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  1. (No author).  (Summer 2006).  Fair Housing News.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a newsletter put out by the Fair Housing office. It is the summer 2006 issue an includes several short articles about fair housing and helping displaced victims of Hurricane Katrina. There is some reference of people with disabilities.

  2. Edwards, George E.  (Spring 2006).  International Human Rights Law Violations Before, During, and After Hurricane Katrina: An International Law Framework for Analysis.  Thurgood Marshall Law Review.  Thurgood Marshall Scool of Law.  Pp. 353.
    The law review article discusses how procedures and lack of action in response to Hurricane Katrina violated international laws. The article mentions people with disabilities and their right to be free from discrimination

    (Available via licensed database.)

  3. Mead, Robert A.  (Spring 2006).  St. Rita's and Lost Causes: Improving Nursing Home Emergency Preparedness.  Marquette's Elder Advisor.  Marquette University.  Vol. 7,  Pp. 153.
    The article examines recent nursing home tragedies caused by hurricanes Katrina and Rita as caused by non-evacuations and problematic evacuations. The article also details the federal regulations requiring nursing homes to develop emergency preparedness and evacuation plans.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  4. (No author).  (2006).  Final Environmental Assessment: Groom Parish Emergency Temporary Housing Site.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    This report is a final assessment of the environmental impact of a temporary housing site. There is nothing here specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  5. (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

  6. (No author).  (2006).  Settlement Agreement in Brou v. FEMA.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    The paper is a settlement aggreement between the plaintiffs, persons with disabilities displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and the defendents, FEMA. The plaintiffs alleged that FEMA violated the Rehabilitation Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the Stafford Act.

  7. (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.

  8. (No author).  (2006).  The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on People with Disabilities.  National Council on Disability.
    Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the lives of many people who lived in the Gulf Coast region. Fortunately, millions of Americans opened their homes and their hearts to hurricane survivors while local, state, and federal government employees worked around the clock to evacuate and rescue people. With almost a year since the Hurricanes made landfall and wreaked havoc on the lives of many, we now have a clearer understanding of what went right, as well as what went wrong, with the response and recovery efforts. As this report will demonstrate, people with disabilities were disproportionately affected by the Hurricanes because their needs were often overlooked or completely disregarded. Their evacuation, shelter, and recovery experiences differed vastly from the experiences of people without disabilities. People with disabilities were often unable to evacuate because transportation was inaccessible. For example, most evacuation busses did not have wheelchair lifts. Moreover, people with visual and hearing disabilities were unable to obtain necessary information pertinent to their safety because said communication did not comply with federal law. To ensure that people with disabilities do not experience similar injustices during future catastrophes, emergency plans must acknowledge and address the difficulties experienced by people with disabilities discussed within this report, as well as include people with disabilities in rebuilding efforts. The National Council on Disability (NCD) offers these findings on the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on people with disabilities to guide the President, Congress, and other emergency planners to develop inclusive emergency preparedness and response plans.

  9. (No author).  (2006).  Gulf Coast States Prepare for Hurricane Katrina.  American Red Cross.
    The website provides general information about Hurricane Katrina's coming, and indicates that all the Red Cross shelters north of I-20 will be opening that night. Power has been restored to more than 500,000 Florida customers who lost it when Katrina bl

  10. (No author).  (2006).  Disaster Response and Recovery Resource for Transit Agencies.  U.S. Department of Transportation.
    The Federal Transit Administration has documented practices and procedures to improve emergency preparedness. The purpose of this Disaster Response and Recovery Resource for Transit Agencies is to provide local transit agencies and transportation providers with useful information and best practices in emergency preparedness and disaster response and recovery. The report discusses the reliance individuals with disability have on public transportation.

  11. Valerie Faciane.  (2006).  Agency offers services to aid elders, disabled; Pilot state program grew after Katrina.  New Orleans Times-Picayune.
    http://www.timespicayune.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  12. (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.

  13. Perry , Michael; Dulio, Adrianne Artiga, Samantha Shartzer, Adele and Roussea, David.  (2006).  Voices of the Storm: Health Experience of Low-Income Katrina Survivors.  Kaiser Family Foundation.
    This is a report that details the experience of people displaced by Hurricane Katrina, including people with disabilities. It also includes a section on lessons learned during the hurricane.

  14. (No author).  (2006).  Recertification Time is Extended.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    FEMA's rental assistance program for individuals normally requires applicants to provide proof every three months that they are taking steps toward recovery. Recertification requires documentation, such as rental receipts, a realistic housing plan and documentation of income or efforts to get a job.

  15. 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.

  16. (No author).  (2006).  Ready American (Ready.gov) Disabled and Special Needs.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    Checklist for people with disabilities when preparing for an emergency.

  17. (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.

  18. (No author).  (2006).  Rebuilding Accessible Communities.  U.S. Access Board.
    This is the main web page for information on the Access Board's Rebuilding Communities project. It is specifically for people with disabilities. The page gives a brief description of the project and has links to other pages and/or documents with more information.

  19. Richard-Montgomery, Brenda; Kegel, Martha J.  (2006).  Supportive housing could save lives.  New Orleans Times-Picayune.
    http://www.timespicayune.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  20. (No author).  (2006).  Information for People with Disabilities.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The web page lists resources and links regarding housing for people with disabilities.

  21. (No author).  (2006).  Information for People with Disabilities.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The web page lists resources and links regarding housing for people with disabilities.

  22. Crossmaker, Maureen.  (2006).  Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery.  DD Quarterly.
    Discusses emergency preparedness, response, and recovery for persons with disabilities.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  23. (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.

  24. Reemer, Andrew.  (2006).  Brookings Briefing on the Census.  The Brookings Institute.
    Panel notes, discussing the situation after Katrina and how the elderly and disabled people affected.

  25. (No author).  (2006).  Nationwide Plan Review Phase 2 Report.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    The report by the Department of Homeland Security reviews and assess the status of the catastrophic and evacuation planning in all states and 75 of the nation's largest urban areas. The Plan Review has two phases, the first ivolved self-assessment in each state and urban area, and the second phase involved peer reviews. This paper relects the findings of both phases.

  26. (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.

  27. (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.

  28. (No author).  (2006).  Catastrophic Hurricane Evacuation Plan Evaluation: A Report to Congress.  U.S. Department of Transportation.
    This is a report published in response to Congress's report for the DOT to review and asses its Federal and State evacuation plans, including costs, for catastrophic hurricanes and other events impacting the Gulf Coast region. The report gives the findings of the research and the metholody. The report is very detailed and does discuss persons with special needs.

  29. Harkins, Judy ; Peltz Strauss, Karen & Vanderheiden, Gregg.  (2006).  Research and Policy Recommendations from the State of the Science Conference on Accessible Emergency Notification and Communication.  U.S. Access Board.
    This is a follow-up report after the conference on Accessible Emergency Notification and Communication. The conference, and therefore the report, discussed topics on accessibility tools and gaps, government activities on accessible emergency communications, broadcast media notification, alerting and communication in facilities and campuses, person-to-person communications, relay services, and coping with severe communications infrastructure loss in times of disaster. There is some discussion of disability and working to ensure that people with disabilities are able to receive notification of an emergency.

  30. (No author).  (2006).  Matrix Suggests Steps for People with Special Needs.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    Provides a matrix for steps in emergency preparedness and response for people with disabilities. Makes suggestions about specific kinds of disabilities and what the specific needs might be.

