unsanitary conditions a month post-disaster compared to 7% who are not Deaf. (https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/ and/or https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/hhp/hhp52.html)
OA are twice as likely to experience PTSD and 1.75 times more likely to develop an adjustment disorder after experiencing a natural disaster. (https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-psychogeriatrics/article/abs/mental-health-implications-for-older-adults-after-natural-disasters-a-systematic-review-and-metaanalysis/8012D830F9FFA06C3BE24A292A179DA7)
We see it in natural disasters, like hurricanes – roughly ¾ of people who died in Katrina were OA and PWD – in wildfires, such as those in California, and the NYT reported about how PWD struggled to evacuate and in extreme heat situations, which are becoming more common. (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/12/us/wildfires-disabled-people-evacuation.html)

Q: I'm a disaster response planner for a city jurisdiction and supporting community members with disabilities and access and functional needs is a priority. Can government agencies consult with ACL regarding community outreach, emergency public information/alerts and emergency planning?

A: Local disaster response planners aiming to collaborate with ACL on community outreach can engage through several channels.

Regional Offices: ACL's Center for Regional Operations (CRO) serves as a liaison to states, territories, and tribes, managing day-to-day operations related to Older Americans Act programs. The CRO provides leadership in disaster and emergency coordination and communications within ACL and across the regions.

ACL can help make sure you have the connections to our funded community partners that can provide the consultation you need. Including individuals from these groups at all levels of response planning can provide valuable input into how best to support the community. We recommend you visit the Administration on Disabilities to learn more about our programs. You may also wish to reach to your local Center for Independent Living (CIL), which are community based are consumer-controlled, community-based, cross-disability, nonresidential, private nonprofit agencies that provide IL services.

Resources:

Q: I’m confused. I thought the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters no longer exists? Please clarify.

A: NACIDD's charter, along with those of the NACCD and NACSD, has been extended under the current continuing resolution until December 31, 2024.

Resource: National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters

June 24, 2024: Extreme Heat

Extreme heat has emerged as an increasingly prevalent and severe natural hazard, presenting significant risks to public health, safety, critical infrastructure, and agriculture. People with disabilities and older adults are disproportionately affected by extreme heat, and their exposure leads to a higher likelihood of experiencing severe health risks or death.

This webinar addressed the unique issues surrounding extreme heat. Presenters include leaders from ACL, FEMA, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). L/earn more about being prepared for extreme heat and hear how federal agencies are working to brem.ak down silos and collaborate across systems to provide resources and support.

Responses to questions asked during webinar

Q: Please restate the number of heat related deaths in 2023.

A: 2,302 in 2023
Source: https://www.hhs.gov/climate-change-health-equity-environmental-justice/climate-change-health-equity/climate-health-outlook/extreme-heat/index.html

Q: Which social media toolkit/s do you suggest emergency managers use for heat preparedness communication and outreach?

A: National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) website is https://heat.gov, Planning and Preparation is included: https://www.heat.gov/pages/planning-and-preparing.

Q: Can you provide more information on LIHEAP being used for cooling center programs?

A: LIHEAP as a block grant is flexible and can provide establish cooling centers, which may include partnering with other public facilities such as local libraries, community centers, and government buildings, to establish a waiting area where people can remain cool during the hottest periods of the day (usually 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). It might also include coordination with emergency response teams in states, tribes, territories, and localities to ensure that they are aware of cooling centers; how to refer people to LIHEAP for immediate needs; how to help move homebound individuals to cooling centers if needed; and other related issues.

Q: Are there initiatives for public health professionals to partner with utility companies to identify populations of focus within their customer networks that are especially vulnerable during extreme heat and cold?

A: LIHEAP local administering agencies do work with utility companies to provide energy assistance for both heating and cooling. They also work to identify households in crisis of either being disconnected or terminated from services. You can locate your state/tribe/territory grant recipients: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/map/liheap-map-state-and-territory-contact-listing and https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/map/liheap-map-tribal-contact-listing. To find your local administering agency access visit https://liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/search-tool/ or call 866-674-6327

Q: LIHEAP does seem like a great resource however our local provider has this posted on their website: As of April 7, 2023, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has reached it budget authority for the Low-Income Housing Assistance Program (LIHEAP or Crisis Energy Assistance program), Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP or Water Utility Assistance), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. Can you tell us more about funding for states?

A: You can find more information about LIHEAP funding on the following web site: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/grant-funding/liheap-funding-tables. I understand that FL posted this on their website last year 2023. I don't think it continues to be an issue.

Q: How can you find out who has the grant money locally to help with AC units?

A: You will need to contact the local agency through energyhelp.us I am also providing a link to show which grant recipients provide cooling and crisis assistance: https://liheapch.acf.hhs.gov/tables/program_dates.htm

Q: Sorry if a repeat question: what is the app to keep updated on community heat?

A: I would recommend using https://www.heat.gov/ as a resource.

Q: Is there a service, organization, or program that is available for disabled and older adults for transportation to shelters and safe areas who cannot or do not have the means to travel? Thank you

A: Transportation services and programs vary by local area. To learn more about what is available in your part of the country, ACL's Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov and Disability Information and Assistance Line: https://dial.acl.gov/home were created to connect older adults and people with disabilities to a variety of services and supports.

