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  1. (No author).  (2006).  VA POST-KATRINA HEALTH MANUAL: Information for Health Care Providers and Patients.  South Central VA Health Care Network.
    Provides questionnaires and fact sheets for veterans and medical personnel. This document contains information on both physical and mental disorders and impairments caused as a result of the storm. While this document includes persons with chronic disabilities, it is primarily focused on acute care related to specific storm-exacerbated injuries

  2. (No author).  (2006).  The Needs of People with Psychiatric Disabilities During and After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Position Paper and Recommendations.  National Council on Disability.
    In Fall of 2005, the destructive forces of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wreaked an emotional as well as a physical toll on residents of the Gulf Coast region. Millions of Americans from across the country reached out to hurricane survivors, opening their homes and their hearts. Government employees at local, state and federal levels worked long and hard to help evacuate and rescue people in the Gulf Coast. Many of these people are still in the Gulf Coast helping to rebuild communities. In the months since the hurricanes devastated the Gulf Coast, media coverage of the hurricane survivors has waned. However, for hurricane survivors with psychiatric disabilities, the hurricanes’ destruction resulted in “trauma that didn’t last 24 hours, then go away. ... It goes on and on.” Some of these challenges were unavoidable. As one government official said, “No one ever planned for ‘what happens when your social service infrastructure is completely wiped out.’” Nonetheless, many of the problems could have been avoided with proper planning. As NCD predicted in its April 2005 report, Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Planning, “[i]f planning does not embrace the value that everyone should survive, they will not.” As a result of its research, NCD found that much pre-Katrina disaster planning did not contemplate the needs of people with psychiatric disabilities, and as a result, many people died or unnecessarily suffered severely traumatic experiences. This paper includes the following major findings and recommendations, as well as various specific recommendations for emergency management officials and policymakers at the local, state and federal levels.

  3. Rudowitz, Robin Rowand, Diane & Shartzer, Adele.  (2006).  Health Care in New Orleans Before and After Hurricane Katrina.  Health Affairs.  Vol. 25,
    Before Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, New Orleans had a largelypoor and African American population with one of the nation’s highest uninsurance rates,and many relied on the Charity Hospital system for care. The aftermath of Katrina devastated the New Orleans health care safety net, entirely changing the city’s health care landscape and leaving many without access to care a year after the storm. State and local officials face the challenge of rebuilding and improving the city’s health care system by assuring health care coverage forthe population and promoting broader access to primary care and community-based health services. [Health Affairs 25 (2006): w393–w406;10.1377/hlthaff.25.w393]

  4. (No author).  (2006).  Continuing Progress: A 1 Year Update on Hurricane Recovery and Rebuilding.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Office of the Secretary.
    The paper gives a one-year update on the recovery and rebuilding process in the Gulf Coast Area. The paper discusses the rebuilding of communities including housing needs, discusses repairing and strengthening infrastructure, rebuilding the economy, providing healthcare, as well as still providing immediate relief and rescue. The paper is not specific to people with disabilities, but it does mention how efforts are focusing on finding housing and getting health care for people with disabilities, as well as including them in future emergency planning.

  5. Lyman, Rick.  (2006).  Among Elderly Evacuees, a Strong Desire to Return Home, but No Place to Go.
    Social service workers say that there is little housing available in New Orleans for families displaced by last year’s hurricanes.

  6. (No author).  (2006).  Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Coordination Between FEMA and the Red Cross Should be Improved for the 2006 Hurricane Season.  Government Accountability Office.
    The report discusses how FEMA and the Red Cross can coordinate more effectively during a hurricane season. There were breakdowns in communication and disagreements about crucial elements. The GAO recommends that (1) FEMA work with the Red Cross to reach agreement on 2006 hurricane season operating procedures, (2) the Red Cross implement staffing strategies that would improve working relationships and retention of institutional knowledge, and (3) that FEMA obtain the Red Cross' input when developing its resource tracking system.

  7. (No author).  (2006).  2005 Annual Report to the President and Congress.  National Council on Disability.
    The NCD submitted its Annual Performance Report to the President and Congress-Fiscal Year 2005 made various recommendations concerning emergency planning for people with disabilities. These suggestions included housing, health care, education, and transportation.

  8. (No author).  (2006).  Expedited Assistance for Victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: FEMA's Control Weakness Exposed the Government to Significant Fraud and Abuse.  Government Accountability Office.
    This report condemns FEMA for its weaknesses related to benefit fraud and abuse. GAO identified significant flaws in the process for registering disaster victims that leave the federal government vulnerable to fraud and abuse of expedited assistance payments. For internet applications, limited automatic controls were in place to verify a registrant's identity. However, there was no independent verification of the identity of those who applied for disaster assistance via the telephone. GAO demonstrated the vulnerability inherent in the call-in applications by using falsified identities, bogus addresses, and fabricated disaster stories to register for IHP. GAO recommends that the Department of Homeland Security direct FEMA to take 6 actions, including establishing both an identity and address verification process, entering into agreements with other agencies to authenticate information on IHP registrations, establishing procedures to collect duplicate payments, and providing assurance that future distribution of debit cards includes instructions on the proper use of IHP funds. DHS and FEMA concurred fully with 4 of the 6 recommendations and partially concurred with the remaining 2.

