“As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, we are also reinforcing our commitment to serving the whole community before, during and after disasters,” said Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator. “By having preparedness plans and thinking ahead, individuals, families and communities will be ready to respond to these events when they occur.”
The new partnership will bolster working relationships with state, local, tribal and territorial emergency managers to encourage including people with disabilities in planning. It will also provide information so people understand the disaster risks in their area. By evaluating their own individual needs and making an emergency plan that fits those needs, people can be better prepared.
Some key highlights from the agreement show that FEMA and Portlight will:
- Participate in training events and natural and simulation exercises, drills, and discussions focused on emergency preparedness and lessening the impact of disasters;
- Share operational practices that work well and that may be adapted to make improvements in service delivery and support community resilience and accessibility for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs; and
- Share research-based emergency management data and information and training experience and expertise before, during, and after disasters.