Q: Is there a mechanism for systematically advising state agencies implementing HCBS waiver programs to allocate program funds for the purpose of emergency preparedness? For example, for persons with disabilities who rely on ventilators to purchase generators using HCBS funds. Or do states already have technical guidance or encouragement on how to do this, and it up to the states to include such line items in the plans they submit periodically to CMS?

A: States can apply for 1115 waivers to cover generators as a medically necessary home environment modifications. See: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/downloads/addrss-hlth-soc-needs-1115-demo-all-st-call-12062022.pdf and https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib12102024.pdf.

Q: How are you collaborating with other states? My state's ESF 15 met this week, and I informed them of today's event and recommend connecting to learn and share national best practices with the plethora of CoPs and other organizations addressing and supporting lifespan marginalized communities. ¡Gracias, for providing language access as well!

A: National Preparedness Month (https://acl.gov/news-and-events/announcements/national-preparedness-month-comes-close), ACL's regional offices (https://acl.gov/about-acl/regional-offices), Resources for Emergency Preparedness from ACL and across federal agencies (https://acl.gov/emergencypreparedness), and the Capacity Building Toolkit (https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2020-10/Capacity%20Building%20Webinar%20Slides.pdf)

Q: Can we get the documents that have the statistics being referenced? These would be useful in making these points on a local level.

A: https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/ and/or https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2023/demo/hhp/hhp52.html

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-psychogeriatrics/article/abs/mental-health-implications-for-older-adults-after-natural-disasters-a-systematic-review-and-metaanalysis/8012D830F9FFA06C3BE24A292A179DA7

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/12/us/wildfires-disabled-people-evacuation.html

A: Links:
Administration on Disabilities: https://acl.gov/about-acl/administration-disabilities-0
Centers for Independent Living: https://acl.gov/programs/centers-independent-living/list-cils-and-spils

Q: I’m confused. I thought the National Advisory Committee on Individuals with Disabilities and Disasters no longer exists? Please clarify.

A: https://aspr.hhs.gov/AboutASPR/WorkingwithASPR/BoardsandCommittees/Pages/NACIDD/National-Advisory-Committee-on-Individuals-with-Disabilities-and-Disasters.aspx

August 28, 2024: Hurricanes

This ACL/FEMA webinar is focused on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities and older adults during and after a hurricane hits.

Hurricane season in the U.S. has undergone significant changes in recent years, influenced by a combination of natural variability and climate change. The frequency and intensity of hurricanes has increased, the season is longer, rainfall is heavier, and there have been geographic shifts in their paths in addition to causing inland impact. Factors impacting older adults and people with disabilities before, during, and after hurricanes include insufficient evacuation plans; extended loss of power for people who rely on powered durable medical equipment; disaster shelters that lack adequate supports for residents; auxiliary aids, services, and/or information in easy-to-understand formats; and the lack of access to services and supports, such as meals and home health services.

Responses to questions asked during webinar

Q: Please post the source(s) for the data cited By Amy Wiatr-Rodriguez:

Research and experience show that disabled people and older adults are disproportionately impacted by disasters. They:
- May not be able to evacuate, use shelters, or get information because of accessibility issues. (https://www.ncd.gov/report/the-impact-of-hurricanes-katrina-and-rita-on-people-with-disabilities-a-look-back-and-remaining-challenges/)
- May lose access to critical services and durable medical equipment. (https://www.ncd.gov/report/the-impact-of-hurricanes-katrina-and-rita-on-people-with-disabilities-a-look-back-and-remaining-challenges/)
- Are frequently placed in nursing homes and other institutions and get stuck without a way to return home. (https://www.ncd.gov/report/the-impact-of-hurricanes-katrina-and-rita-on-people-with-disabilities-a-look-back-and-remaining-challenges/)
- Are 4x more likely to die in a disaster than nondisabled individuals. (https://ncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/8-9-21-NCIL-REAADI-and-DRMA-Toolkit.pdf)
Disproportionate impacts occur both during and well after disasters:
- 31% of adults who require personal assistance for daily care had to evacuate after a disaster, compared to just 1% w/o a disability. (https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/)
- 74% of evacuees who use a wheelchair reported experiencing a lack of food 1 month after a disaster, compared with 9% who are able to walk. (https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/)
- 70% of Deaf people who were evacuated reported living in unsanitary conditions a month post-disaster, compared to 7% who are not Deaf. (https://disasterstrategies.org/new-census-data-shows-u-s-fails-disabled-people-after-disasters/)
- OA are twice as likely to experience PTSD and 1.75 times more likely to develop an adjustment disorder after experiencing a natural disaster. (Parker, G., Lie, D., Siskind, D. J., & Martin-Kahn, M. (2015). Mental health implications for older adults after natural disasters – a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Psychogeriatrics, 28, 11-20. doi:10.1017/S1041610215001210) AND cited at https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/type/disaster_older_adult.asp.
The disproportionate impacts faced by people with disabilities and older adults are part of every type of disaster.
- We saw it during the COVID-19 pandemic, where initially information about COVID wasn’t accessible, and disabled people and older adults were discriminated against in accessing medical care and were forced into congregate settings with higher rates of COVID due to loss of services.
- We see it in natural disasters, like hurricanes – roughly ¾ of people who died in Hurricane Katrina were older adults and people with disabilities. (https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/chapter1.html)
Making sure that people with disabilities and older adults have the information and resources they need to be informed, safe, and healthy during and after an emergency requires advanced planning and engaging with you, the stakeholders, and the communities you serve before the disaster happens.
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season has already brought significant impacts:1
- Tropical Storm Alberto formed on June 17, and over the following days it brought nearly a foot of rain to parts of Texas and New Mexico, triggering flash flood emergencies. (https://www.wsj.com/science/environment/hurricane-deaths-health-federal-data-01fd24b5)
- On July 1, Hurricane Beryl became the earliest category-5 storm on record in the Atlantic basin. Beryl caused catastrophic damage and approximately 20 fatalities in several islands in the Caribbean Sea, with an additional preliminary death toll of about 25 people in Texas, Louisiana, and Vermont. (https://www.wsj.com/science/environment/hurricane-deaths-health-federal-data-01fd24b5)

