Presented by the NJ Statewide Independent Living Council and the NJ Department Of Human Services

New Jersey Pathways to Preparedness provides the individual with a basic introduction to disaster planning. Disaster planning is a concept that utilizes strategies that are common to all types of public emergencies and disasters. This workshop encourages each person to consider an all-hazard approach, meaning that you create a plan one time, and then they can apply the plan to all types of hazards.

• Each individual must take responsibility for their own personal and family preparedness. Individuals have varying needs, abilities and resources and there is no one-size-fits-all disaster plan. Each person needs to evaluate their own unique needs, learn about and choose options available to them in their community, and prepare to the greatest extent possible prior to a possible disaster.

• Most decisions on how to prepare for and respond to disasters are made at the local level. Each individual and family must understand how their county’s emergency management plan works, including how steps are taken to address the needs for people with disabilities in the area.

Participants of the training will receive all necessary training material as well as other items to assist them with their disaster preparedness efforts.

Register by July 17th.

Emergency preparedness volunteers needed!

Join the Middlesex County Department of Health and the Alliance Center for Independence for a Radiological Community Reception Center Exercise.

Your participation will help emergency managers plan for possible future disasters. During the exercise, First Responders, volunteers, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and members of the disabled community will work together to learn about Radiation Emergencies and how a Community Reception Center operates.

Free lunch and gift bags will be distributed.

Registration deadline is May 23rd.

Hosted by the Middlesex County Core Advisory Group (CAG)

We are in the middle of the 2022 hurricane season and we want to hear from you! This is a great opportunity for you to hear from a panel of community partners including emergency managers, state and federal agencies. This important meeting will assist in making effective changes during a disaster. NJ community partners will listen to the challenges facing people with disabilities and identify strategies to ensure survival and build resistance.

What have been your experiences during an emergency/disaster?
What could be done better?
What issues would you like the CAG to address?
What speakers would you like to hear from?
How prepared are you in the event of an emergency?
Do you need assistance in preparing?
What has been your experience with COVID-19?

We also want to hear from you on the following topics:

• Communication

• Transportation

• Sheltering

• Sheltering in Place

• Evacuation

The first 25 in-person individuals will receive a FREE travel size first aid kit! Take a vaccine survey and receive a $25 ShopRite gift card as our thanks!

This is a hybrid meeting, but we encourage you to come in person. Please indicate if you will be joining by Zoom or in person when registering.

If you would like to join us on Zoom, the meeting will be taking place here: us06web.zoom.us/j/84491135824

Hosted by the Middlesex County Core Advisory Group (CAG)

Are you a person with a disability living in Middlesex County? Are you concerned about disasters/emergencies? Join the CAG Community Listening Session and tell us what’s on your mind!

• This is a great opportunity to work with emergency managers and FEMA to make effective changes in how emergency services are provided to people with disabilities in the event of a disaster.

• Identify emergency management challenges still facing people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs before, during and after a disaster.

• Develop strategies to build resilience in the disabled community.

The first 25 participants will receive a travel size first aid kit!

The first 25 participants who complete a short survey regarding COVID-19 vaccines will get a $25 ShopRite gift card!

Freezing temperatures, snow, ice storms, power outages…New Jersey has had its share of harsh winter weather. Have you made the necessary preparations to survive another NJ winter?

Join us on Wednesday, December 9th from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM for an informative and interactive Zoom webinar on emergency preparedness for the winter season. Learn how to protect yourself and be safe this winter.

Presented by ACI's Emergency Preparedness Team and guest speaker, John Ferguson of the Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management.

If you have any questions, please contact Luke at lkoppisch@adacil.org

ACI will be at the 36th Annual Autism Conference! Carole Tonks, ACI Executive Director and Kelly Boyd, NJ Office of Emergency Management, will be presenting Emergency Preparedness Tips for Families on Friday, October 19th from 1:15 to 2:30 PM (Session F).

Coping with an emergency or disaster situation can be stressful for anyone, especially individuals with autism. Families affected by autism will learn useful strategies to help them prepare for and manage emergency or disaster situations while still maintaining a demeanor that keeps the individual with autism as calm and focused as possible. This workshop will provide essential tips to help caregivers prepare to withstand various types of emergencies, including a list of items needed to shelter-in-place or evacuate. The State's Register Ready program will be discussed along with guidance on how to create a support network.

Visit autismnj.org for more info.

Presented by John Dowd, Middlesex County Health Department

The two hour course will teach participants about the fundamentals of radiation and provide them an overview of a Community Reception Center.  Individuals will learn how to define radiation, identify different types of radiation, and describe units used to measure amounts of radiation.  The program will explain sheltering in place, self-decontamination, and ways to stay informed during a radiation emergency.  The purpose and services of a Community Reception Center and an overview of monitoring equipment will also be presented.

Module 1 – Basics of Radiation
Module 2 – What to do during a radiation emergency
Module 3 – Community Reception Center (Population Monitoring)

Attendees will also be invited to participate in an exercise on April 25th.

Light lunch will be served. Accommodations upon request.

Registration deadline is March 15th.

The Overnight Shelter Exercise, “Everyone’s” Included presentation will give the participants the tools to work within their own communities so they will be able to execute their own shelter exercise.

The exercise brings together all community stakeholders to participate in a full scale overnight experience. It is essential to bring together first responders and the disability community as equal partners. By doing so, barriers are removed and each community can learn from the other. Preparing first responders and people with disabilities for the next disaster together will save lives.

Presented by: Madeleine Goldfarb, Noah’s Ark Institute, Carole Tonks/Luke Koppisch, Alliance Center for Independence and John Ferguson, Middlesex OEM.

For more information, please visit: njepa.org/sessions/overnight-shelter-exercise

ACI will present a webinar on organizing an overnight shelter stimulation for people with disabilities and access and functional needs on Thursday, July 9th at 2:30 PM.

This webinar is part of a ADA National Network/FEMA Webinar Series and is open to the public. To register, please visit: http://adapresentations.org/schedule.php