NYDIS' Annual Meeting November 15
Download more information (pdf):
www.nydis.org/resources/materials/NYDIS_Annual_Mtg_07.pdf
RSVP online:
www.nydis.org/rsvp
::
NYDIS Board President & ED Address Village Forum Series at Riverside Church
On Sunday, October 28, NYDIS Board President, The Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs, with Executive Director, Peter Gudaitis,
spoke at the Science and Religion Resource Center’s Village Forum panel at Riverside Church. The
Science and Religion Resource Center is a cooperative program of The Riverside Church and The
Center for the Study of Science and Religion of Columbia University, The forum, "Coordinating Our
Caring: New York City, Disaster Preparedness, and the Church," covered NYC and natural disasters and looked
at the social justice issues involved. Issues of religious leadership and house of worship preparedness where
addressed by Rev. Dr. Will Ashley, Director of the Department of Pastoral Care, Council of Churches of the City
of New York; Rev. Dr. Martha Jacobs of Healthcare Chaplaincy and President of the NYDIS Board of Directos; and
Exectutive Director Peter B. Gudaitis. Dr. Jacobs offered a overview disaster chaplaincy and Peter Gudaitis
addressed disaster preparedness best practices for houses of worship, emphasizing the need for interfaith
cooperation in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.
www.columbia.edu/cu/cssr/
www.theriversidechurchny.org/
::
NYDIS to Launch 9/11 Recovery Worker Coordinated Assistance
In November, 2007, NYDIS will coordinate the launch of 9/11 Recovery Worker Coordinated Assistance Network (9/11
RWCAN). Based on the national Coordinated Assistance Network technology, 9/11 RWCAN is a specially formatted
web-based database designed to promote information sharing and coordination of services for 9/11 World Trade
Center rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers. Using 9/11 RWCAN, case managers across agencies will be able
to coordinate their efforts for the purposes of increasing inter-agency collaboration, mitigating against the
duplication of services, and streamlining the referral of services through the creation of a central resource
database. The creation of 9/11 RWCAN has been highly anticipated throughout the 9/11 human services
community and is expected to greatly enhance the efficiency, quality, and ease with which case management is
provided for WTC rescue, recovery, and cleanup workers. 9/11 RWCAN has been funded by a grant from the American
Red Cross Liberty Fund.
For more information on 9/11 RWCAN contact:
Scottie Hill, Director of Recovery and Advocacy:
shill@nydis.org.
::
NYDIS ED Attends Undoing Racism Workshop
Sponsored by the Human Services Council, Executive Director Peter Gudaitis attended a two and a half day workshop
presented by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, a national, multiracial, anti-racist network
from New Orleans dedicated to ending racism and other forms of institutional oppression. Fifty workshop
participants of NYC human service executives and government leaders engaged in a comprehensive exploration of
how racism shapes American institutions, often without our conscious understanding that it is doing so. By
exploring what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists and how it can be undone, the
workshops help to develop leadership, maintain accountability to communities of color, create networks, and
understand the role of organizational gatekeeping in perpetuating racism.
www.humanservicescouncil.org
www.pisab.org/
:: NYC
9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable Updates
-
NYC 9/11 In-Service Training for Case Workers
In-Service Training is required for case workers who have never presented a case at the
Roundtable, and is recommended as
a refresher for experienced case workers who have previously presented cases. All
training
sessions take place at NYDIS ( map).
-
NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable Schedule
The NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable brings together donors with agencies providing case
management
to 9/11 victims. Case Workers who would like to present a case must sign-up by Friday
prior to
the meeting of the Roundtable. Due to the influx of
cases
which need presenting, the 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable will be adding an additional
Wednesday date
each month. There will now be three meetings a month, instead of two.