A: Transportation services and programs vary by local area. To learn more about what is available in your part of the country, ACL's Eldercare Locator: https://eldercare.acl.gov and Disability Information and Assistance Line: https://dial.acl.gov were created to connect older adults and people with disabilities to a variety of services and supports.

A: States can apply for 1115 waivers to cover generators as a medically necessary home environment modification. See: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/downloads/addrss-hlth-soc-needs-1115-demo-all-st-call-12062022.pdf and https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib12102024.pdf.

September 14, 2024: Island and Coastal Communities

This webinar discusses the unique challenges that island and coastal communities face in the wake of natural and human-made disasters, from typhoons and tidal waves to wildfires and rising sea levels. Pacific islands are 30 times more likely to experience natural disasters than the mainland United States. They are highly vulnerable to natural disasters due to their geographic location, which is prone to earthquakes, tsunamis, and tropical storms, as well as rising sea levels from climate change. Their low-lying nature, limited infrastructure, and reliance on natural resources like agriculture and fisheries — as well as importation of supplies — exacerbate the impact, making recovery more difficult. Climate change intensifies these risks by increasing storm severity and degrading natural protections like coral reefs. An estimated 1.5 million Pacific Islanders are living with some form of disability and the estimated population of adults aged 60 and older is expected to increase by 600% by 2050 — from 376,000 in 2000 to 2.2 million. Older adults and individuals with disabilities in the Pacific islands are at higher risk of experiencing poor outcomes during and after natural disasters due to limited mobility, difficulty accessing early warnings or evacuation routes, and reliance on health care services that may be disrupted. These populations often face challenges in accessing emergency shelters, food, water, and medical care, and the islands' limited infrastructure and remote locations can delay relief efforts. Additionally, disruptions to essential services like electricity, transportation, and communication can disproportionately affect those with specific health or mobility needs. This webinar includes opening remarks by Sherman Gillums, director of ODIC at FEMA, and Fay Gordon, ACL regional administrator for Region IX (AS, AZ, CA, CNMI, GU, HI, NV).

ACL Emergency Preparedness Webinar

November 20, 2024: Extreme Winter Weather

This ACL webinar focused on the significant impact of extreme winter weather on older adults and people with disabilities and the need for inclusive preparedness, response, and recovery measures.

During this webinar, attendees heard from an expert panel including representatives from the disability and aging networks at the national, state, and regional levels. The webinar discussion highlighted the importance of accessible resources, evacuation planning, and strategies to ensure critical services are available and inclusive before, during, and after extreme winter events.

Extreme winter weather impacts older adults and individuals with disabilities disproportionately due to several factors associated with health, mobility, and access to resources.

For older adults, colder temperatures increase the risk of conditions like hypothermia and frostbite because aging bodies often have reduced circulation and lower body fat, making it more difficult to effectively regulate body temperature. Additionally, memory impairments may prevent them from taking necessary precautions, such as dressing warmly or seeking heating assistance during storms.

For individuals with disabilities, physical limitations can increase exposure risks and hinder the ability to seek shelter quickly or avoid hazards like icy walkways. Limited transportation options may make it challenging to reach warming centers or other safe locations, and there may be barriers to accessible emergency resources. Many people with disabilities rely on medical equipment dependent on electricity, which may become unusable during winter power outages. This can be life-threatening if outages are prolonged.

Furthermore, chronic health issues that impact people with disabilities and older adults, such as diabetes or thyroid problems, may affect the heart or blood flow, impairing the body’s ability to stay warm. (Taking medications for common conditions may have the same effect.)

Response to question asked during webinar

Q: Texas is not doing that - priority restoration. How did power companies get on board?

A: FYI article on the TX grid https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2024-10-08/plan-for-new-link-between-texas-grid-and-neighboring-states-gets-boost-from-the-federal-government.