  31. Moreno, Sylvia.  (2006).  For Some Katrina Evacuees, Another Displacement Looms; Tousands Face Expiration of FEMA Rental Assistance.  Washington Post.
    In the nine months since their New Orleans home was flooded with nine feet of water, Dianne Jeanpierre has worked hard to put her life and her daughters' lives back in order. Their orderly apartment here is filled with gently worn donated furniture. The new routine for this Catholic family includes weekly inspirational services at a Baptist church. Ashley, 17, attended her junior prom through the generosity of a department-store dress giveaway to children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Brittany, 14, had been enrolled in a high school for academically gifted students in New Orleans when the hurricane hit Aug. 29; she stayed focused and last week finished the school year with two citations for scholarship. But the family's fragile stability is threatened. Jeanpierre has run out of unemployment insurance benefits from her former job as a security guard in New Orleans and cannot work because of debilitating asthma. Earlier this month, she got a notice that she would lose her housing benefits from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Soon thereafter, her car was repossessed. "I tried to make a home," said Jeanpierre, 46. "Now they're trying to eat you up, I tell you. Everything is just going downhill." Jeanpierre's family is among about 55,000 nationwide facing the end of a FEMA-funded rental assistance program, in which local governments issued 12-month housing and utility vouchers. Last month, FEMA began issuing letters to thousands of evacuees telling them their aid would be terminated. The vouchers are to end Wednesday in most of the country and on June 30 in 11 Texas jurisdictions, including Austin, Dallas and Houston. That decision, says a class-action lawsuit filed by the Houston law firm of Caddell & Chapman and a consortium of public interest law groups, will create "widespread homelessness" and violates FEMA's statutory obligations to provide temporary housing assistance to hurricane victims. FEMA's decisions on which evacuees to move into a housing assistance program with more rigorous requirements are "arbitrary, inconsistent and inequitable," the lawsuit contends. "As a result, FEMA is creating an opportunity to discontinue its housing assistance for tens of thousands of people." Sixty-two members of the House filed a brief last week supporting the suit. It says that FEMA "continues to engage in a process that is marked by inefficiency, a lack of discernable standards and seeming disregard for the plight of the vulnerable survivors who are depending on the aid that FEMA is statutorily obligated to provide." U.S. District Judge David Hittner is expected to rule Tuesday on a request to stop FEMA temporarily from shutting down the housing assistance program and to hold a trial on the lawsuit's merits. "This process is broken, and FEMA is not following its mandates," said John B. Scofield Jr. of Caddell & Chapman. "Some people have extensions [to June 30], but still there are multiple thousands that are being left in the dust." Aaron Walker, a FEMA spokesman in Washington, declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing agency policy regarding pending litigation. But, Walker said, reviews of evacuees' cases -- appeals and application updates -- are being conducted continually. "There's a number of reasons, reasonable and logical reasons, people are found ineligible" for continued housing assistance, Walker said. "We genuinely aren't in an effort to have people without housing." FEMA officials say that about 50,000 households are in the housing assistance program and that 12,000 have been informed they are ineligible for continued aid. The lawsuit contends that about 55,000 households are in the program nationwide and that "at least 17,000 households or at least 50,000 people of all ages have been deemed ineligible for further housing assistance and/or have not received a final determination of eligibility." Of the households deemed ineligible, 7,600 are in Houston, where the majority of displaced Katrina evacuees live, and 2,100 are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the suit says. Many rulings of ineligibility were wrong, according to the lawsuit and officials working with evacuees. Some evacuees were told that their homes in New Orleans were not damaged enough to qualify them for continued assistance or that their old houses or apartments are habitable. Some were told that their paperwork was incomplete or that they did not meet certain requirements. Others were given no reason. Those determinations, said LaTosha Brown, executive director of the Saving Our Selves Coalition in Atlanta, has displaced LAns panicked and landlords -- who were told by FEMA that it will no longer honor the housing vouchers -- sending eviction notices for next month. "Instead of the government helping, it exacerbates the problem," said Brown, co-founder of the coalition, which is working with Katrina evacuees throughout the Gulf Coast and in Georgia. "There's an insensitivity to where people are emotionally. This is not business as usual. People are still damaged from the debacle." Jeanpierre found out she was ineligible for continued rental assistance after her landlord received a notice from FEMA that it would stop paying her rent and utilities on Wednesday (an extension to June 30 was granted last week). The insurance settlement she received for her destroyed home in the Gentilly neighborhood went to the bank to pay off the mortgage. She has applied for federal disability benefits through the Social Security Administration because of her health, but the case is pending. An urgent request to FEMA by a lawyer representing her asked the agency not to terminate her housing assistance until her case is settled. The request has not been answered. "I'm just going to stay here until they send the police to put us out," Jeanpierre said. "There's nowhere for me to go."
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  32. (No author).  (2006).  Support Coordinators Emergency Preparedness: Best Practices Guidelines.  LA Department of Health and Hospitals.
    This is a paper that provides a framework whereby support coordinators can create emergency preparedness procedures for ensure the safety and health of the people they are serving. The paper addresses readiness, response, and recovery. The paper is specific to people with disabilities.

  33. Bascetta, Cynthia.  (2006).  Disaster Preparedness Preliminary Observations on the Evacuation of Vulnerable Populations Due to Hurricanes and Other Disasters.  Government Accountability Office.
    GAO was asked to discuss efforts to plan and prepare for the needs of seniors in the event of a national emergency. GAO describes its ongoing work on evacuation in the event of emergencies, such as hurricanes, and provides preliminary observations on (1) challenges faced by hospital and nursing home administrators that are related to hurricane evacuations; (2) the federal program that supports the evacuation of patients needing hospital care and nursing home residents; and (3) challenges states and localities face in preparing for and carrying out the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations and efforts to address evacuation needs.

  34. Young, Bob.  (2006).  Executive Resource Guide State of Florida.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is HUD's resource guide for the State of Florida. It includes HUD's mission statement for florida as well as the current programs under HUD's jurisdiction in Florida. The programs are centered around housing; there is only brief mention of people with disabilities in reference to fair housing and antidiscrimination.

  35. Smith, Quincy Collins.  (2006).  Register now for shelters: Red Cross wants to know needs.  Sun Herald.
    American Red Cross officials in Jackson and George counties are asking Jackson County residents with special health needs and transportation problems to register in time for the next hurricane season. "Pre-registration is critical for us so we don't get blindsided come storms' landfall," said Paige Roberts, director of the Southeast Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross. Jackson County residents needing transportation to shelters should contact the local Red Cross office at 762-2455. Bus drivers will transport those people to shelters north of George County. Residents with special medical needs that are not serious enough for hospitalization should also contact the Red Cross at 762-2455. Butch Loper, Jackson County Civil Defense director, said at least 123 families now living at FEMA trailer sites and needing transportation have been identified and more are expected to register. Sixteen shelters with capacity for about 6,300 people have been identified for the two counties. Vancleave's lower elementary and high schools, two locations at St. Martin High School, St. Martin East Elementary, Moss Point High School, Latimer Community Center, East Central Lower Elementary, East Central High School and East Central Community Center are shelters for special needs residents. For hurricanes Category 3 or above, shelters in East Central, Latimer, Vancleave and St. Martin East Elementary will be opened. Pet-friendly shelters are being planned. In George County, Benndale Elementary, First United Methodist Church of Lucedale, Rocky Creek School, George County Senior Citizens Center and the high school and middle school will open as shelters. In Jackson County, most of the shelters for major storms are located in the north central and northeastern parts of the county because they have higher elevations outside of the surge zones, Loper said. "I have to take what I've got and utilize it to the maximum," Loper said. "Jackson County just doesn't have a lot of high property." Paige and Loper are concerned that last-minute sheltering decisions, especially by those living in trailers, might lead to a capacity shortage during tropical storms and lower-category hurricanes. With high gas prices and smaller storms, more residents might be inclined to shelter closer to home, Roberts said. Red Cross and county civil defense officials are urging people to set aside an emergency fund and make their evacuation and sheltering plans now.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  36. (No author).  (2006).  LA Recovery Authority The Road Home Housing Programs Action Plan Amendment for Disaster Recovery Funds.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This document describes the "The Road Home" Housing Programs that are made up of four sets of programs created to restore LA's housing stock and communities. It explaines and gives an overview of the Homeowner Assistance Program, the Workforce and Affordable Rental Housing Programs, the Restoration of Homeless Supports and Housing, Developer Incentives, Planning and Technical Assistance. The paper does mention people with disabilities in regards to housing and relocated people who are temporarily in nursing homes or institutions.

  37. (No author).  (2006).  LA Recovery Authority The Road Home Housing Programs Action Plan Amendment for Disaster Recovery Funds.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This document describes the "The Road Home" Housing Programs that are made up of four sets of programs created to restore LA's housing stock and communities. It explains and gives an overview of the Homeowner Assistance Program, the Workforce and Affordable Rental Housing Programs, the Restoration of Homeless Supports and Housing, Developer Incentives, Planning and Technical Assistance. The paper does mention people with disabilities in regards to housing and relocated people who are temporarily in nursing homes or institutions.

  38. Kailes, June Isaacson & Enders, Alexandra.  (2006).  Moving Beyond “Special Needs”: A Function Based Framework for Emergency Management and Planning.  JIK.com.
    The paper discusses the difference between the needs of people with disabilities and how this group is often lumped together even though they may have different needs. The paper also discusses emergency management and planning in terms of medical needs, communication needs, supervision needs, maintaining functional independence needs, and transportation. Finally, the paper mentions the importance of leadership, service delivery, expertise and training in emergency preparedness and execution of emergency plans.

  39. (No author).  (2006).  Housing on the Move.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is HUD's newsletter for April 2006. It includes articles on antidiscrimination in the Gulf Coast area to ensure that people have equal access to housing. There is brief mention of people with disabilities in reference to fair housing and new housing developments for the elderly and for people with disabilities.

  40. (No author).  (2006).  Housing on the Move.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is HUD's newsletter for April 2006. It includes articles on antidiscrimination in the Gulf Coast area to ensure that people have equal access to housing. There is brief mention of people with disabilities in reference to fair housing and new housing developments for the elderly and for people with disabilities.

  41. 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.

  42. (No author).  (2006).  Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning.  National Organization on Disability.
    This report is a report that provides the President with recommnedations about how to best include persons with disabilities in emergency prepardness efforts.

  43. Sutherland, Daniel W.  (2006).  Remarks at the National Hurricane Conference, April 14, 2006 by Daniel W. Sutherland Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Office of the Secretary.
    The web page displays the ICC's Chairman's address at the National Hurricane Conference. His speech had three main points: that people with disabilities must be effectively integrated into the emergency management process, second, that the ICC needs to identify ways they can help the local and state responders with the complex issues of a national disaster, and third, that people with disabilities want to help in emergency planning and in emergencies in general. Mr. Sutherland also discussed major issues in the Gulf Coast area such as medical equipment (wheelchairs, oxygen), transportation, poorly equipped shelters for people with disabilities, and the lack of adequate temporary housing for people in nursing homes.

  44. (No author).  (2006).  State of Texas Action Plan for CDBG Disaster Recovery Grantees under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a action plan for Texas in response to Hurricane Katrina and future disasters. It's main focus is housing for victims who were displaced; there is only limited reference to people with disabilities.

  45. (No author).  (2006).  State of Texas Action Plan for CDBG Disaster Recovery Grantees under the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a action plan for Texas in response to Hurricane Katrina and future disasters. It's main focus is housing for victims who were displaced; there is only limited reference to people with disabilities.

