Accessible Sheltering Using Temporary Modifications

Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEMIowa Department of Public

Health

Western Kentucky Inclusive Emergency Preparedness Conference

April 25-26, 2013Louisville, KY

Photo courtesy of FEMA/Patsy Lynch

Overview• Understanding emergency

management and American’s with Disabilities Act-ADA

• Identifying shelter locations• Temporary modifications• Training shelter staff• Identifying partnerships

Low Hanging Fruit• Accessible disaster shelters can be

achieved• Provides resource typing• Creates shelter coalition• Once established, must be

maintained

Preparedness • Preparedness means

something different to each entity

• Each has own priorities, different decisions and ways of planning

• Or none at all• Most plan for the

infrastructure being in place• 911 is their response plan

Ongoing Challenges for Emergency Management

• Knowing level of preparedness• Public/Private engagement and maintaining

it• Meeting the needs of elderly, access and

functional, ethnic diversity and language barrier

• Emerge with a cohesive plan of all hazard planning to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover

• Money

Whole Community Planning

• Shared, informed understanding of needs, risks and capabilities

• Establishment of relationship across communities

• Integration of resources• Stronger social infrastructure• Increased individual preparedness• Everybody has skin in the game

ADA and Emergency Management

• Emergency management compliance falls under Title II

• All goods, services programs provided by state and local government, including third parties entities

• This includes Red Cross, faith based and nonprofits

• ADA requires most integrated setting

ADA, Emergency Management and Sheltering

• If an entity that is not required to comply with the ADA, i.e.; churches, is used for a public disaster shelter it must meet minimum ADA compliance

• Emergency Management is not responsible for making permanent physical modifications but ensure that the shelter is accessible

Shelter Types-Historically

• Mass Care or general population shelters• Special needs or medical shelters –

people who need level of care provided by medical personnel, nursing homes, or hospitals

• Typically people with disabilities were sent to medical shelters without their family or care provider

• Accessibility was not top priority for either

Medical Shelters• Must be staffed with

doctors, nurses and trained personnel

• Best case scenario, pre-established transfer locations at same level of care before disaster

• Need medical shelters so hospitals are not overwhelmed

Shelters• Accessible general population

shelters• Heating and cooling shelters/centers• Medical shelters• Pet shelters

Temporary Modifications• Because the shelter is “temporary”

modifications for physical accessibility can be used

• Modifications do not have to be permanent, can be temporary

• Modifications must meet minimum ADA guidelines

Where to Begin• Survey current sites for accessibility-

follow DOJ/ADA guidelines• Categorize accessible to not at all• Determine is temporary modifications

can increase accessibility• Inventory – know what you have and

what you need

Four Main Areas• Parking• Entrance• Common areas• Bathrooms/shower• Typical surveys begin out and work in • Start with bathroom and work out• Survey only where the public will be

ADA Compliant Parking• 1 to 25 – 1• 26 to 50 – 2• 51 to 75 – 3• 76 to 100 – 4• 101 to 150 – 5• 151 to 200 – 6• 201 to 300 – 7• 301 to 400 – 8• 401 to 500 – 9• 501 to 1000 – 2 percent of total• 1001 and over – 20 plus 1 for each 100 over 1000

Temporary Shelter Parking

• Three stalls = two accessible• Use the middle as an access aisle• Accessible side walk• Close to entrance • Flat surface

Temporary Accessible Shelter Parking

Orange Cone• Temporary• Blocks traffic• Easy to move

Temporary Upright Signage• Print and laminate• Post on temporary

stand• Post high enough

Ramps• Can be temporary• Must meet ADA specifications– Not like the photo

• Need Handrails on both sides if– over 6 inches high – 72 inches long

• No ski slopes

Entrance• Exterior doors follow local fire code• Automatic openers are

recommended -not required• Sidewalk leading up to 36 inches• 32 inch clear opening• Landing inside/outside 60 inches

level• Signage to accessible entrance

Common Areas• Sleeping• Eating• All goods and services on one level,

unless working accessible elevator• Signage and warning systems

accessible- audible and visual• Quiet room(s) desirable• Path of travel

Adequate Space• 40 square feet per person• Generally need 80 square feet for

access and functional needs–Medicots are higher and wider– Service animals

•Reserve wall space – use for stability, ease of transfer

•Near exit, bathrooms

Bathroom/Shower• Toilet – can use riser to

meet minimum height of 17 – 19 inches

• Temporary grab bars, must hold up to 250 lbs.

• Transfer benches for showers

• Handheld or adjust features

• Soap and towels on counter

Temporary Fixtures

Bathroom

Sink

Service Animals - DogsUnder the ADA-• Trained to work or perform tasks to

mitigate disability• Must be on harness, leash or tethered

unless interferes with work • Controlled through voice or other device • Don’t need to be registered or show proof• Can only remove if the service animal

posses a threat or is not housebroke• If asked to take the dog, use the leash not

the harness or they will think they are on duty

Photo courtesy of Mary R. Vogt

Service Animals – Miniature Horses

• Generally 24 -34 inches from shoulders• Weigh between 70 – 100 pounds• Entities covered by the ADA must modify

their policies where reasonable• Been individually trained to do work or

perform tasks • Must be under control, housebroken• Will not compromise safety• Facility can accommodate the type, size, and

weight

Service Animals in Shelters

Staff may ask two questions • “Is it required because of a disability?” • “What work or task has it been trained to

perform?” • Cannot ask about the person’s disability • Cannot require medical documentation,

special identification card or training documentation

• Or ask the dog demonstrate its ability to perform the work or task

Training Shelter Staff• Understand the anatomy of a

disaster• Incident Command• National Incident Management

System • How to support people with access

and functional needs in the shelter• Personal/family preparedness• Donations management

Resource/Coalition Building In Kentucky

• Search online for community provider associations

• Begin partnership/coalition building• Find experts in the field who can answer

questions• Maintain resource list • Kentucky Provider Directory• Kentucky Commission on Community

Volunteerism and Service

Intake• Need staff that are knowledgeable

regarding disability• Information must be kept confidential• Determine what will maintain health

and safety, immediate needs• Contingency plan when needs can’t

be met

Yet Another Committee• Yes there is upfront work• Identify providers, for example – Transportation– Communication– Assistive technology–Work in shelter

• Write them into your plan, email periodically to maintain current contact

• Become a virtual participant

I Wish It Were This Easy

Take Away• Stop planning for disability specific• Use Whole Community Planning &• access and functional needs

approach• Establish partnerships with providers• Educate each other• Everyone has something to offer

How Am I Going To Remember All This?

• ADA Homepage has toolkits and checklists http://ada.gov/shleterck.htm

• FNSS Guidance

• Department of Justice technical assistance (800) 514-0301 voice

• ESF #6 Template for Mass Care and Human Services

• Call me

Karin Ford, MSPS, IACEMIowa Department of Public Health

321 E. 12th Street Des Moines, Iowa 50319-0075

Karin.Ford@idph.iowa.gov515-242-6336