On Monday, April 18th, ACI hosted the monthly meeting of NJ Group for Access and Integration Needs in Emergencies and Disasters (NJGAINED). On the state level, NJGAINED works on issues affecting people with disabilities and those with access and functional needs before, during and after an emergency disaster. Following the NJGAINED meeting, ACI held its monthly Middlesex County Core Advisory Group (CAG) meeting. With the support of FEMA, CAG is an effort to involve people with disabilities and independent living centers in emergency preparedness. If you would like to be part of Middlesex CAG or would like assistance establishing a CAG in your county, contact ACI at 732-738-4388 or ctonks@adacil.org.
Posts filed under Emergency Preparedness
VIDEO AND SURVEY RESULTS: Overnight Emergency Shelter Simulation in Somerset County
In November of 2015, ACI partnered with the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management to conduct a second Overnight Emergency Shelter Simulation at the Hillsborough Municipal Complex. Fifty people with disabilities, as well as emergency personnel, CERT members and volunteers from Somerset County took part in the event.
The purpose of the exercise is to familiarize members of the disabled community with an overnight shelter experience. At the same time, providing emergency managers and volunteers an opportunity to better assist the needs of individuals with disabilities in a general population shelter during a disaster. Individuals with disabilities filled out a survey prior to leaving. For results of the survey, please click here to download the survey results booklet.
We would like to thank PSEG for attending the event and providing funding to make this exercise possible!
ACI and Partners Conduct Overnight Emergency Simulation in Somerset
ACI recently partnered with Stacey Murphy of the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management to conduct a second Overnight Emergency Shelter Simulation at the Hillsborough Municipal Complex from Friday, November 20th to Saturday, November 21st. 53 people with disabilities, as well as 26 emergency personnel, CERT members and volunteers from Somerset County took part in the event.
"This was a terrific collaboration between ACI and Somerset County OEM," says Carole Tonks, ACI Executive Director. "We all learned a lot from each other."
We would like to thank PSEG for making this exercise possible!
Overnight Emergency Shelter Simulation for People with Disabilities - Somerset
Hillsborough, November 10 – The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) and the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is hosting an emergency shelter overnight simulation for individuals with disabilities on Friday, November 20th starting at 5 p.m. at the Hillsborough Municipal Complex, 279 South Branch Road, Hillsborough. Approximately 50 people with disabilities have volunteered to spend a night at the shelter, which will be staffed by volunteers from a number of Somerset County agencies engaged in emergency response operations during a disaster.
This is the 2nd emergency shelter simulation ACI has hosted. Last year’s simulation, which took place at Rutgers University, proved to be invaluable.
Participating agencies include the Somerset County Office of Emergency Management, the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, local social service agencies and other stakeholders. Funding for the simulation is provided by PSEG.
Disaster and Disability Organizations Meet at ACI for Emergency Planning
On August 16th, the Core Advisory Group (CAG) held its monthly meeting. CAG, hosted by ACI, is an effort, sponsored by FEMA, to include people with disabilities directly in emergency planning. Thank you to Joe Geleta of NJ 211, John Fergurson of Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management, Joe Amoroso of NJ Division of Disability Services and Jim Flemming of FEMA for their presentations.
If you would like to attend our next CAG meeting and live in Middlesex County, then please register on our website.
Overnight Shelter Experience Webinar
On July 9th, ACI presented a 90 minute webinar entitled "Overnight Shelter Experience for People with Access and Functional Needs". This was part of the promising practice for the FEMA/ADA National Network webinar series on Emergency Management and Preparedness: Including People with Disabilities. Thank you FEMA for the opportunity!
ACI Hosts First Core Advisory Group in New Jersey
On June 8th, ACI hosted the first Core Advisory Group (CAG) in New Jersey. Individuals with disabilities, FEMA, the Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and interested organizations met to discuss the unequal treatment people with disabilities receive in disasters.
The intention of the Core Advisory Group (CAG) is to meet on a monthly basis and partner on solutions and recommendations for people with disabilities to be better prepared and respond to disasters. This is a great opportunity to make effective changes in how emergency services are provided in the event of a disaster. If you are a Middlesex County resident and would like to get involved, contact Carole at ctonks@adacil.org.