  46. (No author).  (2006).  FEMA: Ready for 2006 Hurricane Season.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    The FEMA approaches the 2006 hurricane season with a renewed sense of commitment, improvement and urgency, building on a solid foundation of experienced professionals and the lessons learned from last year's unprecedented disaster response activities. The 2005 hurricane season tested our nation as never before, and we are committed to increasing our preparedness for catastrophic events and smaller-scale disasters. While states and localities have the lead in emergency response, FEMA will be prepared to coordinate the federal government's supporting role. FEMA also understands the special needs of Gulf Coast states, which will include a need for assistance with evacuation planning, difficulties with manufactured housing, and diminished law enforcement capabilities. FEMA is implementing multiple new measures designed to strengthen essential functions so the agency can more effectively respond to all disasters. These improvements include building a 21st century supply tracking system, enhancing our ability to receive requests for individual assistance, expediting the pace of debris removal, and developing an smarter plan for long-term housing.

  47. (No author).  (2006).  Connecting with Communities: A User's Guide to HUD Programs and the 2006 Super NOFA Process.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a friendly user's guide to HUD's programs. The relevance of the guide is the section which discusses FEMA/HUD Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program, and Hurricane Recovery Resources.

  48. (No author).  (2006).  Connecting with Communities: A User’s Guide to HUD Programs and the 2006 SuperNOFA Process.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a friendly user's guide to HUD's programs. The relevance of the guide is the section which discusses FEMA/HUD Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program, and Hurricane Recovery Resources.

  49. (No author).  (2006).  Red Cross Supports Shipboard Katrina Evacuees.  American Red Cross.
    This document highlights the Red Cross effort to house hurricane victims aboard cruise ships. At the six-month anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the contract with Carnival Cruise Lines expired, and the Red Cross is making efforts to relocate these indiv

  50. (No author).  (2006).  FEMA Contracts Awarded.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
    This document is an excel spreadsheet that provides a financial breakdown of the FEMA contracts awarded in support of Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.

  51. Mollyann Brodie, PhD, Erin Weltzien, Drew Altman, PhD, Robert J. Blendon, PhD, and John M. Benson, MA.  (2006).  Experiences of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees in Houston Shelters: Implications for Future Planning.  Kaiser Family Foundation.
    The report outlines the objectives, methods, results and conclusions of a study on how the public health community can promote the recovery of Hurricane Katrain victims and protect people in the future from such similar disasters. To conduct this research, evacuess houses in Houston area shelers two weeks after the hurricane hit were interviewed. The obvious conclusion was that there was a high need for better emergency preparedness plans in terms of communication and evacuation for low-income persons and people with disabilities.

  52. (No author).  (2006).  Hurricane Katrina: Status of the Health Care System in New Orleans and Difficult Decisions Related to Efforts to Rebuild it Approximately 6 Months After Hurricane Katrina.  Government Accountability Office.
    This letter to Congressional Committees about the status of the health care system in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina indicates that the health care infrastructure was damaged by the hurricane and the availability of services declined. It indicates that as residents slowly return to the area, health care needs must be assessed, and includes estimates for costs and fund allocations to area hospitals.

  53. Kendrick, Kim.  (2006).  HUD Testimony.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The web page contains the written statement of Kim Kendrick, the assisstant secretary of the Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office.The focus of the statement is how HUD has helping secure the fair housing rights of the displaced Gulf Coast Residents. Primarily HUD has been working to make sure people know their rights, actively enforcing the law when there are violations, and working with the housing industry to prevent discrimination against people of low socioeconomic statues, African Americans, or people with disabilities. Kendrick goes on in detail to explain how HUD has been helpful.

  54. Robinson, Melissa B.  (2006).  Community Practices for Preparedness; Citizen, Religious Groups Join in Disaster Planning.  Washington Post.
    Eight-year-old Megan Loveless scrambled up the colorful plastic climbing equipment and huddled there against the biting wind while an energetic golden retriever named Sven raced around the Damascus churchyard, sniffing wood chips and scrubby grass as he tried to find her. In less than a minute, Sven was barking to alert his trainer that he'd located the girl, who was taking part in a rescue drill with Mid-Atlantic DOGS (Dogs Organized for Ground Search) Saturday morning at a disaster preparedness fair at Damascus United Methodist Church. The fair was organized by Good Heart, a year-old network of churches, temples and synagogues started by the Damascus Emergency Preparedness Team (DEPT), a group of local residents concerned about disaster planning. To encourage their neighbors to be prepared for a terrorist attack, flood, major power outage, bird flu epidemic or other crisis, DEPT turned to religious organizations, with their deep community ties, as ideal avenues for spreading the word about emergency planning. One of Good Heart's first efforts has been getting its members to send out questionnaires to their congregants. They are canvassing for such information as who has physical disabilities requiring special assistance in a crisis, and who has skills such as medical training or proficiency in a foreign language that could be useful. The goal of the Good Heart program is not to supplant firefighters, emergency medical technicians or others specially trained to respond to accidents and disasters. Rather, the group hopes that by lining up community resources now -- such as even churches that might be converted to pet shelters -- neighbors will be better equipped to help each other during the first 72 hours of a crisis, when emergency responders are focused on the most critical needs. "We fill up a big gap," said Bill Johnson, who was manning Good Heart's booth at the fair. People stranded or otherwise at risk in a disaster "can't just sit there, waiting for weeks for help -- it's an emergency. The local folks have to be organized and ready ahead of time." Good Heart has started exploring the possibility of using houses of worship to shelter people and their pets in an emergency evacuation. The need for pet shelters came into sharp focus last summer, organizers said, when Hurricane Katrina caused thousands of animals to be stranded in the Gulf Coast region. In other cases, people's lives were endangered when they refused to leave their homes without their pets. Animals usually are not allowed in evacuation shelters. A workshop with a Florida woman who is an expert in sheltering pets is being organized for the coming months. While it may seem practical to line up volunteers and shelters before a crisis hits, Julie Sain, DEPT president and chairwoman of Saturday's fair, and other organizers said there are also emotional benefits to planning for the worst. People tend to react better, they said, if they have done something to protect themselves and their families. That may mean stockpiling food and water in case of a quarantine, keeping extra medication on hand in case pharmacies are closed or unreachable, or making sure battery-operated flashlights and candles are working and accessible. "If you're prepared, it's like doing a drill," said Sain. "You know what to do. Your emotions don't make you immobile. They don't paralyze you with the horror of the thing." DEPT began two years ago when residents in the Damascus area of northern Montgomery County -- unsure what emergency planning was underway among local and regional officials -- decided to take on the issue themselves, Sain said. Since then, DEPT has forged alliances with the county's Department of Homeland Security, launched in January 2005, and the regional Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, which trains civilians in first aid, fire safety and light search-and-rescue. The CERT concept was developed in California in the 1980s in the aftermath of an earthquake. DEPT also helped bring the local fire department together with a group of ham radio operators, who have set up a desk at the department for operating their radios in case regular communications systems are inoperable in a disaster. County officials hope the Damascus model of neighbors helping neighbors will spread. Brian S. Geraci, a fire battalion chief who works for the county Homeland Security Department, has met with a group of Olney churches to talk about creating a Good Heart-type program there. A disaster preparedness fair is being organized for Silver Spring in May. Some people have already picked up on the Damascus message. Sherrie Wade of Mount Airy, who attended Saturday's fair with one of her grandchildren, hired an electrician several months ago to wire her house so a generator is automatically activated when the electricity has been out for some time. That was a particular concern because Wade lives with a grandchild who takes asthma medication through a nebulizer. Wade and her husband, who heard about emergency planning through their Damascus church, had a wood-burning stove installed in their basement. Wood is stockpiled, water and flashlights are ready, and the family knows where to meet in case they can't get home. "We've all got a plan," she said. "Which is good."
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  55. (No author).  (2006).  Housing on the Move.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is HUD's newsletter for March 2006. It includes an article on finding housing for displaced and evacuated people by hurricane Katrina. There is brief mention of people with disabilities.

  56. (No author).  (2006).  Housing on the Move.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is HUD's newsletter for March 2006. It includes an article on finding housing for displaced and evacuated people by hurricane Katrina. There is brief mention of people with disabilities.

  57. (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.

  58. (No author).  (2006).  Hurriane Katrain Action Plan for Disaster Recovery.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The document explains how the counties in Alabama will use the funding and resources they have received to rebuild their communities. It discusses the funding categories as well as the budget. There is only a quick reference to people with disabilities along with other minority groups.

  59. (No author).  (2006).  Hurricane Katrina Action Plan for Disaster Recovery.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The document explains how the counties in Alabama will use the funding and resources they have received to rebuild their communities. It discusses the funding categories as well as the budget. There is only a quick reference to people with disabilities along with other minority groups.

