10/30/18 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – ACTION HAPPENING NOW
For More Information:
Germán Parodi: (215) 971-0660
Ami Hyten: (785) 220-6460
Shaylin Sluzalis: (570) 777-0268
Anita Cameron: (585) 259-8746
WHO: ADAPT
WHAT: ADAPT Chapters across the Nation Demand FEMA to CANCEL Strategic Planning Meeting
WHERE: Region I-X FEMA Offices
WHEN: Tuesday, October 30, 2018, happening now
When disaster strikes, people with disabilities are disproportionately affected. It is the stated mission of FEMA “to reduce the loss of life and property and protect our institutions from all hazards by leading and supporting the nation in a comprehensive, risk-based emergency management program of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.” With respect to people with disabilities, FEMA is failing to lead, failing to provide support, and failing to protect lives.
“It was gravely disappointing to see FEMA release a strategic plan that does not include preparedness, planning or response elements specifically addressing people with disabilities. The consequences for this lack of planning means that, following disasters, people with disabilities often face choices such as: death or placement in an institution,” says Florida ADAPT organizer, Carol Jones.
FEMA’s strategic plan should include input from, and reflect the experiences of people who have lived through natural disasters, who have perspective on service delivery gaps following disasters, and who have ideas and initiatives for addressing such gaps.
ADAPT demands FEMA to go back to the drawing board for their strategic plan. Recognize that the current plan’s oversight by not including people with disabilities is not something that can be fixed by holding “after the fact” meetings. Re-start the planning process by including people with disabilities in the formulation of the plan.
ADAPT DEMANDS that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) commit to the following immediately:
- CANCEL the FEMA meeting on November 8, 2018 for the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan that did not include input from people with disabilities in the creation of this plan that they are legally abided to.
- DITCH the plan that was created without Real stakeholder input and develop a new plan that includes all stakeholders in the planning, creation, and implementation.
- MEET with Us! ADAPT Demands a meeting with FEMA Administrator, and convenes DHS, HHS, DOJ Secretaries, and the Red Cross Administrator.
FEMA fails to include people with disabilities in their strategic plan, so CMS gave permission to institutionalize people in the Carolinas, Florida, and Georgia. These states were not held accountable to DOJ, HHS, and DHS requirements for sheltering in the most integrated setting. None of these federal agencies have monitored or enforced the civil rights obligations that they MUST follow. There are no waivers to civil rights obligations in disasters!
OUR HOMES, NOT NURSING HOMES!
No more excuses.
No more stolen lives.
No more deaths.
Access is a civil right!
Access = Life!
ADAPT’s history, the issues we are fighting for, and our activities can be found at www.adapt.org, the National ADAPT Facebook page, and on Twitter under the hashtag #ADAPTandRESIST.
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