-
Thursday, November 1 - 9:30-12:00 pm
-
Thursday, November 15 - 9:30-12:00 pm (Open: 1 Regular slot)
-
Thursday, November 29 - 9:30-12:00 pm (Open: 2 Emergency and 2 Regular slots)
-
Wednesday, December 12 - 9:30-12:00 pm (Open: 2 Emergency and 2 Regular slots)
Contact Lida Mora, Moderator, NYC 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable
212.669.6139
lmora@nydis.org
:: NYC 9/11 Recovery Resources
A comprehensive list of news, updates and resources for 9/11 victims and
injured
recovery workers, updated weekly:
www.nydis.org/911
::
NYC Katrina Evacuee Recovery
Resources
www.nydis.org/katrina
::
Upstate NY 2006 Flood Recovery Resources
www.nydis.org/floods
::
NYS & NJ 2007 Nor’easter Recovery Resources:
www.nydis.org/recovery/13.php
:: 8/8/2007 Severe Flooding/Tornado Recovery Resources
The latest information, updates and recovery services for those impacted by the August 8, 2007 NYC
tornado and flooding:
www.nydis.org/tornado
Donations for California Wildfire Relief
The NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM) urges residents who wish to help those affected by the
California wildfires to make cash donations to disaster relief organizations. A list of
organizations collecting donations can be found at National Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster (NVOAD) ( www.nvoad.org) and Network For
Good ( www.networkforgood.org).
New Yorkers can also mail donations to:
Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City
One Centre Street, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10007
For more information:
Call 311 or visit www.nyc.gov/fund
Go to the State of California Office of Emergency Services website to call to offer donations for
the fire. Please encourage anyone who asks you to make NO assumptions about the need for donated
goods in California. If you do not have a directly confirmed California organization ready to
receive, do not begin collecting.
For more information:
Call: 1-800-750-2858, TDD 1-800-735-2929 – Open 8:00am to 10:00pm PST
www.oes.ca.gov/Operational/OESHome.nsf/1?OpenForm
NYC OEM Team to Help With California Wildfires
On October 25, a five-member NYC OEM team traveled to California to help with
wildfire-related operations. Led by Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Preparedness, Kelly
McKinney, the team includes experts in planning, sheltering, project management, logistics, and
human services.
Read the Mayor’s October 25 Press Release: click here
::
9/11 Workers' Compensation Registration Deadline Extended One Year-Aug. 14,
2008
 NYDIS urges 9/11 chaplains, recovery workers and volunteers
to
register now to protect their right to
workers'
compensation benefits. NYDIS and New York Committee for
Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH) in collaboration with other agencies is mounting a media
campaign to
inform workers
throughout the country about the necessity of registering by the deadline.
Download the brochure (pdf):
English | Español
Call for registration guidelines: 866.WTC.2556
::
WTC Health Registry's Resource Guide
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) has created a WTC Health Registry
Resource Guide
for people affected by 9/11. The guide includes information about occupational, respiratory,
environmental, and
mental health facilities as well as other services and resources.
Download the Resource Guide: click here
::
NYC ME's Report Says Detective Didn't Die From 9/11 Dust
NYC’s chief medical examiner has concluded that the death of a NYC police detective who worked
hundreds of hours at ground zero 9/11 was not caused by exposure to toxic dust there. Contradicting a
NJ pathologist in April 2006 who had found the death “directly related” to Ground Zero
dust, the medical examiner, Dr. Charles S. Hirsch, acknowledged that “foreign material” had
been found in the lungs of the detective, James Zadroga, but insisted that it had not come from the
WTC site. The medical examiner’s conclusion reopened old wounds and renewed debate on questions
that have generated lawsuits on behalf of thousands of responders and residents of Lower Manhattan.
Highly decorated, Detective Zadroga died in January 2006 at the age of 34.
Read the October 19 NY Times article by Robert D. McFadden: click here
-
Mayor's 10/18 Statement on ME's Findings of Detective's Death
"The Office of Chief Medical Examiner is an independent office whose staff make their
judgments based on the medical evidence. Their determination in this case does nothing to
change New York City's commitment to make sure that all who were affected by 9/11 get the
health care they need. Just last month, we expanded the free, high-quality health services at
the WTC Environmental Health Center at Bellevue Hospital - a Center of Excellence - to two
new expansion sites. We will continue to push Congress to provide the Federal funding we need
to care for those who are sick or may become sick and to expand research that will help to
better understand the health impacts of the attacks, as well as re-open the Victim's
Compensation Fund."
www.nyc.gov
::
Mayor Announces NYC to Talk With Injured 9/11 Recovery Workers
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said October 16 that NYC is “going to talk and explore” with the
9,000 workers who have filed a class action suit claiming they became sick because of toxic dust at
Ground Zero, following a report that a letter was sent to the plaintiffs regarding negotiations. The
mayor confirmed that but said not to read too much into it. As reported in NYDISnet, a recent
assessment from the NY Fire Department shows that 79% of the rescue workers reported at least one kind
of respiratory problem.