  60. Salmon, Jacqueline L.  (2006).  Katrina's Vietnamese Victims; Falls Church Area Agency Aids Gulf Coast Immigrants.  Washington Post.
    Fisherman Ky Le climbed out of his truck, hoisting his 3-year-old son, and pointed to a mass of splintered wreckage on a muddy lot. "That my house," said Le, 42, in his fragmentary English. Then he laughed. It was easier than crying. All that remained of the family's mobile home was this slab of linoleum, set on a wheeled hunk of rusting metal and covered with overturned appliances, dishes, clothing and other items. A backpack that belonged to the couple's oldest son lay near his math workbook. In the moist, salty wind, shards of a nearby metal shed swayed and creaked as Le's wife, Loan, 39, picked through the rubble, looking for documents that would prove the family had flood insurance to cover the ruin caused by Hurricane Katrina. This was Plaquemines Parish, a ghostly finger of marshy land poking into the Gulf of Mexico and bisected by the Mississippi River, where life and property were swept away when Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras on Aug. 29. The couple and their three children lost their home and car. Miraculously, Ky's shrimp boat sustained only relatively minor damage. After several months of taking shelter with other homeless Vietnamese fishermen and their families at a Buddhist temple 50 miles up the road, the family has settled in a rented mobile home near the temple while they untangle their affairs. The plight of the Le family, and thousands of other Vietnamese immigrants living along the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, has become the focus of a Falls Church area nonprofit, Boat People SOS. In December, the 25-year-old organization, which works with Vietnamese immigrants through a network of offices nationwide, received a $4.5 million federal grant to seek out and work with the neediest Hurricane Katrina victims, helping them to rebuild their lives financially and emotionally over the next 22 months. Along with three other nonprofits based in the Washington area -- Catholic Charities USA of Alexandria, Volunteers of America of Alexandria and the National Disability Rights Network of Northeast Washington -- Boat People SOS is part of a consortium of 10 organizations nationwide awarded a total of $66 million to assist 300,000 struggling Katrina victims. Many are poor, elderly or disabled, said Warren Harrity, executive director of Katrina Aid Today, the consortium's parent organization based in Northwest Washington. Some are single parents, while others, like those in the Vietnamese communities that Boat People is working with, speak limited English. "There are a lot of folks who are just not able to access the world of resources out there," Harrity said. The contract was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the disaster-relief and development arm of the United Methodist Church, using funds donated by foreign governments. The Methodist relief committee, in turn, contracted with the 10 nonprofits to carry out the work, and it will manage the grant and monitor the groups' progress. The committee program within which these agencies work is Katrina Aid Today. Last week, Volunteers of America launched a $6 million case-management program that will use 60 professionals and 240 trained volunteers to work with about 20,000 people -- many of them already struggling with disability, age, raising children on a limited income or addiction. "A lot of people, at least the ones we talk to . . . were pretty fragile anyway," said Margaret Ratcliff, vice president of programs for Volunteers of America. The National Disability Rights Network will focus on 8,000 disabled Katrina victims, including those with physical handicaps, mental illnesses and addiction problems, primarily in Mississippi, Texas and LA, said spokeswoman Kaaryn Sanon. Catholic Charities USA will receive $12 million, which will help fund 125 paid and 250 volunteer case managers who are being brought in to work with Katrina victims in Catholic Charities offices in 13 states, said the Rev. Larry Snyder, the organization's chief executive. A combination of therapist, nagging mother, networker and advocate, a case manager works one-on-one with clients and with other case managers, drawing up "recovery plans" and then assisting clients with finding housing, jobs and services they need. "Our aim is to help the folks to achieve a level of self-sufficiency," Harrity said. Boat People SOS's task is one of the more challenging: to work with insular, often isolated, Vietnamese communities. An estimated 50,000 Vietnamese live along the Gulf Coast, including "boat people" who settled in the area after fleeing Southeast Asia in the 1970s and '80s. The federal grant, worth about $4.5 million to Boat People, is by far the largest ever received by the organization, which brought in $2.1 million in federal grants in 2004. The group is in the process of hiring 19 case managers to work with Katrina victims through new branch offices in LA, Mississippi and Alabama, said Executive Director Nguyen Dinh Thang. Many of Boat People's target clients are fishermen, small-business people or blue-collar workers who speak little or no English and, until now, have had relatively little contact with local or federal governments. Boat People SOS was founded in California in 1981. It has evolved from an organization that rescued thousands of people in small vessels on the ocean who were fleeing Vietnam in the wake of the communist takeover, to one that offers a variety of services to Vietnamese immigrants nationwide. Funded mostly by government contracts and grants, it now has 17 offices around the country, including three in the Washington area: in Prince George's County, in the District and, its headquarters, in a Leesburg Pike (Route 7) office building just north of Baileys Crossroads. It draws its work almost exclusively from government agencies, such as those of Fairfax County and the U.S. government, including the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and the departments of Labor, Education and the Treasury. Boat People offers cancer screenings and translation services, educates nail-salon employees on hazardous materials, sponsors after-school tutoring and teen abstinence education, and helps Vietnamese immigrants become U.S. citizens, among other services. In LA, the epicenter of its current efforts, is a small Buddhist temple in Orleans Parish, just over the border from Plaquemines. The area is home to thousands of Vietnamese immigrants who earn their livings plying the waters of the Gulf. Katrina destroyed many of their homes and boats, and about 50 of them are now living at Bo De Temple while they await FEMA trailers or repairs to their homes. They live in the temple's fellowship hall and education center, sleeping on mattresses jammed into small classrooms and cooking in the center's kitchen. They have fashioned curtains out of aluminum foil and brown paper. Some, uncomfortable with the crowded conditions, have retreated to tents on the muddy grounds. One 81-year-old man lives in his car, which he has outfitted with a sleeping bag and a television balanced on the rear seat. The presence of the evacuees has put on hold the temple's plan to use the center, which was recently completed at a cost of $200,000, to offer English classes to adults and Vietnamese classes to children. The added expense has also strained the small temple's finances. "It's very difficult for us in this situation," said the Rev. Thich-Thong Duc, the Buddhist monk who runs Bo De. Duc moved to the United States from Vietnam seven years ago. "But we are happy to help people." Among Boat People's tasks is to help the Vietnamese negotiate their way through the formidable Katrina-assistance bureaucracy. Some evacuees were not aware they were eligible for assistance from FEMA and thus never applied, said case manager Alessandra Thomas. The organization believes that others' claims were inaccurately denied and plans to launch appeals on behalf of those clients. Duc said the community is grateful for the assistance. "You come here, you help our community," he told Thomas over tea one recent morning. "We appreciate that. We are happy about that." But Boat People has had to surmount some cultural differences. For many Vietnamese, the stubborn American tradition of refusing to take no for an answer is an alien concept, said Ha Hoa Dang, a spokesman for Boat People. "They'll accept that when the U.S. government has said no, that means no," Dang said. Other more complex issues also have surfaced. For many Vietnamese fishermen, ownership of their boats is complicated. Some have tangled agreements -- sometimes written, sometimes not -- with others that make for messy insurance claims. Many had no flood insurance on their homes, or lost their insurance documents in the storm. To reach the extensive Vietnamese communities in the New Orleans area, Boat People is distributing fliers and spreading the word through Buddhist temples and Vietnamese Catholic Churches. It also is relying on word of mouth. Working off a laptop on a folding table in the temple's cluttered fellowship hall, case managers Thomas and Phu Nguyen work with a steady stream of Katrina victims. They help some fill out paperwork to get free cell phones offered to Katrina evacuees through a Federal Communications Commission program. To others, they hand out fliers in Vietnamese that explain FEMA benefits and Boat People's program. Many, said Thomas, don't realize that they might be eligible for loans and grants from the government to help them rebuild their boats and homes. But she is confident that more will turn to Boat People for help as they hear about its services. "Word travels pretty fast here," she said. As soon as Boat People showed up last month, Loan and Ky Le turned to the group for help. Boat People case workers say that the Le family has flood insurance for their mobile home and, fortunately, Loan was able to unearth from the rubble a letter certifying her claim. Even so, their claim was rejected, and Thomas is working with them to figure out why, launch an appeal and help them through the paperwork. "She help me a lot," Loan said. Despite the devastating losses, she said, the couple isn't discouraged. As an example, Loan pointed to her husband, who squatted by the trailer, cigarette in hand. "He falls down, he stand up and he walk again. He keep working," she said. "He keep working."
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  61. (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.

  62. (No author).  (2006).  Disaster Voucher Program (DVP) Operating Requirements -- Rental Assistance for HUD-Assisted Families and Special Needs Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a notice that provides instructions for the continuation of temporary rental assistace for HUD-assisted families and special needs/homelss families who were displaced because of Hurricane Katrina through the Disaster Voucher Program (DVP). The notice give the background, general overview, and operating requirements of the program. THis is specific to people with disabilities.

  63. (No author).  (2006).  Disaster Voucher Program (DVP) Operating Requirements -- Rental Assistance for HUD-Assisted Families and Special Needs Families Displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a notice that provides instructions for the continuation of temporary rental assistance for HUD-assisted families and special needs/homeless families who were displaced because of Hurricane Katrina through the Disaster Voucher Program (DVP). The notice give the background, general overview, and operating requirements of the program. This is specific to people with disabilities.

  64. (No author).  (2006).  Generous Donors Meet American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Costs: Red Cross Honors Commitment to Donors and Public.  American Red Cross.
    The website announces the total donations Red Cross has received for Hurricane victims ($2.116 billion that it will take to respond to the hurricanes), and indicates that it has spend 80% of the funds to date. It also specifies that the Red Cross will n

  65. (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.

  66. (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.

  67. (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.

  68. (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

  69. (No author).  (2006).  Hurricane Recovery Resources.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    Several hurricane recovery resources are listed including: Resources for Citizens, Resources for HUD Partners, How Businesses Can Help, and How Citizens Can Help. There is also a link to Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Housing Discrimination Public Service Announcements.

  70. (No author).  (2006).  Turning Compassion into Action - Donor Dollars at Work: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.  American Red Cross.
    This document provides cost projections for all of the relief that has been provided to the victims of the three major hurricanes. The areas that aid was provided are: food and shelter; emergency financial assistance; physical and mental health services; additional red cross support; hurricane recovery; fundraising costs/management and general expenses. Because the Red Cross continues to provide aid, the figures provided in the document are projections based on the information currently available. There is no mention of individuals with disabilities.

  71. (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.

  72. (No author).  (2006).  American Red Cross Looks Back on Hurricane Katrina.  American Red Cross.
    This article discussed the Red Cross efforts to recover after Hurricane Katrina. It also has suggestions as to how to prepare, respond, and recover for future disasters.

  73. (No author).  (2006).  Legislation Addresses Emergency Preparedness.  National Spinal Cord Injury Association.
    NSCIA Hall of Fame honoree Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat from Iowa has introduced the Emergency Preparedness and Response for Individuals with Disabilities Act of 2005.

  74. (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

  75. (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.