  9. (No author).  (2006).  From Challenge to Action: American Red Cross Actions to Improve and Enhance Its Disaster Response and Related Capabilities.  American Red Cross.
    This paper describes the actions undertaken by the American Red Cross to address the system weaknesses exposed by the historic hurricanes of 2005. Even as it takes these steps, the organization is embarking on strategic changes that will more broadly build upon these tactical improvements. It is seeking to make better use of its technology investment. This paper does not specifically address disabled individuals but focuses on relief efforts.

  10. (No author).  (2006).  Hurricane Season Preparations.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    DHS outlines the steps being taken to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. This cite names responsibilities for Federal, state, and local governments, as well as information about how to plan for an emergency.

  11. (No author).  (2006).  Lessons Learned for Protecting and Educating Children After the Gulf Coast Hurricanes.  Government Accountability Office.
    Focused on protecting and educating children after the Gulf Coast hurricanes. The report outlines lessons learned: (1) state and local disaster plans could better protect children if they integrated the needs of child welfare and education agencies. For example, schools can reopen more quickly when local relief officials work with school personnel to coordinate how resources will be allocated. With schools in operation, communities can focus on recovery. Moreover, child welfare and education agencies can better prepare for and respond to large-scale disasters by maintaining emergency contact information for staff and foster parents and developing evacuation instructions; (2) children could benefit from data-sharing agreements among organizations. Agreements to share data on displaced children and families could help speed efforts to locate them; (3) flexibility in certain federal reporting requirements can allow states and localities to focus more attention on recovery efforts.

  12. (No author).  (2006).  Hurricanes Survivors with Disabilities--Lives in Isolation.  Independent Living Research Utilization.
    The web page focuses on the quick response of ILRU to Hurricane Katrina and highlights four interviews of people with disabilities and their experiences during and after the hurricane.

  13. Dewan, Shaila.  (2006).  Storm Evacuees Found to Suffer Health Setbacks.
    A NY Times article reporting a recent study that interviewed families living in trailers or hotels. It provides a grim portrait of the hurricane's effects on some of the poorest victims, showing gaps in the tattered safety net pieced together from government and private efforts.

  14. (No author).  (2006).  American Red Cross Expands Capacity to Handle Disasters.  American Red Cross.
    This press release details the Red Cross's plan to expand its capacity in disasters to assist communities across the country through the earliest days of a disaster. The Red Cross intends to form partnerships with community-based organizations to speed assistance to disaster victims and bring help closer to where they live. Does not address individuals with disability.

  15. (No author).  (2006).  A Performance Review of FEMA's Disaster Management Activities in Response to Hurricane Katrina.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    This report assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) performance as it conducted its disaster management responsibilities in response to Hurricane Katrina. We examined whether the laws, regulations, policies, procedures, plans, guidelines, and resources were adequate and operational, and whether FEMA's organizational structure enhanced or hindered its emergency management capabilities. The recommendations herein have been developed to the best knowledge available to our office, and have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementation. It is our hope that this report will result in more effective, efficient, and economical operations.

  16. (No author).  (2006).  Congressman Langevin Introduces New Disability and Emergency Preparedness Bill.  National Organization on Disability.
    On February 7, 2006, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced the Emergency Preparedness and Response for Individuals With Disabilities Act of 2006 in the U.S. House of Representative. The purpose of the proposed Act is to address the needs of individuals with disabilities in emergency planning and relief efforts in the event of a major disaster, and also to increase the accessibility of replacement housing built with Federal funds following major disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina.