Read the NY1 October 16 article:
www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=8&aid=74607
::
Inhaler Use Found to Help 9/11 Recovery Workers
NYC firefighters who used steroid inhalers while they worked at Ground Zero during the early days of
the rescue and recovery operations in 2001 suffered less severe respiratory problems than others, even
though they were not wearing protective gear, according to a new study released October 24 by the
College of Chest Physicians in Chicago. The study showed that firefighters who used the inhalers as
directed but did not have protective gear had less severe respiratory problems than those who did not
use the inhalers at all. Those who used them also did not lose as much lung capacity as those who did
not use them; they also had significantly greater recovery from respiratory symptoms.
Read the October 25 article by Anthony DePalma:
www.nytimes.com/2007/10/25/nyregion/25dust.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin
::
Private Hospital Workers to Get 9/11 Benefits
Emergency medical technicians and paramedics at private voluntary hospitals who responded to 9/11 will
receive the same Workers’ Compensation benefits as public employees under legislation passed in
the Assembly October 23. The measure was one of few bills brought to the floor during the one-day
session. The legislation, sponsored by Susan John, provides parity with the coverage public employees
receive under the disability pension benefits. The bill passed unanimously in both houses.
Read the October 24 Newsday article by Melissa Mansfield:
www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stalba245429854oct24,0,1483233.story
::
July 18, 2007 Steam Pipe Explosion: Expert Finds Defect
The NY Times reported this AP news article on October 24: “An 83-year-old steam pipe that
exploded beneath a Manhattan intersection in July may have burst because of a defect in its iron skin,
according to an engineering firm hired by the blast victims. In a letter made public yesterday
[October 23], the principal engineer of the firm, Exponent, Robert D. Caligiuri, said the pipe
appeared to have ruptured along a “cracklike flaw” that ran several feet along a welded
seam. A spokeswoman for Consolidated Edison said that the utility, which owns the steam system, was
evaluating the report. Con Edison has hired an engineering expert to produce its own report.”
::
Presidential Directive on Public Health and Medical Preparedness
The Homeland Security Presidential Directive/HSPD-21 released October 18 establishes a National
Strategy for Public Health and Medical Preparedness (Strategy), which builds upon principles set forth
in Biodefense for the 21st Century (April 2004) and will transform our national approach to protecting
the health of the American people against all disasters. Of interest to the NYDISnet readership
and NYDIS’ members is that community resilience is identified as one of the “four most
critical components of public health and medical preparedness,” along with biosurveillance,
countermeasure distribution, and mass casualty care.
Read the entire Press Release:
www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071018-10.html
::
Dire 'Dirty Bomb' Lab Testing Scenario
US has a shortage of laboratories to test the thousands of people who might be exposed to radiation if a "dirty bomb" detonated in a major city, according to a report released October 25, prepared for the House Committee on Science and Technology. If a dirty bomb goes off in a major downtown area and potentially exposes 100,000 people to radioactive materials, it could take several years to complete the necessary testing. A dirty bomb is a device that contains some radioactive material that could contaminate a limited area but would not create actual nuclear explosions.
Read the October 26 AP article:
www.newsday.com/news/health/ny-hslabs265431924oct26,0,1721105.story
::
NYC Announces Design Competition for Post-Disaster Housing
Mayor Michael Bloomberg and OEM Commissioner Joseph Bruno launched the “What If New York City…”
housing design competition, which seeks innovative approaches to sheltering victims in the aftermath
of a disaster.
With potentially thousands of residents displaced from their homes, and fully rebuilding communities
could take
several years, provisional housing could be used in the interim. With a scenario focusing on a
fictional
neighborhood hit by a Category 3 hurricane, leaving 38,000 families without housing, entrants are
asked to design a
provisional housing plan that could be used by emergency planners in real life. This design competition
complements the City’s Coastal Storm Plan (CSP), which dictates how NYC would respond to a coastal storm
emergency. The City intends to incorporate aspects of the competition’s winning submissions into the
sheltering component of the plan.
