Recommendations

DHS should complete the review of National Security and Emergency Preparedness (NS/EP) communications policy by April 30, 2006.

HSC and OSTP should lead an interagency review of all current policies, laws, plans, and strategies that address communications and integrate them into a National Emergency Communications Strategy.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS )

DHS should revise the NRP to conform to the new National Emergency Communications Strategy.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS )

DHS should develop and maintain a national crisis communication system to support information exchange from the President, across the Federal government, and down to the State level.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS )

DHS should establish and maintain a deployable communications capability, to quickly gain and retain situational awareness when responding to catastrophic incidents.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA )

Create a special needs oversight position at federal, state and local levels to assure that emergency planning issues at the federal, state, and local levels address the needs of special populations. This office would have the vested responsibility, authority, and resources for providing overall leadership guidance and coordination of all emergency preparedness, disaster relief, and recovery operations on behalf of special populations which includes disabled, aging and pediatric populations.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ALLEXEC STATES )

Create an oversight task force as part of federal, state and local emergency planning agencies that includes emergency managers and other emergency-related professionals, as well as qualified disability leaders and recognized subject matter experts in the field of emergency preparedness, for people with disabilities.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ALLEXEC STATES )

Incorporate the inclusion of special needs issues into grant application processes at federal, state, and local funding levels. Ensure that deliverables include the unique emergency need of disabled and aging populations.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ALLEXEC STATES )

Require that all after action reports (AAR) at the federal, state and local level includes a disabilities section to assess the incorporation of the needs of person with disabilities in the event and to identify areas for improvement.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ALLEXEC STATES )

Foster partnering of emergency management with community resources, including recruitment of individuals who have sensory or mobility impairments, in the planning and evaluation processes.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ALLEXEC STATES )

Include disability subject matter experts or representatives from state agencies that serve people with disabilities in each state emergency operation center.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA STATES )

Actively recruit professionals in the field of disabilities for the citizen corps, CERT, and MRC teams.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA STATES )

Community-wide efforts need to be put in place that identify persons with disabilities in need of additional services in a disaster, and systems need to be developed to link these persons to services required to either evacuate or secure existing shelter.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Community-wide efforts need to be put in place that can identify functional supports, including accessible transportation, durable medical equipment, alternative communication systems (screen readers, sign language interpreters, etc.) and accessible shelters for persons in a disaster. Systems need to be developed to link these persons to services required to either evacuate or secure shelter.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS DOT FEMA HHS STATES )

Several Disaster Management issues should have continued Congressional attention.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( CONGRESS )