  17. (No author).  (2006).  Progress Made: A 6 Month Update on Hurricane Relief, Recovery, and Rebuilding.  USA Freedom Corps.
    This article discusses the immediate needs of people affected by Hurricane Katrina and also the long-term needs. A section of the article is dedicated to rebuilding the economy and protecting workers. There are also sections on restoring transportation, utilities, social services, etc. There is a brief mention of SSI and SSD but there is not much else pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  18. (No author).  (2006).  Emergencies and Disasters: Declared Disasters and Assistance: What Government is Doing.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    February 28, 2006 marks the 6-month point since Hurricane Katrina hit landfall. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were two of the most intense hurricanes ever recorded during the Atlantic Hurricane season. The storm had a massive impact on the physical landscape, her people as well as on the region’s economy. Approximately 90,000 square miles were hit by the storm – roughly the size of Great Britain – directly affecting 1.5 million people. Commercial infrastructure was heavily damaged, with ports – of which one-quarter of all U.S. imports and exports pass through – closed after sustaining damage. Airports, railroads, bridges, warehouses, wharves, offshore facilities, roads, schools and hospitals were also closed after getting hit. More than 16,000 federal personnel have been deployed to help state and local officials along the Gulf Coast recover from the damage. Some $88 billion in federal aid has been allocated for relief, recovery and rebuilding, with another $20 billion requested, to help victims of storm and the region recover and rebuild. President Bush continues to follow through with the Federal commitment to “do what it takes” to help residents of the Gulf Coast rebuild their lives in the wake of the disaster. 15,000 HUD-assisted or homeless families are receiving up to 18 months of housing assistance through the Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP), administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). More than 6,000 single-family homes within a 500-mile radius of the declared disaster areas have been identified and HUD has either repaired these homes or is currently in the process of repairing them; more than 1,000 families have been able to move back in, with another 800 in process. Once repaired, the remainder of these homes will be offered to evacuees either as temporary housing or for purchase through a discounted sale program. To respond to the human services and mental health needs of individuals affected by the hurricane, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $550 million in Social Service Block Grants. The funding will also provide support to those lacking health insurance or adequate access to care, and to health care safety net providers. Funding was provided in varying amounts to all 50 States, with the majority going to LA (40 percent), MS (23 percent), TX (16 percent), and FL (10 percent). Over 30,000 families are being helped through HHS' Administration on Children and Families (ACF) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families(TANF) program by the provision ofshort?term, non-recurrent cash benefits to families who traveled to another State from the disaster designated States The hurricane-damaged States of MS, LA, and AL also received additional funding for the TANF program to provide assistance and work opportunities to needy families ($69 million for loan forgiveness and $25 million in contingency funds for State Welfare Programs). The website only mentions persons with disabilities to the extent that DOL deployed Disability Program Navigators to assist individuals with disabilities who were affected ($5 million), and the Social Security Administration immediately invoked emergency procedures once Katrina hit to locate displaced Social Security, SSI and disability beneficiaries to provide them with a replacement check if they did not receive theirs, in cases of electronic deposit, were unable to access their funds.

  19. (No author).  (2006).  Catholic Charities Network Helps 300,000 Victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Catholic Charities.
    This article points out several of the services that Catholic Charities has provided including distributing food and clothing, case management assistance, referrals, medical assistance, and direct financial assistance. There is not information specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  20. (No author).  (2006).  Progress Made: A 6-Month Update on Hurricane Relief, Recovery and Rebuilding.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    This report focuses on the efforts made after Hurricane Katrina hit. It specifically focuses on the activities made by various government agencies. There is a bit of information in the report about recovery, repair, and restoring services. This report

  21. (No author).  (2006).  American Red Cross Phase into Community recovery Effort.  American Red Cross.
    This article discusses a new program in the Red Cross that will help survivors rebuild their lives. The Red Cross provided shelter, food, first aid, and emotion support during the disaster and are now involved in the post-disaster recovery.

  22. (No author).  (2006).  Katrina Disability Information.  Information on Disability for Empowerment, Advocacy, & Support (I.D.E.A.S.).
    I.D.E.A.S. (Information on Disability for Empowerment, Advocacy, & Support) has created a webpage, listing resources for people with disabilities who were affected by Hurricane Katrina and their families and friends. The listings include information on n

  23. (No author).  (2006).  National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research - Notice of Final Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years 2005-2009.  U.S. Department of Education.
    The paper is about a five-year research plan that has several purposes. First is to set broad general directions to guide NIDRR's (National Insitute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research) policies and resources; two, to have objectives for research; 3, to write a system for operationalizing the Final Plan in terms of annual priorities, etc.; 4, to have new emphasis on the management and administration of the research.

  24. (No author).  (2006).  Notice of Final Long-Range Plan for Fiscal Years.  U.S. Deptartment of Education.  Vol. 71,  Issue 31.
    The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) publishes the Final Long-Range Plan (Final Plan) for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) for FY 2005 through 2009. As required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Act), the Assistant Secretary takes this action to outline priorities for rehabilitation research, demonstration projects, training, and related activities, and to explain the basis for these priorities

  25. (No author).  (2006).  Challenge by the Storms: The American Red Cross Response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.  American Red Cross.
    The website discusses the Red Cross's relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Although it does not specifically address individuals with disability, the report does include mental health professionals who are trained to help disaster victims cope with stress, loss, and trauma.

