Persons with disabilities constitute about 11 percent of Hawai‘i’s population. Ensuring they receive warnings of severe weather, tsunamis, and other natural hazards is a prime concern. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and
Persons with disabilities constitute about 11 percent of Hawai‘i’s population. Ensuring they receive warnings of severe weather, tsunamis, and other natural hazards is a prime concern. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Federal Emergency Management Agency and state and local government agencies are partnering to improve response to rapidly breaking extreme hazard events, such as fires, flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis.
According to a NOAA prepared statement, the effort includes putting together a workshop about emergency preparedness for persons with disabilities. It will focus on natural hazards lead times, communications, and special needs sheltering, emphasizing what is new, what is different and what is changing with respect to planning for persons with disabilities, high risk, and vulnerable populations. NOAA’s workshop is one of more than 180 workshops, panels, and presentations at the 24th Annual PacRim Conference on Disabilities.
Want to learn more?
Who: Ed Young, NOAA National Weather Service Pacific Region Deputy Director Cindy Daniel, FEMA Disabilities Program Coordinator Debbie Jackson, Hawaii Disabilities Communications Access Board
What: Workshop and display booth offering emergency preparedness information and technology demonstrations. Interviews and photo opportunities.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, NOAA Workshop: 1:15-2:15 p.m., tomorrow
Where: Conference: Sheraton Waikiki, second floor conference center
NOAA Workshop: O’ahu Room
NOAA Booth: Second floor foyer