Hurricane Katrina - 10 Ways to Support Disability Related Relief Efforts

With thanks to M. Johnson.

1. Let people in need know they should apply for assistance through FEMA,state their needs as clearly and specifically as possible and identifytheir disability.

1/800-621-FEMA
1/800-462-9029
1/800-462-7585 TDD/TYY
http://www.fema.gov/register.shtm (on-line registration)

Also encourage people in need to try United Ways 211
http://www.211.org/

2. Send a message and/or card to ILCs in effected areas like AL (example, Mobile), LA (statewide, no snail mail in New Orleans), MS (statewide) & TX (example, Houston). If offering money, items or time, be specific. http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

3. Coordinate your efforts at the federal and on the ground levels

FEDERAL LEVEL
Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities, http://www.dhs.gov/disabilitypreparedness.html

Daniel W. Sutherland, Chairperson
Daniel.Sutherland@dhs.gov
(202) 772-9816

Olegario "Ollie" D. Cantos VII, Chairperson TA and Outreach Subcommittee
Ollie.Cantos@usdoj.gov
(202) 616-7920

ON THE GROUND, REGION 4 & 6 (AL, LA, MS & TX)
Lex Frieden
lfrieden@bcm.tmc.edu
(713) 520-0232, Ext. 124 http://www.ilru.org/html/whatsnew/announcements/katrina.html

OTHER REGIONS
National Council on Independent Living with TA from ILRU
John Lancaster, Executive Director
john@ncil.org
(877) 525-3409
http://www.ncil.org/

list of local ILCs at http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

ILRU
2323 S. Shepherd, Suite 1000
Houston, Texas 77019
713-520-0232 (Voice/TTY)
713-520-5785 (Fax)
600-949-4232, if in Arkansas, LA or TX
ilru@ilru.org
http://www.ilru.org

4. Help build disability specific web sites, for example

http://www.katrina-la.net/,
Karen Lagrange, karen@kalidust.com, 337-407-9201

http://katrinadisability.info/
Susan Fitzmaurice, katrinadisability.info@gmail.com

5. Offer to provide housing, transportation, food, personal items, etc., register at

https://www.swern.gov/emergency/asset_index.php
http://www.katrina-la.net/, disability specific
http://katrinadisability.info/, disability specific

6. Volunteer to assist, register at
http://www.katrinadisability.info , scroll down, click on
Disability Experts box
https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov/

7. Support disability specific Funds, for example

AIDS
https://secure.ga3.org/03/KatrinaEmergencyFund

ARC
http://www.thearc.org/

Autism
http://66.148.5.47/CrystalPages/default2.html
http://www.talkautism.com/

CA Foundation for ILCs
http://www.cfilc.org/site

Diabetes
http://www.cwdfoundation.org/Supplies.htm

Family Voices
http://www.familyvoices.org/

MS
http://www.nationalmssociety.org/hurricane.asp

NAMI
http://www.nami.org or at any Wachovia bank nationwide
(Account #200024603407)

National Down Syndrome
http://www.ndss.org/

Spina Bifida
http://www.sbaa.org

TASH
http://tash.org/

UCP, Houston
http://www.ucphouston.org/

If donating to mainstream relief agencies, Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army, ask them to earmark for people with disabilities.

8. Assure people (especially young and aged populations) everything will be alright

9. Share your experiences with http://www.nobodyleftbehind2.org/

10. Share this and related messages. As we watch and hear about our brothers and sisters with disabilities: die, suffer, or somehow muddle through?.. It is a good time to take stock, review and update our personal preparedness plans and supplies as well as those of the organizations we are a part of? Here are some resources.
June Kailes-

"Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility For Your Safety - A Guide For People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations,"
http://www.cdihp.org/products.html http://www.nod.org
http://www.prepare.org/text/disabilities/medicalTX.htm
http://www.ilrcsf.org/Publications/prepared/pdf/Emergency_Preparedness.pdf

Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers,
http://www.jik.com/disaster.html

Emergency Preparedness Initiative (EPI), National Organization on Disability
http://www.nod.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=11