  26. (No author).  (2006).  Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina Lessons Learned.  Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.
    The President specifically requested that we review the response to the Federal government to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Report is organized in a manner to give the reader the most comprehensive and clear understanding possible of what happened during the Federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

  27. (No author).  (2006).  DHS Organization; Department Structure; Office for Hurricane Katrina Oversight; PCIE Agency Data: 1/27/2006.  President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency.
    This is a chart related to congressional and agency response for Hurricane Katrina, and the amount given for certain contracts along with the type of reviews being conducted by agencies.

  28. (No author).  (2006).  Summary of Federal Payments Available for Providing Health Care Services to Hurricane Evacuees and Rebuilding Health Care Infrastructure.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    This website has a summary of the federal payments available for evacuee care. There is also a summary of federal assistance available for rebuilding health care infrastructure. At the end, there is also a list of available resources (other websites). This report includes persons with disabilities to the extent that it has a discussion of Medicare and Medicaid. Specifically, the report talks about a modification in Medicare payment rules and expedited access to Medicaid coverage.

  29. Mark Lassiter.  (2005).  Social Security Responds to Hurricane Katrina.  U.S. Social Security Administration.
    This report outlines the response of Social Security to Hurricane Katrina. It also gives information about facilities and gives some information about beneficiaries. For example, the report gives the number of people and amount of dollars in various affected areas.

  30. (No author).  (2005).  Advocacy Incorporated Information and Referral.  National Organization on Disability.
    This handout contains information for individuals with disabilities displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Advocacy Inc. is collaborating with the Protection and Advocacy entity in LA in order to advocate for LA residents with disabilities in Texas who are displaced by Hurricane Katrina. The handout has information on which organizations to contact - very useful.

  31. (No author).  (2005).  Advocacy Incorporated Information and Referral.  Advocacy, Incorporated.
    This is a seven page document with a list of phone numbers directly targeting individuals with disabilities who were displaced after Hurricane Katrina. Advocacy Inc. is a Texas-based nonprofit that has partnered with an agency from LA to disseminate th

  32. (No author).  (2005).  Newsroom: National Council on Disability on Hurricane Katrina Affected Areas.  National Council on Disability.
    The National Council on Disability (NCD) believes that people with disabilities will have unique needs in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina that must be surveyed and responded to immediately. The article gives information and makes recommendations for effective disaster relief and assistance to people with disabilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Federal government is attempting to address the needs of people with disabilities through FEMA, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Nutrition Service, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. However, more needs to be done to facilitate a coordinated Federal Disability Recovery Plan for Hurricane Katrina. NCD has offered some recommendations to support the administration’s assistance to those affected by Katrina. The article also summarizes different reports released by the NCD with recommendations to the federal government, leaders and experts within the disability community, media professionals, and relevant officials. Some examples of the action and information dissemination by the disability community are provided.

  33. (No author).  (2005).  Katrina, 10 Ways to Support Disability Related Relief Efforts.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    Gives guidelines to Support Disability Related Relief Efforts

  34. (No author).  (2005).  New Orleans VA Evacuated Safely.  South Central VA Health Care Network.
    This is a VA newsletter. It seems like it is generally geared toward employees. There is info about contacting the Red Cross and/or FEMA. Nothing specifically related to persons with disabilities.

  35. (No author).  (2005).  How to Get Housing Help.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This website is fairly brief and deals with housing assistance. Specifically, it contains links to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA, and public housing authorities. There is not any information directly pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  36. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina: Where to Go for Help, and How to Help.  National Organization on Disability.
    To provide assistance to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and family and friends of victims, the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) has created a listing of national resources, emergency preparedness resources, and useful web sites. N.O.D. ha

  37. (No author).  (2005).  Request for Information about the Experiences of People with Disabilities Affected by Katrina.  National Council on Disability.
    Soliciting information from disabled individuals who went through Katrina to submit info to the NCD

  38. Skinner, Richard L.  (2005).  DHS Organization; Department Structure; Office for Hurricane Katrina Oversight; Roundtable Response to Congressman Todd Platts, Chair Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance and Accountability.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Office of the Inspector General.
    The letter to Chairman Platts is a submission of plans to coordinate the work of the Inspectors General. 12 personnel were assigned to monitor operations at FEMA's emergency operations center, 6 auditors and 3 investigators were assigned to the Joint Field Offices in Baton Rouge, Montgomery, and Jackson, working closely with the media to promote "zero tolerance" for fraud/waste/abuse, establishing a hotline, the efforts aforementioned will double as additional auditors and investigators hired will double. Furthermore, DOD, DOT, EPA, DHHS, GSA, DOJ, DOA, USPS, DHUD, DOC, TVA, and DOI will all receive FEMA funding. Thus, no additional authorities are needed to allow appropriate coordination of the efforts.

