Advisory Committee for the Disabled Talks Emergency Preparedness with Local Officials

Fort Lee's Advisory Committee for the Disabled met with local officials Wednesday to discuss emergency preparedness for those members of the community with special needs.

Moderated by Chairwoman Bobbi Wailes and Council Liason Harvey Sohmer, the meeting served as an outreach campaign to solicit input and ideas on how to encourage community participation and involvement in preparedness for emergencies at the local level, and how first responders can effectively assist those with disabilities. 

Prepresentatives from emergency services included:

• Steven Curry, Fire Official
• Mark Sulcov, Fire Chief
• Bob Zevits, Cpt. Fort Lee Police
• Stephen Ferraro, OEM Coordinator
• Cathi Goldfischer, Ambulance Corps. Chief
• Steve Negri, Building Dpt.

With 56 million Americans classified with disabilities, a number representing 20 percent of the population, the meeting focused on how to provide guidance, tools, methods and strategies to integrate and coordinate emergency management to include individuals with access and functional needs, and those with physical and cognitive disabilities. 

Although many people with disabilities are identified because they are registered with various agencies or receive specialized services, there are approximately 15,000 people with disabilities on the state register who have no phone or television. In an emergency situation, how can these people be reached and how do emergency services know where they are should a building or home need to be evacuated or life support systems are in place?

Stephen Ferraro, Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator, told the group about the program Register Ready.  Register Ready is a voluntary web based registry program that allows residents with special needs and their families, friends and associates an opportunity to provide information so that emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency, such as Superstorm Sandy with its extensive power outages.

According to Ferraro, only 82 residents have registered. In order to better get the word out, he informed the group that his office has prepared brochures containing information on how residents can register with the county so that during an emergency situation emergency services are aware of the residents who need special attention.

Those who would like to register, but do not have a computer, can call 211 and register over the phone. Currently, Ferraro's staff has been hand-delivering the information to the high rises and will begin to do the same with private residences.

Additionally, residents can also call Fort Lee's Office of Emergency Management and they will assist in registering. Their telephone number is: 201-592-3500 ext 1512.

Officials agreed that registering is the first step in preparing for an emergency situation. First responders need to be prepared to assist in all situations, especially during a severe weather event, such as Sandy, where people needed to be evacuated from their apartments and homes. It helps first responders to have critical information prior to being called to the scene so that they can best deal with the situation.  

Fire Chief Mark Sulcov explained that it is important for people with disabilities and their caregivers to "forward think" and plan ahead to prepare for emergencies and disasters before they happen. If there is advance warning that severe weather is coming, a plan should be in place whereby those with disabilities self-evacuate to a safe location with family or friends if they can.

Those present agreed, and OEM's Cathy Umrichin said that both FEMA and the Red Cross encourage everyone to be prepared for three days in case of an emergency. 

Officials agreed that in emergency situations a municipality's resources are stretched with those needing assistance often exceeding the available resources. Also, in some situations it is even too dangerous for emergency personnel to be on the streets. During the height of Sandy, emergency services throughout the county were ordered off the road because weather conditions were too dangerous. All representatives present agreed that planning in advance of emergencies is extremely important, especially for people with disabilities.

Emergency services provides the infrastructure during times of crises for the entire community, but especially for those most vulnerable. Which is why officials agreed to assist in finding ways to better get the word out so that people with disabilities know that they can register and, by doing so, feel an added measure of protection should they find themselves in an emergency situation like Sandy presented.

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