How well you prepare and how much you practice before a disasterwill determine how successful you can recover from any event. Prepare yourselfbased on the capabilities and limitations you believe you will have after acatastrophic disaster. Also keep in mind that your usual ways of support andassistance such as interpreters and personal assistants may not be availablefor some time during an evacuation and immediately after the disaster hasoccurred. It’s important for everyone to a have a personalized disaster plan.
The Coalition on Inclusive Emergency Planning (CIEP) is astatewide, cross-disability, advisory group that works with state and localemergency management and public health stakeholders to build accessibility andinclusion for people with disabilities and other marginalized populations intoall aspects of emergency management. The Coalition provides technical advice onphysical and programmatic access, effective communication, and fosters workingrelationships among emergency managers. The members are local subject matterexperts who can advise on inclusive access and functional needs (AFN) practicesusing the CMIST (Communications, Maintaining Health, Independence,Self-Determination, and Transportation) as well as technical training in allaspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal and statedisability rights laws as applicable to emergency management services.
Participation in CIEP is open to all organizations and individuals interested in fostering the vision on disability inclusion in emergency preparedness and response and recovery, by actively engaging in the work of the Coalition. CIEP stands up before, during, and after disasters to help identify AFN best practices and remedy gaps in collaboration with state and local emergency management. CIEP is funded by a grant from the WA Department of Health Executive Office of Resiliency and Health Security. To receive news, meeting notices, and announcements, sign up to be on the CIEP email list.
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Browse the resources we have compiled below and contact us to be connected to your local Center for Independent Living in Washington State, so you can start working on your Emergency Preparedness Independent Living Goals.
If you have questions about the Coalition and its mission please contact Jim House, Disability Integration Manager.