  39. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricanes - Special Populations.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Center for Disease Control.
    This website, through the CDC, lists some of the census data on persons with disabilities in the areas that were affected by the hurricanes. There is also a frequently asked questions section specifically for persons with disabilities.

  40. (No author).  (2005).  Help Hurricane Survivors with Disabilities.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    The Centers for Independent Living in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans have been gravely affected by the hurricane. In fact the Biloxi, MS center was totally destroyed. This website gives the bank accounts to send money.

  41. (No author).  (2005).  Individuals with Disabilities Face Unique Challenges in Wake of Hurricane Katrina; Texas Protection and Advocacy agency - Advocacy, Inc. - preparing to meet needs of displaced individuals with disabilities.  National Disability Rights Network.
    This press release describes the New Orleans evacuation and the realities facing individuals with disabilities that prevented them from leaving: reliance on public transportation, reliance on social security benefits, and dependence on medical facilitie

  42. (No author).  (2005).  National Council on Disability on Katrina Affected Areas.  National Council on Disability.
    This gives some numbers on how many disabled individuals there are in Katrina affected cities. For example: "In New Orleans, a city of about 484,000 people, 23.2 percent of residents are people with disabilities." It also lists some triage housing contac

  43. Lynch, Robert M.D.  (2005).  Network Responds to Katrina.  South Central VA Health Care Network.
    This is a VA newsletter. It seems like it is generally geared toward employees although there is a number to call for Veterans who have questions about their health care.

  44. Saanon, Karyn.  (2005).  Individuals with Disabilities Face Unique Challenges in Wake of Hurricane Katrina.  National Disability Rights Network.
    This press release describes the New Orleans evacuation and the realities facing individuals with disabilities that prevented them from leaving: reliance on public transportation, reliance on social security benefits, and dependence on medical facilities resulting from medical conditions. “In learning from this crisis, it is imperative that all emergency plans – whether they be for homeland security or disaster preparedness – include a realistic and effective plan for evacuating residents with disabilities and making provisions for their health needs even in time of crisis,” said Curt Decker, National Disability Rights Network executive director.

  45. Wasem, Ruth Ellen.  (2005).  Katrina - Related Immigration Issues and Legislation.  U.S. Department of Juctice: Attorney General.
    Immigration Issues after Katrina, also deals with the disabled LPRs and nonimmigrants in the hurricane area.

  46. Smith, Dennis G.  (2005).  Medicaid services, including Waiver services.  Hurricane Recovery LA.
    This letter addresses efforts to ensure that people affected by Hurricane Katrina are provided medical services through Medicare and Medicaid.

  47. (No author).  (2005).  Medicaid Fact Sheet: Disaster Relief Emergency Medicaid Waiver Program.  Department of Health and Human Services: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has taken numerous actions to ensure that the Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Programs will respond to the health care needs of beneficiaries and medical providers affected by Hurricane Katrina. Individuals with disabilities that are Hurricane Katrina victims will be provided temporary eligibility for five months of Medicaid or SCHIP coverage.

  48. Davis, Tom & R. Platts, Todd.  (2005).  DHS Organization; Department Structure; Office for Hurricane Katrina Oversight; Congressional Request Letter to The Honorable Richard L. Skinner, PCIE Homeland Security Roundtable Chair.  Congress of the US: House of Representatives.
    The letter to Secretary Chertoff and Inspector General Skinner requests submission of a plan to coordinate the work of the inspectors general that should inform the Committee on Government Reform whether additional resources or authority are necessary to allow appropriate coordination.

  49. (No author).  (2005).  Checklist for Interaction with Katrina Evacuees Coming to Your State.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    This site provides information for people affected by Hurricane Katrina, including individuals with disability. The site discusses efforts to coordinate the flow of information between states and across the country, and offers many links to government website.

  50. Sullivan, Brian.  (2005).  Jackson to Chair US Interagency Council on Homelessness.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This article explains how HUD is "cutting red tape" to help people who were made homeless by the hurricanes. It points out that HUD is working with FEMA, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Labor, and Department of Veterans Affairs. There is nothing specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  51. (No author).  (2005).  NCD Bulletin Sept. 2005.  National Council on Disability.
    NCD calls for Katrina Relief action from Homeland Security; CRIPA and Hurricane Relief efforts, and a legislative update related to disability.

  52. (No author).  (2005).  Briefing Paper: Objective Three, Part 1.  Nobody Left Behind, University of Kansas.
    A briefing paper that targets leading agencies in developing and implementing policies and procedures for emergency preparedness and response for people with disabilities. The paper includes research findings and questions to address the findings. Further recommendations are included.

  53. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricanes- Special Populations.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    This website provides information for people with disabilities, their families and friends, and emergency responders who have to prepare and respond to emergencies and disasters.