  76. (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

  77. (No author).  (2006).  A Failure of Initiative: Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina.  U.S. Department of Transportation.
    This is the final report published by the Select Bipartisan Committee that was created to investigate the preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina. The research was supposed to look at the development, coordination, and execution by local, State, and Federal authorities of emergency response plans in preparation for Katrina, as well as look at the response to the Hurricane by these same agencies. The report gives an executive summary of the findings and discusses these topics: levees, evacuation, national framework for emergency management, FEMA preparedness, communications, command and control, the military and law enforcement, medical care, shelter and housing, logistics, and charitable organizations. There is mention of people with special needs although the report is not specific to them.

  78. MacFarlane, Cathy.  (2006).  Jackson Outlines HUD's Response to Hurricane Katrina in Testimony Before Senate Banking Committee.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This website mentions the $11.5 billion in Community Development Block Grants that Congress appropriated. It also mentions various waivers HUD granted in the wake of the hurricanes. However, this report also notes that HUD's assistance is limited to those who HUD was assisting prior to Hurricane Katrina. Again, this report applies to people with disabilities, however, it is not explicitly stated.

  79. White, Donna.  (2006).  HUD Creates New, Expanded Hurricane Disaster Voucher Program.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This website discusses the replacement and expansion of the rental assistance program that was put into place after Hurricane Katrina (now it also includes Rita). The goal of the program is to help more families find stable, long-term housing. This report applies to persons with disabilities, however, it is not explicitly stated.

  80. (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.

  81. (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.

  82. (No author).  (2006).  Committee Focuses on Failure to Aid New Orleans's Infirm.  New York Times.
    This article discusses the failure to evacuate nursing home and hospital patients during the disaster, which includes people with special needs.
    http://www.nytimes.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  83. (No author).  (2006).  Katrina Information.  MS Council on Developmental Disabilities.
    This source does not give any substantive material but announces that Mississippi Developmental Disabilities network (Protection and Advocacy Services, University Centers of Excellence/Institute of Disability Studies and Council on Developmental Disabilities) established two help line numbers to support individuals with developmental disabilities/disabilities and their families.

  84. (No author).  (2006).  Disability Program Navigator Initiative.  MS Council on Developmental Disabilities.
    This source does not give any substantive material but announces Department of Labor (DOL) sent a contingent of Disability Program Navigators (DPN) to the gulf coast to help locate and provide emergency services to people with disabilities.

  85. (No author).  (2006).  Disability Program Navigator Initiative.  MS Council on Developmental Disabilities.
    This source does not give any substantive material but announces Department of Labor (DOL) sent a contingent of Disability Program Navigators (DPN) to the gulf coast to help locate and provide emergency services to people with disabilities.

  86. (No author).  (2006).  Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Sensory Disabilities.  National Organization on Disability.
    Guideline for the Emergency Preparedness for people with sensory disabilities

  87. (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.

  88. (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.

  89. (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

  90. (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.

  91. (No author).  (2005).  National Council on Disability on Hurricane Katrina Affected Areas.  National Council on Disability.
    Outlines the flaws in the federal government's Katrina response; includes recommendation, and subsequent follow-up action after Katrina relief has concluded.

  92. (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

  93. Whoriskey, Peter & Gugliotta, Guy.  (2005).  The Evacuation and The Recriminations.  Washington Post.
    Most everyone in town knew right away that the worst had happened. The cops heard about it even before Hurricane Katrina itself arrived. Hardy souls who stayed behind figured it out quickly, too. They climbed the stairs to the second floor, then the attic, and then started looking for axes to punch through the roof. The 17th Street levee had collapsed last Monday morning beneath the might of Katrina's storm surge, opening a chasm in the city's flood-protection system and sending a deluge coursing into New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain. From that moment, the fate of New Orleans was sealed. The city, supposedly 80 percent evacuated by the time the storm hit, would have to be emptied altogether. There was no place for people to stay. And there would not be anywhere to stay next week, next month, perhaps next year. It was time to go. Yet it took until late Saturday to take 42,000 people away -- mostly from the fetid Superdome and the equally squalid Convention Center, while city officials estimated an equal number still awaited evacuation. And that was just New Orleans. Nobody knew how many people in the surrounding parishes still needed transportation. "They keep coming out of the woodwork," said Terry Ebbert, the director of homeland security for New Orleans. "The human suffering I've seen here is greater that anything I've ever been exposed to." With the evacuations firmly underway, recriminations abounded. Michael D. Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, blamed the city. Mayor C. Ray Nagin "canorder an evacuation," Brown said in a telephone news conference, but it did not work because the city did not have "the resources to get the poor, elderly or the disabled out." "Everybody shares the blame here," countered New Orleans City Council President Oliver Thomas. The large numbers needing assistance may have been a surprise, "but when you talk about the mightiest government in the world, that's a ludicrous and lame excuse. You're FEMA, and you're the big dog. And you weren't prepared either." But a look at Katrina's immediate aftermath suggests that a rush of conflicting demands overwhelmed the ability of officials of all kinds to cope. The feds should have moved faster. President Bush admitted as much Friday, characterizing relief efforts as "unacceptable." The locals, in a broad sense, did not heed their own warnings. There was no secret about New Orleans. The city is a below sea-level punch bowl. A direct hit from a major hurricane would mean evacuating 700,000 of the 1.1 million people in the metropolitan area, University of New Orleans researcher Shirley Laska said in a sobering paper written a year ago. Lose a levee, she said, and 40,000 to 60,000 people could die. Officials have not yet begun to tally Katrina's dead. Nagin ordered a voluntary evacuation for New Orleans on Saturday, Aug. 27, two days before the storm made landfall, and made the evacuation mandatory the next day. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a test," Nagin told the city. "This is the real deal." Six surrounding parishes issued similar orders, and buses took a lot of people out. But a lot stayed behind: the elderly, the infirm, people with special needs, the hurricane die-hards and plenty of tourists. Some airlines did not fly to New Orleans on Sunday. But mostly, the remainder were poor people. New Orleans has 120,000 residents without cars, Laska said in her paper. They needed rides, and they did not get them. This problem should have been foreseen, noted Abby Maxman, the Haiti director for the relief agency CARE, which provided assistance to the city of Gonaives in September 2004, when 3,000 of 180,000 inhabitants perished at the hands of Hurricane Jeanne. "If you are poor, the choices are very, very limited," Maxman said. "But, really, did they have a choice?" Maxman suggested that more mass shelters in proximity to poor communities would have lessened the impact of the disaster. When the storm passed, there were 9,000 people in the Superdome, even though the city had provided services only for the sick and those with special needs. Others could use it "as a shelter of last resort," Nagin said. But after the levee collapsed, the Superdome became the shelter of "only resort," and by Tuesday there were 20,000 inside. The multitude would increase to 30,000 as the week progressed. "Monday we knew what we needed by numbers," Ebbert said Saturday. "We told FEMA we needed to move 30,000 people. Now we're just rolling on number 30,000. This should have been five days ago." But New Orleans had other things to worry about. The primary concern Monday was the burst levee; the focus Tuesday was on plucking desperate survivors from submerged houses, and on Wednesday attention shifted to looters. Only Thursday did evacuation grab the spotlight. By that time the Superdome had turned into a stifling, dimly lighted cavern covered in trash and human waste. Sick people were dying unattended, and women were being raped. The buses started to arrive Wednesday morning but did not make an immediate dent in the crowding. Under increasing criticism for their failure to act quickly, officials spoke about how the scope of the tragedy could not have been anticipated. But some of the excuses rang hollow. Denise Bottcher, a spokesman for Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D), said LA traditionally relies on Mississippi, Alabama and Florida forNational Guard help during emergencies, but the other states had their own problems with the storm. This could have been anticipated days before it hit. It was not until Thursday that the Defense Department announced it was assembling 7,000 federal troops in "Joint Task Force Katrina" to help with relief and security. The same day, State Police Superintendent Col. Henry Whitehorn announced that a group of LA sheriffs were assembling another "task force" to help control New Orleans. It was, for some, too little, too late. "These are people who fell through the safety net, as they always do," Paul Valteau, the sheriff of Orleans Parish said. "They're hard-working, tax-paying citizens, and they're being treated like trash. People in Iraq get treated better by the federal government." Gugliotta reported from Washington. Staff writer Jacqueline L. Salmon in Baton Rouge, La., staff writers Elizabeth Williamson and Spencer S. Hsu in Washington, and researcher Madonna Lebling in Washington contributed to this report.
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  94. Wilemon, Tom.  (2005).  FEMA agrees to handicap settlement.  Sun Herald.
    Claire Brou may have to use a scooter to get around, but she knows how to stand up for herself. The 78-year-old Ocean Springs woman and 10 other disabled people who lost homes to either Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita filed a class-action lawsuit against FEMA, contending that the federal agency failed to provide them suitable housing. FEMA agreed to a settlement requiring it to provide more handicap-accessible trailers. A judge will decide if the settlement is fair after a Sept. 26 hearing in U.S. District Court in New Orleans. Brou, a retired U.S. Air Force captain, is a well-known citizen in Ocean Springs who regularly attends City Hall meetings and keeps a close tab on her neighborhood. She relies on a scooter because she is paralyzed on her right side. Cary LaCheen, a lawyer with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice who worked on the case, said other disabled people may not have the wherewithal to fight for their rights. "There are a lot of other people out there who are still waiting or have given up waiting or are living in something that isn't accessible because they were told by a contractor when a trailer was delivered 'Take it or leave it.' According to court papers, FEMA during the last week of September 2005 provided Brou with a trailer that had a door too narrow for her scooter to pass through. The agency gave her a second trailer in October, but the door handle on it was on the wrong side for Brou to use because of her paralysis. The inside was too narrow for her to turn her scooter around and it did not have a roll-in shower. She could only access the bed from the foot, and had to call 911 for assistance one night after she fell. Other disabled South Mississippi residents who sued the federal agency were Eugene Joseph Johnson of Bay St. Louis and Terry West of Kiln. Their lawyers contended that FEMA violated the Fair Housing Act, the Architectural Barriers Act and other federal laws. Under terms of the settlement, FEMA denies any liability and maintains that it administered its programs in a lawful manner. However, the agency has agreed to publicize how it will assist disabled individuals with temporary housing, establish a toll-free telephone number for the disabled to call, require that 10 percent of trailers ordered comply with Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, hire a separate contractor to assist handicapped individuals, make sure than 5 percent of trailers in group sites are handicap accessible and appoint a third party to resolve disputes between the agency and handicapped individuals. The Sun Herald will publicize the toll free number once it is available.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  95. (No author).  (2005).  Red Cross Providing Financial and Housing Assistance to Victims of Hurricane Rita.  American Red Cross.
    This document discusses the efforts that the Red Cross is making to provide financial assistance to the victims of Hurricane Rita, while continuing to provide support to Hurricane Katrina victims. It also highlights what people seeking financial assistance can do to obtain assistance from the Red Cross. There is no mention of individuals with disabilities.

