emergency preparedness

What is the emergency preparedness project?

This project has three activities:

  • We provide training and education to first responders on the needs of people with disabilities.
  • We educate people with disabilities about how to prepare for emergencies.
  • We ensure inclusion of a disability perspective in state emergency response planning.

In addition, OODH in partnership with Independent Living Resource received a grant funding from The City of Portland to  design, develop, and implement disability specific emergency self-preparedness trainings. These trainings will serve to assist people with specific categories of disabilities, in being better prepared in the event of an emergency or disaster. These trainings will also inform the Portland disability community about specific tools such as the Voluntary Emergency Registry (VER) and the City of Portland’s general protocols during a major incident or disaster.

Who are your partners in this project?

OODH collaborates with the state Public Health Division’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program (PHEP), the PHD Office of Community Health and Health Planning, and the State Independent Living Council to address and respond to disability issues on emergency preparedness in Oregon. See a list of Centers for Independent Living in Oregon.

How can I get involved?

See a list of upcoming trainings in the Portland area.

If you are a first responder, you can attend an upcoming training at the Oregon Emergency Management Association conference in September.

If you are a Center for Independent Living or a disability advocacy organization, contact us to arrange emergency preparedness training. We can do a training in your community or we can conduct a Train the Trainer event for your organization.

If you are a person with a disability and want to attend a training, contact your local Center for Independent Living. At the training, you'll receive a Ready Now! Emergency Preparedness Toolkit, , weather radio/phone charger/flashlight, lamination materials, and plastic display sleeve.

Learn more about the Volunteer Emergency Registry, a cooperative effort of the City of Portland and Multnomah County to identify and assist people who may need extra help during an emergency.

Email us if you'd like to be notified when our Ready Now! Emergency Preparedness video is available. This video will have captioning and ASL interpretation. It will be available for purchase in Winter of 2009.

Download a copy of the Ready Now! Emergency Preparedness Toolkit..