  54. (No author).  (2005).  A Record of Accomplishment - 2004.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    This website discusses President Bush's program - New Freedom Initiative, which helps ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to learn and develop skills, engage in productive work, make choices about their daily lives and participate fully in community life. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)created an Office of Disability which is responsible for leading the HHS New Freedom Initiative; oversee, coordinate, develop and implement disability programs and initiatives within HHS that impact people with disabilities; ensure that persons with disabilities across the lifespan have a voice within HHS; and heighten the interaction of programs within HHS and with federal, state, community and private sectors. Additionally, it discusses emergency preparedness for people with disability at all levels, including federal, state, tribal, and community levels.

  55. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina.  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
    This website is a plethora of information about Hurricane Katrina, and has 8 main topics: what HHS is doing; health and safety; how to get help; donate and volunteer; finding friends and information, what other federal agencies are doing; key state government agencies in the region, and federal payments available for hurricane relief/recovery. What HHS is doing: to ensure vital services are available to meet the needs of those affected by Hurricane Katrina, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt has extended the public health state of emergency through Jan. 31, 2006. The Secretary’s order applies to states affected by Katrina—LA, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida—as well as those harboring many evacuees: Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and West Virginia. Many evacuated patients have received substantial medical care. Initially, much of the care was related to acute injuries, exposure, and other immediate complications of the hurricane. While care for these conditions is continuing as necessary, many evacuees have lost their usual source of care and ability to pay for it as the evacuation continues. Additionally, health care providers need to be reimbursed for care provided to patients in hurricane-affected areas and evacuee areas. These payments are necessary to facilitate their ongoing operations and to compensate them for additional costs and unanticipated utilization of services. It lists the Waiver Under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act, provides information to recipients of government assistance (does not specifically name those receiving disability benefits), lists press releases, and provides an extensive fact sheet on travel, but does not include travel for persons with disabilities. Health and Safety: articles about Disasters & Emergencies: Hurricanes (Health and Human Services); Hurricanes: Health & Safety (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Environmental Concerns After Hurricane Katrina (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Environmental Health Needs and Habitability Assessment (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Environmental Protection Agency); Keep Food and Water Safe (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Protect Yourself from Animal and Insect Hazards (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Clean Up Safely After a Hurricane (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Mental Health Resources (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Hurricane Information for Response and Cleanup Workers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Vaccination/Immunization Information (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Hurricane-Related Information for Health Care Professionals (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Hurricane Katrina Information for Evacuation Centers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Prevent Illness after a Hurricane (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Prevent Injury after a Hurricane (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Hurricane Katrina: Special Messages for Schools (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); Safe Drug Use after a Natural Disaster (Food and Drug Administration); Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products by Victims of Hurricane Katrina (Food and Drug Administration); Impact of Severe Weather Conditions on Biological Products (Food and Drug Administration); Information About Medical Devices and Disasters (Food and Drug Administration); Prescription Drug Records for Evacuees (KatrinaHealth.org, a Public-Private Coalition, including Health and Human Services); Hurricane Mental Health Awareness Campaign (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); Crisis Counseling Hotline (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); Coping with Hurricane Katrina and Rita (National Institutes of Health); Coping with Traumatic Events (National Institutes of Health); Care Tips for Survivors of a Traumatic Event: What to Expect in Your Personal, Family, Work, and Financial Life (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); Tips for Talking to Children After a Disaster: A Guide for Parents and Teachers (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); Helping Children Cope with Crisis: A Guide for African American Parents (National Institutes of Health); Health Services Telephone Hot Lines; Hurricane Relief & Recovery: Status of Federally funded Health Centers in the Affected Areas (Health Resources and Services Administration); Mental Health Services Locator (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration); Information for Patients or Participants in Clinical Studies (National Institutes of Health). How to get help: there are several articles about health and social assistance: Assistance for Katrina Survivors with Disabilities or Special Needs; Children's Services; Education; Financial Assistance (disability benefits, food stamps, and other financial assistance programs--just takes you to the SSA page to apply); Health Benefits (Medicare, Medicaid, prescription assistance); Health Services; and Unemployment. Donate and Volunteer: HHS and USA Freedom Corps website links. Finding Friends and Information: link to firstgov.com, which coordinates information for evacuees for all federal agencies. What other federal agencies are doing: links to DHS and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Key state agencies in the region: links to Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LA, and Mississippi state agencies.

  56. (No author).  (2005).  DHS Organization; Department Structure; Office for Hurricane Katrina Oversight; PCIE and ECIE - Oversight of Gulf Coast Hurricane Recovery, A 90-Day Progress Report to Congress, December 30, 2005.  President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency.
    The 141-page document reports on investigations ensuring that federal response and recovery funds are spent appropriately, those attempting to defraud the government are brought to justice, and those responsible for the relief efforts are wise stewards i

  57. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina Impacts.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    The Center for Independent Living in Biloxi, Mississippi was destroyed and other facilities were severely damaged. One early challenge has been to locate people with disabilities and determine their needs. Many need medication, medical equipment or supplies.

