Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Housing
Relative to housing, the report recommends prioritizing the needs of families with
children, especially families with children who have disabilities or chronic health,
mental health, or educational needs, in disaster housing assistance programs. The
NCCD report and FEMA's “Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional
Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters” (hereinafter referred to
as the FNSS Guidance) highlight the importance of ensuring that housing con-
siderations include availability of age appropriate and disability/functional needs-
specific services.
Additional local, tribal, and state implications include the concept that FEMA
should be authorized to reimburse state and local governments for providing wrap-
around services to children and families in community sites. Such reimbursement
could be very helpful to state and local governments in providing important and
expedited services during the recovery phase. The report also recommends develop-
ment of innovative programs to expedite the transition into permanent housing for
families with children.
Evacuation
Regarding evacuation, the report recommends that federal agencies should provide
sufficient funding to develop and deploy a national information sharing capability
to quickly and effectively reunite displaced children with their families, guardians,
and caregivers when separated by a disaster. A direct response to challenges faced
in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this recommendation may lead to the devel-
opment of a nationwide information technology capability to collect, share, and
search data from any patient and evacuee tracking or family reunification system.
At this point, it is unclear if the National Mass Evacuation Tracking System will
achieve the goals set forth in the report or will require modification.
Building on the FNSS guidance, the NCCD report contains provisions that
disaster plans at all levels of government must specifically address the evacuation
and transportation needs of children with disabilities and chronic health needs, in
coordination with child congregate care facilities such as schools, child care, and
health care facilities. Although necessary, certain jurisdictions may find these trans-
portation needs challenging.
Support of Children in ESF-6/Mass Care Operations
From a local, tribal, and state planning standpoint, Appendix F of the NCCD
Report, “Supplies for Infants and Toddlers in Mass Care Shelters and Emergency
