Disability group asks govt’s aid for emergency preparedness

Council on Developmental Disabilities board chair Mariano K. Camacho recently asked the help of Gov. Juan N. Babauta to address emergency preparedness among citizens with disabilities.

In a letter to Babauta, Camacho sought financial support to fund expenses for a team to attend the first Conference on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities, scheduled to take place from Sept. 22-24 at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia.

Camacho recommended 13 individuals from various agencies to the emergency management team.

He disclosed that the CNMI Disability Council recently received a letter from National Organization on Disability vice president and director of partnership programs Nancy Starnes regarding NOD’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative. A brochure containing the initiative and a guide to special needs for people with disabilities for emergency managers, planners and responders was also included.

Camacho appreciated the arrival of the guidebook, saying that every year, the Commonwealth is prone to natural disaster such as typhoons.

“[I] have knowledge that our emergency responders have received calls and have dealt with individuals with disabilities whose lives have been in danger and homes have been damaged,” he said. “In the past months, we were hit by strong typhoons that damaged our islands and people with disabilities have been affected greatly.”

Camacho explained that it is the board’s goal this year to work with local EMO in coming up with procedures and options for typhoon evacuation. The group also aims to develop and disseminate brochures explaining the CNMI’s typhoon evacuation procedures.

Subject matters to be discussed at the Virginia conference are Strategic and Inclusive Approach to Emergency Preparedness and Planning; Mental Health Issues and Service Delivery to the Disability Community; Home-Based Care Services for Community; Surveillance of Bioterrorism; and Impact of Specific Disasters on Seniors and the Aging Network, among others.

Among the13 officials recommended to attend the conference are Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, Tinian Mayor Francisco Borja, Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona, Emergency Management Office director Rudy Pua, special assistant to Homeland Security Jerry P. Crisostimo, Department of Public Safety Commissioner Edward Camacho, Department of Public Health Secretary James Hofschneider, CNMI Center for Independent Living executive director Lydia Igitol, Ayuda Network executive director Konrad Reyes, American Red Cross-NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh, Northern Marianas Housing Corp. executive director Maria Lourdes S. Ada, Pubic School System commissioner Rita Inos, and CDD executive director Thomas J. Camacho.