  58. (No author).  (2005).  Real Stories, Real Loss.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    Examples of the actual experiences of people with spinal cord injury impacted by the Gulf Coast storms. Their stories are sadly typical, and our hope is that their experiences will not be entirely in vain, but help with the effort to establish effective emergency preparedness and disaster relief policies and systems. These stories can and should have been about needs being met, rather than lives being compromised.

  59. (No author).  (2005).  Register for Assistance: Tennessee.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    This site has information for registering with FEMA. The information here is geared towards persons in Tennessee. There is nothing specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  60. (No author).  (2005).  FAQ: Hurricane Katrina Frequently Asked Questions.  MS Department of Education.
    FAQ website provides answers to questions of Mississippians who are recovering from the Hurricane and want to get specific services. It also provides contact information after the answer for each question.

  61. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina: Its Impact on People with Disabilities.  National Organization on Disability.
    The National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.) has collected and listed articles that focus on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on people with disabilities. The articles provide information on disability concerns in the affected areas, news reports and

  62. (No author).  (2005).  Emergency Management and People with Disabilities: Before, During and After.  National Council on Disability.
    NCD Congressional Briefing on what needs currently to be done for individuals with disabilities during emergencies, what is being done now, and what needs to be done in the future.

  63. Super, Nora & Biles, Brian.  (2005).  Displaced by Hurricane Katrina: Issues and Options for Medicare Beneficiaries.  Kaiser Family Foundation.
    This is an issue brief that discusses the Medicare policies and practices that could further access to health care for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina. It looks as several options and how those options would affect beneficiaries.

  64. (No author).  (2005).  EPI Press Conference regarding report on SNAKE teams' assessment of Katrina response and rescue efforts.  National Organization on Disability.
    This transcript includes the briefings given by Secretary John Hager (Education Rehabilitation Services at the Department of Education) and Hilary Styron (Head of the Emergency Preparedness Initiative) during the EPI Press Conference. Secretary Hager gav

  65. (No author).  (2005).  Fact Sheet on Additional Hurricane Support for Children and Adults with Disabilities.  U.S. Department of Education: Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services.
    This article briefly describes how OSERS is assisting people with disabilities affected by the Hurricanes, by providing funding assistance to agencies well placed to help these people. The office is providing more than $2 million to CILs to be used for r

  66. Bradshaw, Jim.  (2005).  Hurricane Victims with Disabilities Receive Assistance through Department of Educaiton.  U.S. Department of Education.
    The web page is a notice announcing that President Bush has signed a law granting the U.S. Education Department authorer to permit states in the Gulf Coast area a large sum of money for vocation rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. The VR services could include education, training, technology and other services that would be necessary for employment.

  67. (No author).  (2005).  Call Congress Today.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    This article is requesting people to phone their senators to obtain assistance for Katrina survivors. It briefly mentions the interest of people with disabilities.

  68. (No author).  (2005).  Relief for Katrina Victims with Special Needs.
    This article provides information for individuals with special needs who need help finding housing, employment, and other assistance.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  69. Basler, Barbara.  (1905).  Defensive Strategies.  Hoboken, NJ, US; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.  Vol. 46,  Issue 10.  Pp. 16-18.
    Discusses the readiness of communities to provide for their special-needs residents during disasters. Most communities have not considered the issue of how to evacuate people with special needs, let alone made specific plans, but watching the response in New Orleans, LA, to Hurricane Katrina may change that. Congressional hearings probing the botched evacuation of the city are already under way. However, disaster managers say what happened in New Orleans could have happened in other cities and towns. With its large older population and its vulnerability to hurricanes, Florida is one of the few states to have developed a comprehensive program. Linn County, Iowa, developed its own special-needs plan, without any help from the state, and has been cited as a model by federal emergency officals and by the National Association of Counties. A sidebar presents an interview with Representative Peter King, R-NY, head of the House Homeland Security Committee.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  70. (No author).  (1900).  Pyramid Parents and Hurricane Katrina: When a Hurricane Hits.  University of Kansas, Beach Center on Disability.
    This is a story about a woman and her son with autism found a support group/disability rights group called "Pyramid Parents." It outlines the steps they took to obtain rights for the son. It also outlines the problems in New Orleans before Katrina even hit. Pyramid set up a recovery fund to help people with disabilities recover from Katrina.