  96. (No author).  (2005).  Red Cross Plans to Support Rita Victims.  American Red Cross.
    This document discusses how the Red Cross will be expanding its efforts to assist Hurricane Rita victims as it supported the victims of Hurricane Katrina. This expansion also includes the Motel Program that was put into place to aid the Katrina victims.

  97. Frieden, Lex.  (2005).  Letter to the President at the White House.  National Council on Disability.
    This is a letter addressed to the President of the U.S. concerning a long-term commitment to recovery and reconstruction efforts in the Gulf Coast areas affected most by Hurricane Katrina as well as regions in Texas and LA hit by Hurricane Rita. This letter proposes that reconstruction incorporates individuals with disability. Additionally, discusses accessible housing, reliable transportation, working and educational opportunities for disabled people.

  98. (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.

  99. (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

  100. (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

  101. 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.

  102. (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.

  103. (No author).  (2005).  Rita Heads for Texas, Affects Katrina Shelters.  American Red Cross.
    This document was created before Hurricane Rita hit land, and it discusses its projected impact on shelters housing Katrina victims. The document discusses how victims housed in the shelters in Rita's path are once again being evacuated and relocated to

  104. (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

  105. 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.

  106. (No author).  (2005).  Letter to the Honorable Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security.  National Council on Disability.
    Letter encouraging Dept. of Homeland security to appoint a "point person" to coordinate disability relief; also includes a long-term plan for disability accommodation/relief for the DHS to follow.

  107. (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.

  108. (No author).  (2005).  Across the Nation the Salvation Army is Providing Aid to Survivors of Hurricane Katrina.  The Salvation Army.
    This article talks about the work that the Salvation Army is doing in the affected areas. There is nothing specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  109. Smith, April.  (2005).  After the Storm.  South Central VA Health Care Network.
    Provides details on mobile clinics set up to provide treatment to vets displaced by Katrina. his document includes persons with disabilities to a limited degree.

  110. 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.

  111. (No author).  (2005).  Handbook on Disability and Special Needs.  West Virginia University: Center on Excellence for Disabilities.
    One of the most important roles of local government is to protect their citizens from harm including helping people prepare for and respond to emergencies. Making local government emergency preparedness and response programs accessible to people with disabilities is a critical part of this responsibility. Making these programs accessible is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). If you are responsible for your community's emergency planning or response activities, you should involve people with disabilities in identifying needs and evaluating effective emergency management practices. Issues that have the greatest impact on people with disabilities include: notification, evacuation, emergency transportation, sheltering, access to medical care and medications, access to their mobility devices or service animals while in transit or at shelters and access to information. In planning for emergency services, you should consider the needs of people who use mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes or crutches, or people who have limited stamina. Plans also need to include people who use oxygen or respirators, people who are blind or who have low vision, people who are hard of hearing, people who have a cognitive disability, people with mental illness and those with other types of disabilities. Although employers are not required to have emergency evacuation plans under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if employers covered by the ADA opt to have such plans they are required to include people with disabilities. Further, employers who do not have emergency evacuation plans may have to address emergency evacuation for employees with disabilities as a reasonable accommodation under Title I of the ADA. In addition, employers in certain industries may have obligations to develop emergency evacuation plans under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA Act) or under state and local law. If you are a person with a disability, know how to reduce the impact of a disaster on yourself. The website reminds people that persons with disabilities are just like everyone else and provides a list of more considerate terms for persons with disabilities Many people with disabilities use "assistive technology" to enable them to use computers and access the Internet. People who cannot see computer monitors may use screen readers - devices that speak the text that would normally appear on a monitor. People who have difficulty using a computer mouse can use voice recognition software to control their computers with verbal commands. People with other types of disabilities may use still other kinds of assistive technology. Poorly designed web sites can create barriers for people with disabilities, just as poorly designed buildings prevent some people from entering them. Designers may not realize how simple features built into a web page will assist someone who, for instance, cannot see a computer monitor or use a mouse. It then names section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act (naming 16 specific sections: images, multimedia, color, readability, server-side image maps, client-side image maps, data tables, row and column headers, frames, flicker-rate, text-only, scripts, applets and plug-ins, electronic forms, navigation, and timed response), section 255 of the Communications Act, and the ADA, all of which have requirements for accessibility to persons with disabilities.

  112. (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.

  113. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina #2: Special Needs Shelters Opening.  LA Department of Health and Hospitals.
    The web page is a news release stating that shelters would be opening in two counties specifically and only for people with special needs or disabilities. The webpage gives locations and numbers for the shelters.

  114. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina #3: Additional Special Needs Shelter Openings.  LA Department of Health and Hospitals.
    The web page explains that new shelters for citizens with special needs are opening up in the Baton Rouge area. They are a last resort shelter and not for the general public.

  115. (No author).  (2005).  Nobody Left Behind: Analysis of Local Emergency Management Plans to Determine Whether the Needs of Persons with Mobility Limitations are Being Met.  The Research and Training Center on Independent Living at the University of Kansas.
    This document indicates that a three-year research grant was awarded to the University of Kansas funded by the CDC. The project was to request local emergency plans from 30 sites selected for analysis, and to analyze those plans. From the 11 sites that provided investigators with a section of their local emergency management plans for review, only two (or 18%) had comprehensive procedures stated in their plans to address the needs of persons with mobility impairments. The two sites took different approaches in their individual plans. One approach created a separate appendix on persons with disabilities, while the other approach referenced how to address the needs of the persons with disabilities in teh various appropriate sections. Both of these approaches could be considered as emerging best practices for emergency managers to adopt. In addition, the plan should, at a minimum, address the guidelines for ADA pertaining to emergency management as recommended by teh DOJ. It is recommendation that model appendices be developed for the various special needs populations. It is also recommended that federal and state leaders in emergency management encourage at the local level the adoption of separate appendices for the various speical needs populations that are predominate in their individual community settings. This is a major shift in philosophy concerning the content style of emergency management plans. But, it appears to be warranted due to the lack of training many of the emergency managers have in special needs populations, which includes persons with disabilities. This research study found that 73% of the managers had not taken the special needs course offered by FEMA, 80% did not have guidelines in their plans and another 79% are not planning to develop guidelines to address the needs of persons with disabilities. There needs to be systems for identification of persons and residential and medical facilities needing assistance with evacuation, transportation, shelter, or medical needs during a disaster. Ten out of the eleven plans had requirements for one or more identification systems to address specific assistance needs of the elderly, ill, and persons with disabilities.

  116. Roth, Marcie.  (2005).  Serving and Protecting All by Applying Lessons Learned. Including People with Disabilities and Seniors in Disaster Services.  Disabilitypreparedness.gov.
    The web page is actually a report about the lessons learned during Hurricane Katrina and what needs to be done for people with disabilities at the local, state, regional and federal level. It also discusses evacuation, housing, communication, shelters, training, recovery centers, as well as experiences of people with disabilities in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

  117. (No author).  (2005).  Annotated Bibliography on Emergency Preparedness and Response For People with Disabilities.  American Association on Health and Disability.
    This website gives links to articles on emergency preparedness

  118. (No author).  (2005).  Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People With Disabilities.  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    This articles addresses emergency preparedness and response programs for local government. It includes information about transportation, shelter, and providing assistance to disabled individuals during the emergency.

  119. (No author).  (2005).  State Plan FYY2006-2007.  LA Developmental Disabilities Council.
    This is the annual fiscal report for the LA Developmental Disabilities Center. It includes the goals and objectives of the counsel for the year 2006.

  120. (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.

  121. (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.

  122. (No author).  (2005).  Finding of No Significant Impact: Emergency Temporary Housing Project Ephesus Baptist Church Housing Site Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    This report summarizes the environmental impact in regard to one specific site. The report concludes that there would be no significant adverse affects on the environment at this site. There is not any information specifically pertaining to persons wit

  123. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Season Ends While Red Cross Work Continues.  American Red Cross.
    The website gives a chronological history of the devastating hurricane season, which had just ended. The Red Cross has assisted nearly 3.75 million people who were affected by that storm, and estimates that relief efforts will cost nearly $2 billion. I

  124. (No author).  (2005).  KDHAP-SN Administering Agency Eligibility Criteria.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    Using acronyms, this document briefly lists qualifying criteria for agencies that are applying to administer the KDHAP funds. Individuals with disabilities are not directly mentioned.

