FEMA specialist focused on preparedness at meeting

EMERGENCY INFORMATION COUNCIL

YOYO is not a plaything to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) specialists, but an alert for emergency preparedness. “It stands for ‘You’re On Your Own,’” said Roxann Crawford, a 20-year veteran of the FEMA. “You need to be prepared.”

On a lucky day, there is one firefighter for every 265 people, one police officer per 334 people and one paramedic per 325 residents, according to Crawford.“Think about the impact in an emergency when there is an increased number of residents they need to serve.”

In an earthquake, wildfire or flooding, many resources may not work. Utilities, phones, water systems, transportation, grocery stores and pharmacies may be out of commission. Hospitals are likely to be overwhelmed and roads may be blocked, preventing evacuation. Crawford, along with specialist Christian Erickson, spelled out the details for residents at a talk presented by the Emergency Information Council (EIC) on March 18 in Clubhouse 3.

Some residents may have mobility, cognitive, or mental health issues, Crawford noted. More common issues would be hearing, vision and speech disabilities or a dependency on power, for sleep aids, power chairs, or refrigerated medicine. The most lost items in an emergency are glasses, hearing aids and dentures. Crawford promoted the need for a plan and a disaster kit, aimed at preparedness for people with disabilities, older adults and even pets, as well as sources for accurate information. Crawford listed supply kit needs and also cited the EIC website, Pacific ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) and FEMA as good sources for emergency preparedness information. These sites offer check lists for supply needs and guides to creating an individual disaster plan.

Crawford serves as a disability integration specialist for the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA Region 9. She can be contacted by email at Roxann.Crawford@fema.dhs.gov. Find more information on the EIC website at www.eiclwsb.org, the Pacific ADA at www.adapacific.org and the FEMA website at www.fema.gov.

—Mariann Klinger

Roxann Crawford