  71. (No author).  (1900).  2005 Hurricane Relief: Local Agency Recovery Efforts.  Catholic Charities.
    This article includes the agencies that were primarily impacted by the Hurricanes and how they have been dealing with it. The agencies are actually located all over the country. There is not any information here specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  72. (No author).  (1900).  Emergency Preparedness.  U.S. Department of Labor: Office of Disability Employment Policy.
    DisabilityInfo.gov is a comprehensive online resource designed to provide people with disabilities with quick and easy access to the information they need. With just a few clicks, the site provides access to disability-related information and programs available across the government on numerous subjects, including benefits, civil rights, community life, education, employment, housing, health, technology and transportation.

  73. (No author).  (1900).  Special Earned Income Tax Credit Rules.  Internal Revenue Service.
    This article explains how the IRS has special rules about the Earned Income Tax Credit in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. There is also information on disability benefits.

  74. (No author).  (1900).  Accessing and Maintaining Waiver and Other Medicare Services.  The ARC of LA: Hurricane Recovery.
    The web page states that the LA State Health Department will not terminate medicaid care or other health services to those people with disabilities who were displaced outside of LA.

  75. (No author).  (1900).  The Gulf Coast: Accessible Cities of the Future?.  American Association on Health and Disability.
    This cite discusses whether, after Katrina, New Orleans will become accessible because there has been little discussion.

  76. (No author).  (1900).  Hurricane Katrina LA Medicaid Program.  LA Protection and Advocacy System.
    This document is set up as a question/answer and discusses Medicaid benefits for people who were evacuated from LA following Hurricane Katrina.

  77. (No author).  (1900).  Report on Special Needs Assessment for Katrina Evacuees (SNAKE) project.  National Organization on Disability.
    This report describes the operations, findings, and recommendations of the SNAKE project initiated by N.O.D. The main purpose of this project was to capture time-sensitive data to highlight the impact of Katrina on the special needs population, through direct observation and sampling of experiences. The findings focus on the preparedness of, and problems faced by people with disabilities during and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Their observations reveal that the government experienced systemic failures at all levels in their efforts to respond to the needs of the disability and aging populations. The report highlights the major issues involved, and gives recommendations for future planning. The recommendations include seeking out and utilizing the expertise of the disability community, and people with disabilities increasing their familiarity with the emergency protocol. It is hoped that the report will be helpful in addressing immediate challenges and immediate actionable corrections, and will support the review and implementation of corrective actions and new protocols.

  78. (No author).  (1900).  County Level Disaster Preparedness and Response for Persons with Mobility Impairments: University of Kansas Nobody Left Behind Study.  University of Kansas, Beach Center on Disability.
    The map of the US indicates that 30 counties that recently experienced a natural disaster were randomly selected to obtain information about emergency preparedness and recovery for persons with disabilities. The study indicates that FEMA Emergency Planning and Special Needs Course pertaining to people with disabilities appears to be useful in increasing county awareness, although only 27% of county emergency managers reported having taken it; people with disabilities either were not represented or had minimal representation in the emergency planning process; surveillance efforts to identify persons with mobility impairments are weak. Recommendations include improving training, surveillance, inclusion of persons with disabilities, and emergency management plans

  79. (No author).  (1900).  National Disability Rights Network Checklist for UCP Affiliates Providing Disaster Relief.  United Cerebal Palsy.
    Very comprehensive cite, including outreach, access to shelters, information and referral, Medicaid, FEMA benefits, keeping families together in shelters, unemployment benefits, food stamps, social security, durable medical equipment, public housing and section 8, other housing issues, education, coordination w/ other disability groups, state legislative needs

  80. Blanck, Peter David.  (1900).  Disaster Mitigation for Persons with Disabilities: Fostering a New Dialogue; A report of The Annenberg Washington Program in collaboration with The President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.  The Annenberg Washington Program.
    This collaborative report is meant to stimulate discussion of the issues and search for answers to problems. Although it is based on discussions with many people, it calls for much broader dialogue and research to address issues at the nexus of communications policy and disaster relief for persons with disabilities. Advance preparation is key to helping persons with disabilities survive a disaster.Leaders and experts within the disability community, members of relief organizations, media professionals, and local, state, and federal officials must establish a cooperative relationship to address this shortcoming. The challenges ahead will be overcome only by an ongoing dialogue among these and other groups. Seven key principles should guide this dialogue: (1) accessible disaster facilities and services; (2) accessible communications and assistance; (3) accessible adn reliable rescue communications; (4) partnerships with the media; (5) partnerships with the disability community; (6) disaster preparation, education, and training; and (7) universal design adn implementation strategies. These seven points reflect an emerging consensus about how best to respond to the needs of people with disabilities before, during, and after a disaster.

  81. Roth, Marcie.  (1900).  US HSS Centers for Medicaid and Medicare.  The ARC of LA: Hurricane Recovery.
    The web page isa letter stating that there is a waiver for all people with disabilities to still continuing receiving Medicaid services even if displaced outside of LA

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