For information on the competition, including eligibility, schedule, and judging criteria:
www.nyc.gov/html/whatifnyc/html/home/home.shtml
From Our Members &
Partners
-
LDR Leadership News
Heather Feltman, Director of Lutheran Disaster Response, has accepted a new call to Lutheran Social Services of New England as President and CEO. Pr. Kevin Massey will be Acting Director of LDR and ELCA Domestic Disaster Response. LDRNY Director of Operations Mikki Baloy received the Kujenga Jamii (Building Community Ministry) Award on behalf of LDRNY at Lutheran Social Services of NY’s (LSSNY) annual meeting on October 21. It was given in recognition of LDRNY's six years of service to those affected by disaster, and for its efforts in disaster preparedness and work with Project LIFE.
www.ldr.org
www.ldrny.org
-
Buddhist Leadership Joined by Dalai Lama at Breakfast with the Mayor
On October 12 a delegation of 22 Buddhist leaders from NYC, led by Reverend T. K. Nakagaki and the Venerable
Bhante Piyatissa, were at Gracie Mansion for a breakfast with Mayor Bloomberg, as a first step
in order to establish a Buddhist Liason to the Mayor’s Office.
In the middle of the breakfast, the Mayor announced that there was a surprise guest and His Holiness the
Dalai Lama was ushered into the room! He sat down at the table across from Mayor Bloomberg, and
greeted and talked with the Buddhist leaders warmly.
www.newyorkbuddhistchurch.org/
-
Flying While Sikh? What You Need to Know as a Sikh Air Traveler
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will implement new procedures for screening Sikh turbans as of October 27. Sikh air travelers will have to know their rights in order to assert them properly during security screenings at US airports. The Sikh Coalition, UNITED SIKHS and Sikh Coalition and Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) have developed "A Sikh Traveler's Guide" fact sheet for Sikh travelers that explains precisely what to expect, and what a Sikh passenger’s rights are. (Learn more about this effort in the Advocacy Section.)
Read the TSA's new screening policy:
www.sikhcoalition.org/advisories/TSADevelopsNewProcedure.htm
www.sikhcoalition.org
www.Unitedsikhs.org
www.saldef.org
-
New York City Citizen Corps Get 30% Cut in Grant Funding
The Fiscal Year 2007 Citizen Corps Council grant disbursement that was just received from the NYS Emergency
Management Office (SEMO) to manage and run the New York City Citizen Corps program is in the amount of
$80,173. This represents a 30% decrease from the support received last year, and will dramatically affect the
ability of the Council to meet its mission. It is currently reviewing other sources of funding to help
supplement the programs that are part of this year’s planning.
Contact Herman Schaffer, NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM):
718.422.4821
hschaffer@oem.nyc.gov
-
NYC Citizen Corps Council Quarterly Meeting: Wednesday, November 14
The next quarterly meeting will be held at the American Red Cross in Greater NY headquarters at 520 West
49th Street from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. This meeting will focus on strategies to engage immigrant
communities on becoming more prepared for all emergencies.
RSVP to Herman Schaffer, MSW, Community Outreach Disaster Education Coordinator, OEM:
718.422.4821
hschaffer@oem.nyc.gov
ADVOCACY & BACKLASH MITIGATION
-
MPAC Builds Bridges in the Community
The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is a public service agency working for the civil rights of
American Muslims, for the integration of Islam into American pluralism, and for a positive, constructive
relationship between American Muslims and their representatives. The just released "Recommended Mosque
Guidelines" is part of MPAC's broader counter-terrorism and civil rights campaign and is intended for
Imams and Muslim community leaders. For law enforcement, they have two guides, "Mosque Etiquette"
and "Cultural Considerations" for interacting with the Muslim community, which were developed
with
the US Department of Justice and other ethnic communities to educate federal, state, and local agencies
about
interaction with opposite gender, dress, and perception of law enforcement in general.
Read the Guidelines page:
www.mpac.org/ngcft/mosque-guidelines/
-
Sikhs Report TSA's New Screening Procedure for Turbans
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) October 16 announced a new security screening procedure
that will apply to all religious head coverings at US airports. The new procedures will go into effect on
October 27, 2007, and do not allow a TSA screener to touch a Sikh's turban without cause unless the Sikh
traveler gives the screener permission to do so. By accommodating religious head coverings, the TSA has
acknowledged the distinction between secular and religious garb, including the Sikh turban. The change is a
direct response to the concerns raised by Sikhs and Sikh organizations, including the Sikh American Legal
Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), the Sikh Coalition, and UNITED SIKHS over the last two months.
www.unitedsikhs.org
www.sikhcoalition.org
-
About NYDISNET and NYDISNET Alerts
Welcome to
NYDISNET, our bi-weekly e-newsletter. We hope this resource will keep you
updated about the work
of NYDIS and developments in disaster readiness, response and recovery initiatives here in New York City. During
emergencies we will send a NYDISNET ALERT to all
subscribers. The alert will include all official information available through the NYC Office of Emergency
Management and news from our members and partners. Please feel free to copy and distribute any information from
NYDISNET that you find helpful. If you would like to distribute
NYDISNET to your agency staff or faith community leaders please let us
know - we're happy to provide that service free of charge.