  125. (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

  126. Salmon, Jacqueline L.  (2005).  Evacuees Feel Stress From FEMA Deadlines.  Washington Post.
    For days, Clarence Gray Sr. has carried around a folded piece of paper in his pocket with scribbled numbers on it that are supposed to get his life back to normal. Apartment locators. Furniture donors. FEMA. Texas Department of Human Services. Food stamps. The number for a nice lady named Linda, who, when he asked her for 50 cents for bus fare to apartment hunt, simply chauffeured him one afternoon to help him search. He is a Katrina evacuee, and that's all she needed to know. "It ain't like I ain't trying," said Gray, 56, whose home for almost four months has been a room at a Days Inn in far north Houston. But he has no vehicle, which is a must in this sprawling, car-dependent city. He has tried to walk along the massive network of interstate highways but does not have the stamina to sustain the treks. And the few apartment buildings he got to refused to take a city rental voucher subsidized by FEMA. Gray has no cell phone to stay in touch. He has no income other than a small monthly disability check. He has heart and cervical disc problems. He has costly prescriptions to fill. His family is divided -- some back in LA, some scattered around Houston. And now he's being treated for depression brought on by his living situation. "The walls," Gray said. "Oh lordy, they get closer and closer." Even in the nation's most generous host to hurricane evacuees, resettling and resuming life post-Katrina or post-Rita is a challenge. Thousands of evacuees, like Gray, are still living in hotels subsidized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and face a Feb. 7 deadline to find permanent housing. An additional 105,000 evacuees housed in Houston apartments under a city-sponsored voucher program that guaranteed rent and utilities for a year might face eviction on March 1, when FEMA stops reimbursing the city for the program. City officials and apartment owners are protesting the move, but FEMA officials say they will instead provide a year's worth of rent-only payments to individuals under a more strictly regulated assistance program. Mayor Bill White has declared the fourth-largest city in the country "full," and says there are only 3,500 moderately priced apartments left. "People think people got money and people getting on with their lives," said Katrina evacuee Linda Jeffers, who is working with the Metropolitan Organization in Houston, a professional organizing group affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation. But that's not true for many, said Jeffers, who spent the weeks before Christmas trying to get donated mattresses, blankets and food -- as well as potential homes -- to families. "This is where we are," she said. After Hurricane Katrina struck in late August, followed a month later by Rita, Houston took in an estimated 250,000 of the 2.5 million Gulf Coast residents who evacuated -- a migration not seen in this country since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. Displaced residents are now scattered from Maine to Hawaii and Alaska to Puerto Rico, with the largest concentrations, according to FEMA records, registered as living in Texas, LA, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Some evacuees were still living in shelters until recently. Just last week, FEMA closed its last evacuee shelter in San Antonio, moving a couple of hundred people, including a dozen who are elderly or disabled, from the former Kelly Air Force Base into suitable housing. Nationwide, FEMA still rents about 37,000 hotel rooms, four months after Katrina. The states with the largest number of evacuee-occupied hotel rooms at the end of last week were LA, with 11,076; Texas, with 9,487; Georgia with 7,142; Florida, with 2,450; and Mississippi, with 1,468. FEMA's latest formula for calculating the numbers of people living in hotels is to multiply each room by 1.5. Hampered by the uncertainty of whether they can ever return to New Orleans or other devastated cities, the evacuees are trapped in the bureaucratic red tape that governs federal disaster relief. The three-month supply of emergency food stamps has ended, and emergency $2,300 housing stipends have been depleted. Rules for the longer-term recovery assistance are confusing to many evacuees and landlords, and aid is slow arriving. Evacuees face imminent deadlines to get into permanent housing wherever they landed, and many will have to relocate without furniture or with only the barest of necessities. "This is more than just about finding them an apartment or a house to live in," said Roy Craft, executive director of the Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, which next month will open a huge interagency resettlement center fashioned after the Vietnamese refugee resettlement programs of the 1970s. "This is about case management." FEMA is emptying hotels and is going to terminate rental assistance to Houston and the housing authorities of Austin, Beaumont, Dallas and San Antonio, ending the federal public assistance emergency program. It will institute an individual assistance recovery program under which people will be eligible for a year's worth of rental assistance, meted out three months at a time. But they must prove that their homes were destroyed, that they were paying rent or a mortgage when the storm hit and that they were uninsured. They also must show the aid they get is used for rent to get a three-month renewal of the assistance. "For all those people who still do qualify for individual assistance, the rent will be paid for a year, but they won't get free utilities," said FEMA spokesman Don Jacks. "Those in hotels won't be able to have maid service every day, and they won't be eligible to go to a shelter to get three free meals a day." The program, he said, "was not designed to have FEMA life-long assistance for disaster victims. It's a leg up to help you get back on your feet." But Poule and Theresa Marnez and their five children are having a hard time rebounding and moving on from their two FEMA-subsidized rooms in a hotel near the Johnson Space Center. Their four-bedroom rental home in Sulphur, La., was destroyed by Hurricane Rita. Sitting in FEMA's Disaster Relief Center in Houston last week with his wife and three of the children, Marnez clutched a stack of multiple listings he had obtained from a real estate agent. He has a housing voucher from the city, and he needs a large house. He had been rejected five times by landlords who said they didn't want to participate in the voucher program for various reasons, including the fact the program does not provide security deposits even though it guarantees the rent. "I have been renting a vehicle to move back and forth looking for houses, wasting money, gas and time, and I haven't gotten a house yet," Marnez said. Marnez is a welder who worked freelance jobs at chemical plants in southwestern LA and southeast Texas. The weekend Rita hit, he was supposed to head to Houston on a job that would give him at least several weeks worth of work at more than $20 an hour. Instead, he and his family weathered the storm at a friend's home in Sulphur, where they were marooned for five days once the storm passed. Damage to their house made it unlivable, so they stayed with the friend in her two-bedroom house until they wore out their welcome. Unable to find other housing in LA, they headed to Houston in their hurricane-damaged car, convinced they would have better luck. But since late October, the Marnezes have been living in two hotel rooms. No jobs have come Marnez's way, and he has been suffering from anxiety attacks as time goes on. "I'm getting disappointed, man," he said. "I'm getting desperate." In a two-page letter he was carrying addressed to FEMA, neatly handwritten in blue marker, he explained the family's predicament, saying he had sought out real estate agents and expended the little money the family had on rental cars to get around the big city. "What are we going to do is my question without a house after the [Feb.] 7, 2006 deadline" to vacate the hotel, he wrote. "Can you please do something about it ASAP. Thank you. Sincerely, Poule Christian Marnez."
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  127. (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.

  128. (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.

  129. (No author).  (2005).  Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP) Operating Requirements.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The purpose of this paper is to set forth the policies and procedures for the Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP), which is an initiative to aid pre-disaster HUD-assisted and homeless families in finding temproary housing. The paper goes on to describe the background and general over of the program, as well as the operating procedures. The paper references people with disabilities when mentioning that special consideration will be taken into account when looking for suitable housing.

  130. (No author).  (2005).  Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP) Operating Requirements.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The purpose of this paper is to set forth the policies and procedures for the Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP), which is an initiative to aid pre-disaster HUD-assisted and homeless families in finding temporary housing. The paper goes on to describe the background and general over of the program, as well as the operating procedures. The paper references people with disabilities when mentioning that special consideration will be taken into account when looking for suitable housing.

  131. (No author).  (2005).  KDHAP Participating Public Housing Authorities.  National Disability Rights Network.
    This four page document lists the public housing authorities participating in KDHAP in the fifty states. Individuals with disabilities are not directly mentioned.

  132. (No author).  (2005).  Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program - Special Needs (KDHAP-SN) - Fact Sheet.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This fact sheet explains the Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program - Special Needs (KDHAP-SN), a program providing rent subsidies in the private housing market for individuals who were homeless prior to Katrina, who were displaced by Katrina, and w

  133. (No author).  (2005).  Quarterly Meeting Notes.  U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities.
    The paper is a recap of a quarterly meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals with Disabilities. The meeting included a presentation on the impact of the hurricanes on people with disabilities in the Gulf Coast area, and the actions that ICC was taking to provide relief. There were also updates from the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Federal Communications, and Homeland Security. There was also a section of Question and Answer.

  134. (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.

  135. (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

  136. (No author).  (2005).  Katrina Evacuees Fret Over Housing Again; In Texas Hotels, FEMA Assistance Is About to Run Out.  Washington Post.
    This article discusses the lack of available short term housing for victims of Hurricane Katrina, it briefly mentions a survivor who has a disability.
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  137. (No author).  (2005).  South Florida Scrambling To Find Emergency Housing.  New York Times.
    This article discusses how the Red Cross is responding to Hurricane Wilma and the need for short term housing.
    http://www.nytimes.com/
    (Subscription required.)

  138. (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.

  139. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina Response.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The paper by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development discusses the various initiates carried out by the agency in response to Hurricane Katrina. The document gives specific details about the type of housing and the duration as well.

  140. (No author).  (2005).  Hurricane Katrina Response.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    Generally details HUD response to Katrina; addresses HUD efforts to asses "issues and needs and review education and outreach strategy being developed to support Disaster Relief Centers (DRC) on fair housing and civil rights issues" for those with disabilities. This report includes some information on persons with disabilities.

  141. (No author).  (2005).  Register for Assistance: Mississippi.  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 Mississippi. There is nothing specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  142. (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

  143. (No author).  (2005).  Different Faces, Same Heartbreak.  American Red Cross.
    The website focuses on one individual with a physical disability. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, this individual received financial assistance from the Red Cross in Mississippi.

  144. (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

  145. 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.

  146. (No author).  (2005).  Commission Meeting of October 25, 2005: Transcript.  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
    This is a transcript from an October 2005 commission of the EEOC in which peple with disabilities and emergency planning where the main focus. The discusses centered around the need for employers to have emergency plans intact for emergencies, especially for people with disabiltiies after the catastrophy in the Gulf Coast area. The meeting also included a discussion of what EEOC is doing to provide relief and aid to the Gulf Coast area.

