: [FV-Talk] HOMELAND SECURITY AND NATIONAL GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO HELP OLDER AMERICANS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

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Press Release

September 6, 2006

Contact: DHS Press Office: (202) 282-8010

HOMELAND SECURITY AND NATIONAL GROUPS JOIN FORCES TO HELP OLDER AMERICANS

AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

WASHINGTON -

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today joint efforts

with AARP, American Red Cross (Red Cross), the National Organization on

Disability (NOD) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to assist

older Americans and individuals with disabilities in preparing for emergencies.

The

department's Ready Campaign, AARP, Red Cross and NOD developed two new

brochures highlighting the key preparedness steps older and disabled Americans

and their families and caretakers should take before emergencies occur.

The NFPA also announced its new Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People

with Disabilities, designed to help individuals with disabilities and

businesses prepare for emergency evacuation events. Additionally, NFPA is including

evacuation planning for people with disabilities in its series of emergency

evacuation workshops across the country this fall.

" We're

pleased to join with AARP, the American Red Cross, the National Organization on

Disability and the National Fire Protection Association to unveil these

important new resources for individuals and businesses, " said Homeland

Security Under Secretary for Preparedness Foresman. " National

Preparedness Month, the anniversaries of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and last year's

devastating hurricanes serve as serious reminders that emergency preparedness

is important for all citizens, especially older Americans and people with

disabilities. "

These new

tools were announced by Under Secretary Foresman and DHS Officer for Civil

Rights and Civil Liberties Sutherland at the Armed Forces Retirement

Home in Washington, D.C. The announcement included remarks

by senior officials from AARP, Red Cross, NOD and NFPA, as well as an

interactive presentation by local first responders for Armed Forces Retirement

Home residents.

Through its

Ready Campaign, DHS encourages all Americans to get an emergency supply kit,

make a family emergency plan, and be informed about the types of emergencies

that can happen and their appropriate responses. The U.S.Census Bureau

estimates more than 84 million Americans are over age 50. According

to the National Organization on Disability, 54 million men, women and children

in America

have disabilities. The new Ready materials recommend these Americans add

medicines, medical records, glasses and hearing aids and other equipment to

their basic emergency supply kits. The brochures also recommend that

individuals develop an emergency plan tailored to their unique needs and a

personal support network they can call upon in the event of an emergency.

In addition, the pieces urge Americans to learn about the types of emergencies

that can occur where they live and the local plans in place in their

communities.

NFPA's

Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities is a tool to

provide people with disabilities, employers, building owners and others with

assistance in developing emergency evacuation plans for people with

disabilities. The guide includes critical information on the operational,

planning and response elements necessary to developing a well thought out plan

to evacuate a building in the event of an emergency. NFPA is using the funds

from a Fire Act Grant provided by DHS to provide a series of evacuation

workshops that will also include the importance of planning for members of the

disability community. The workshops will focus on why organizations need

well-developed and regularly practiced emergency evacuation and relocation

plans.

For free

copies of the new emergency preparedness brochures for older Americans and

people with disabilities or more information about emergency preparedness for

individuals, families and businesses, visit www.ready.gov,

or call 1-800-BE-READY. NFPA's planning guide, available later this

month, can be downloaded free of charge from the NFPA Web site at www.nfpa.org.