-
Have You Registered with HOWCALM™?
 NYDIS has developed and made available, free to NYC faith communities and houses of
worhship, a
secure, web-based database system for managing faith-based assets in times of crisis. By tracking the
logistics and resources of houses of worship, religious schools and faith-based service providers, the
system enhancing the preparedness, response capacity and emergency planning efforts in NYC. Enrolling your
congregation will include enrollment in emergency communication systems, disaster training opportunities and
enhance NYDIS’ ability to work in partnership with OEM and Human Service agencies to include your
house of worship in all-hazards planning.
For more information download the brochure on pdf: click here
To register your House of Worship: click here
-
NYDIS Releases Disaster Mental Health & Spiritual Care Manual
The “NYDIS Manual for New York City Religious Leaders: Mental
Health and Spiritual Care for
Disaster Response and Recovery” is a comprehensive resource tool to enable NYC religious leaders to
best serve their congregations and the public as they respond to and recover from disasters. Its 19 chapters
were written by 16 disaster mental health and spiritual care experts. Organized in three sections,
Preparation & Mitigation, Response & Recovery, and Reference & Resources, the Manual offers an
overview of the lifecycle of disasters, discusses the role of faith leaders throughout these phases, and
provides information on skill sets, training resources and effective clinical and pastoral best practices.
Download the Manual:
http://www.nydis.org/resources/headlines/2007_09_24.php
-
NYDIS' "Disaster Tip Sheets for NYC Religious Leaders"
The Tip Sheets are a free resource to provide New York City’s religious leaders with a basic
orientation to the skills and tools they will need in times of crisis. They are to be used for mitigation
education and preparedness training orientation or as a quick reference in times of crisis. To view or
download a Tip Sheet, click on the link next to the title:
- Disaster Basics for Faith Communities: click here
- The Role of Faith Communities in Disasters: click here
- The Disaster Lifecycle: Where Do Religious Leaders Fit In?: click here
- Faith Communities & Evacuation Planning: click here
- Faith Communities & Disaster Sheltering: click here
- How to Use Your House of Worship in a Disaster: click here
- Faith Communities & Disaster Volunteerism: click here
- Faith Communities & Donations Management: click here
- Continuity of Operations Planning: Ministry & Services Post-Disaster: click here
- Disaster Spiritual Care: click here
- Self-Care for Religious Leaders: click here
- Faith Communities & Disaster Mental Health: click here
- Trauma Resilience and Harm Reduction in the Community: click here
- Disaster Backlash: Bias Crimes & Mitigation: click here
- National Faith-Based Disaster Service Organizations: click here
Go to the Tip Sheets page on the NYDIS website to download each Tip Sheet: click here
Or go to www.nydis.org.
-
Downloadable Ready NY Preparedness Guides
OEM's Ready NY preparedness campaign is designed to help New Yorkers better prepare for all types of
emergencies. The following Ready NY preparedness guides and brochures are available online, most in
multiple languages:
-
Ready NY Emergency Guide Gets a New Look
OEM has given its Ready New York: Preparing for Emergencies in New York City a facelift
which has easier navigation and encourages readers to discuss emergency plans with
friends and family. It takes an all-hazards approach to teaching New Yorkers how to stay safe when facing
an emergency. The flagship guide of the Ready New York campaign, it draws on expertise from dozens
of City agencies and is available in 11 languages, as well as in audio format.
Download the Guide: click here
Order hard copies:
Call 311 (TTY: 212.504.4115)
-
OEM Tip: Practice Your Fire Tactics
It is important to plan and practice your evacuation route in the event of a fire. An evacuation plan should
include two different exit routes and a meeting point that is a safe distance from your home or office. While
practicing your evacuation, remember to close doors behind you to slow the spread of the fire, and if your
plan includes a fire escape, make sure the window is not painted shut and that everyone can open it.