  147. (No author).  (2005).  Commission Meeting of October 25, 2005: Transcript.  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
    This is a transcript from an October 2005 commission of the EEOC in which people with disabilities and emergency planning where the main focus. The discusses centered around the need for employers to have emergency plans intact for emergencies, especially for people with disabilities after the catastrophe in the Gulf Coast area. The meeting also included a discussion of what EEOC is doing to provide relief and aid to the Gulf Coast area.

  148. (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.

  149. (No author).  (2005).  Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program (KDHAP) Application: User Guide.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The KDHAP is a joint program between FEMA and HUD that offers temporary housing assistance to those families who lived in HUD housing before Katrina, those who were homeless, and those already screened by FEMA. This is a guide for the case worker workin

  150. (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.)

  151. (No author).  (2005).  Safety In the Storm.  Nursing Homes.  Vol. 54,  Issue 10.  Pp. 32.
    This article discusses the preparation taken by Biloxi Community Living Center for Hurricane Katrina.

    (Available via licensed database.)

  152. (No author).  (2004).  General Demographic Characteristics, 2004: Mississippi.  U.S. Census Bureau.
    This data gives general demographic information about the areas that were affected in Mississippi. This is very basic information and does not have any info specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities. However, there are links which lead to pages with information about persons with disabilities.

  153. (No author).  (2004).  General Demographic Characteristics, 2004: New Orleans city, LA.  U.S. Census Bureau.
    This data gives general demographic information about the areas that were affected in New Orleans. This is very basic information and does not include information specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  154. (No author).  (2004).  General Demographic Characteristics, 2004: Mobile County, Alabama.  U.S. Census Bureau.
    This data gives some information about Mobile County, Alabama. There is not information on this page specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities. However, there is a link which goes to a page with information about persons with disabilities.

  155. (No author).  (2004).  2004 American Community Survey: New Orleans.  U.S. Census Bureau.
    This data gives some information about New Orleans. There is not information relating specifically to persons with disabilities.

  156. (No author).  (2004).  Selected Housing Characteristics, 2004: New Orleans city, LA.  U.S. Census Bureau.
    This data gives housing information about New Orleans city, LA. There is no information on this page specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  157. (No author).  (1905).  We Can Do Better: Lessons Learned for Protecting Older Persons in Disasters.  U.S. Department of Transportation.
    This is a follow-up report by AARP after a national conference they held in response to Hurricane Katrina and its impact on the elderly and people with disabilities. The intent of the report is to provide suggestions and links to practical tools and resources that will help policy makers at the federal, state, and local levels be better prepared for disasters. The report addresses planning and communications, identifying who will need help, including tracking and medications, and evacuating other persons, including transportation and special needs shelters. The two main parts of the report as preparedness and response.

  158. (No author).  (1905).  In the Eye of the Storm: How the Government and Private Response to Hurricane Katrina Failed Latinos.  National Council of La Raza.
    This report was written to explore the failure of public and private agencies to response adequately to changing demographics and how this particularly affected their ability to serve Latinos in the post-Katrina relief and recovery effort.

  159. 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.)

  160. (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.

  161. (No author).  (1900).  Hurricane Preparedness for People with Disabilities or Mobility Limitations.  Disabilitypreparedness.gov.
    A guide for people with disabilities and mobility imipairment. Discusses the risks of a hurricane, how and when to evacuate, what people will need to be prepared for an emergency, how to decide whether or not to evacuate, how to create a support network, assemble an emergency kit, information on transportation and shelters.

  162. (No author).  (1900).  Florida Department of Community Affairs 2005 Disaster Recovery Initiative Action Plan addressing Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    The paper discusses Florida's response to the hurricanes of 2005. It mentions the funding for the rebuilding of communities as well as the specific actions that the State of Florida took. The paper specifically discusses individuals with disabilities in regards to fair housing as well as permanent special needs shelters.

  163. (No author).  (1900).  Katrina Aid Today Fact Sheet.  National Disability Rights Network.
    The document provides the mission for the National Disability Rights Network and gives contact information for active NDRN members.

  164. (No author).  (1900).  Hurricane Planning for People with Special Needs.  Disabilitypreparedness.gov.
    The web page relies information on how people with disabilities can pre-plan for a hurricane, what they need in an emergency kit, how to find help, how to evacuate, and what to do after the hurricane.

  165. (No author).  (1900).  LA Advocacy Center Helping Hurricane Katrina Evacuees with Disabilities.  Disabilitypreparedness.gov.
    The web page talks about the work that the LA Advocacy center did to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Also includes a first person account of someone working in shelters to provide assistance to people with disabilities. The account says that people with disabilities were largely neglected.

  166. (No author).  (1900).  Emergency Preparedness and People with Disabilities.  American Association on Health and Disability.
    The manual references websites by category (city government, consumers with various disabilities, consumers with specific disabilities, elderly population, emergency managers and planners, employers, employees, facility managers, first responders) targeted to help certain populations in emergency preparation for persons with disabilities.

  167. (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.

  168. (No author).  (1900).  Gulf Coast: accessible cities of the future.  American Association on Health and Disability.
    Addresses the building accessibility into homes, public buildings and commercial spaces after the hurricanes.

  169. (No author).  (1900).  Housing Information.  LA Protection and Advocacy System.
    This document is aimed at providing housing resources for people following Hurricane Katrina.

  170. (No author).  (1900).  Is Medicaid Ending for LA Evacuees?.  LA Protection and Advocacy System.
    This 1-page document discusses accessible FEMA trailers for people with disabilities.

  171. (No author).  (1900).  Information Related to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for People with Disabilities.  LA Protection and Advocacy System.
    This is a screen capture of a webpage which includes documents and resources for people with disabilities who are need of services following Hurricane Katrina.

  172. (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.

  173. (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.

  174. (No author).  (1900).  Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Resources.  LA Department of Health and Hospitals.
    This is a list of emergency preparedness resources and numbers for the LA area.

  175. (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.

  176. (No author).  (1900).  A Nationwide Response: The Catholic Charities Network Jumps into Disaster Relief.  Catholic Charities.
    This articles talks about the contribution of Catholic Charities to the disaster relief. It cites the specific contributions of some of its agencies. There is not any information specifically pertaining to persons with disabilities.

  177. (No author).  (1900).  Recovery and Renewal.  The Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal, Mississippi.
    This cite is a reference to the ways in which Missippi has been providing assistance to Hurricane Katrina survivors. It names individual, family, and financial assistance as the main areas of assistance.

  178. (No author).  (1900).  FY 2005 Annual Report on Fair Housing.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This annual report on the state of fair housing includes the programs and assistive measures taken by HUD to help people displaced by the hurricane. Individuals with disabilities are taken into detailed account in the report.

  179. (No author).  (1900).  Fair Housing News.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This one of the fair housing newsletters that published monthly. It has several articles on hurricanes Katrina and Rita but oinly brief mention of people with disabilities.

  180. (No author).  (1900).  Information for Evacuees with Disabilities and their Families.  United Cerebal Palsy.
    Links to other agency hotlines for hurricane evacuee recovery: FEMA, Red Cross, HHS Crisis, HUD, UCP, and some additional resources (links to additional websites): more specific to region/state and donating to funds

  181. (No author).  (1900).  Information for Evacuees with Disabilities and their Families.  United Cerebral Palsy.
    Links to other agency hotlines for hurricane evacuee recovery: FEMA, Red Cross, HHS Crisis, HUD, UCP, and some additional resources (links to additional websites): more specific to region/state and donating to funds

  182. (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

  183. (No author).  (1900).  Facing a Record Breaking Hurricane Season, Hurricane Season 2005, A Season in Review.  American Red Cross.
    The Red Cross mobilized many people to assist in the recovery efforts after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma.

  184. (No author).  (1900).  DVP and KDHAP: Key Differences (from Appendix A PIH 2006-12).  National Disability Rights Network.
    This is a comparison of benefits available between DVP (Disaster Voucher Program) and KDHAP (Katrina Disaster Housing Assistance Program). Individuals with disabilities are not specifically addressed in this comparison.

  185. (No author).  (1900).  Housing.  Hurricane Recovery LA.
    This website provides information for individuals with disability who need housing.

  186. (No author).  (1900).  National Organizations.  Hurricane Recovery LA.
    This website briefly provides information about other websites which provides assistance to individuals with disabilities.

  187. (No author).  (1900).  Resource for Katrina Evacuees.  Independent Living Research Utilization.
    This is a list of resources for evacuees of Hurricane Katrina. The first section is disability specific resources.

  188. (No author).  (1900).  Relief Organizations.  Hurricane Recovery LA.
    This page provides links to agencies that provides assistance to all individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina, and some websites are focused on individuals with disabilities.

  189. 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.

  190. Julie Nesbit, LA Assistive Technology Access Network.  (1900).  Medical and Assistive Equipment.  The ARC of LA: Hurricane Recovery.
    The web page announces that the LATAN ogranization is working to help people with disabilities get the things they need after being displaced by the hurricane. The web page calls for volunteers.

  191. Kendrick, Kim.  (1900).  No specific Title- A letter.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
    This is a letter to organizations in general stating that President Bush signed a bill alloting a Community Development Block Grant for the expenses related to disaster relief and long term recovery and that disability rights groups have access to some of the grant.

  192. (No author).  (1899).  Catholic Charities Says Volunteers Still Desperately Needed to Clean Up Homes in Gulf Coast Post-Hurricane Katrina.  Catholic Charities.
    The web page is an article by Catholic Charities that discusses their volunteer efforts in gutting houses in LA and Mississippi. No mention of persons with disabilties.

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