Learn more about fires in NYC:
http://nyc.gov/html/oem/html/hazards/fire.shtml
-
Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery
One of the key messages of fire safety education is that smoke alarms are designed to provide early warning
of a fire, allowing sufficient time to reach safety. The week before the end of Daylight Saving Time, Sunday,
November 4, NYC Fire Department (FDNY) Fire Safety Educators will be strategically assigned throughout the
five boroughs, distributing fresh replacement 9-volt batteries for smoke alarms in high-risk fire
neighborhoods, based on past and most recent fire injuries and fatalities incidents.
For the schedule in each borough:
www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/events/2007/102607a.shtml
-
OEM Contest: Be the Ready New Yorker of the Month & Win a Go Bag
 Calling all Ready New Yorkers! Are you prepared for an emergency? If so, OEM
wants to hear your story.
OEM invites New Yorkers to share stories of how they have prepared for emergencies
through the Ready
New Yorker of the Month contest. Each month, residents may submit their preparedness
testimonials to OEM
and the winner will be named the “Ready New Yorker of the Month” and receive two
Go Bags,
backpacks with basic supplies residents should have on hand for use in an emergency. Explain
how you got
through any type of emergency or how you plan to combat any disaster that comes your way.
Inspire other New
Yorkers to get prepared by sharing your story of preparedness on the OEM website.
Learn more about the Contest:
www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/ready/ready_contest.shtml
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Flooding Preparedness
-
Con Ed Provides Storm Preparedness Measures
In the event of a major storm or severe weather, Con Ed provides information and tips on its website for food
and water, the use of dry ice, making a storm checklist and information on weather.
Con Ed’s Storm Preparedness information:
www.coned.com/sm/stormprepare.asp
-
Hurricane Preparedness
-
OEM Hurricane Tip: What's Your Plan?
Hurricane season is here. Unlike most hazards, we can predict when a hurricane is coming.
Unfortunately, that still means most people wait until the last minute to get prepared. Don't
procrastinate; use the calm before the storm to make a plan with your family to weather the storm
season
safely.
Download the Ready NY: Hurricanes and NYC Guide: click here
-
The Weather Service's Storm Ready Center
Each year, Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, as
well as an average of 6 deadly hurricanes. Potentially deadly weather impacts every American. The
National Weather Service’s (NWS) StormReady® program, started in 1999 in Tulsa, OK, helps
arm
America's communities with the communication and safety skills needed to save lives and property,
before and during the event. Most importantly, StormReady helps community leaders and emergency
managers strengthen local safety programs through better planning, education, and awareness.
www.stormready.noaa.gov/
-
Website Offers Customized Hurricane Preparedness Plan
OneStorm is a free tool to help prepare for this hurricane season by building a hurricane kit, planning
for pets, and identifying your flood risk. Designed to incorporate information and recommendations from
the American Red Cross (ARC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as from local
and
state emergency management agencies, OneStorm promises customized storm planning for residents in
hurricane-prone areas.
www.onestorm.org/
-
Pandemic Flu Preparedness
-
Flu Preparedness Guide for Faith Communities
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has developed several audience specific brochures that
will help guide you and your organization through the pandemic planning process. One that is of
particular interest to the NYDISnet readership is
entitled, “It’s Not Flu As Usual: What Faith Based and Community Organizations Need
to Know about Pandemic Flu.”
Download the Booklet:
http://healthyamericans.org/reports/flu/brochures/FluBrochureFaith.pdf
-
CDC's Faith/Community Partnership Pandemic Report
Faith-based and community-based organizations (FBCOs) are essential partners in helping people to
prepare for an influenza pandemic and in protecting the public’s health and safety should a Flu
Pandemic occur. Dr. Scott Santibañez, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
(CDC) Associate Director for Partnerships with Faith-Based/Community Organizations, has just released
an article to help clarify the threat of pandemic influenza and to actively engage readers in
preparing
for a severe influenza pandemic. The report emphasizes how FBCOs can ensure that people in need are
provided for and that care is provided in a way that minimizes stigma and other negative social
responses.
Read Dr. Santibañez’s entire article: click here
Additional information is available from the CDC Hotline:
1.800.CDC.INFO (1.800.232.4636). This line is available in English and Spanish, 24 hours a day, 7
days a week.
TTY: 1.888.232.6348.
Questions?
cdcinfo@cdc.gov
-
HHS Vaccine Plan for Flu Pandemic Drafted
Pregnant women, babies and toddlers would join doctors, emergency workers and soldiers at the head of
the line for scarce vaccine if a super-strain of flu triggers the next pandemic, says a draft
government plan released October 23. Once more vaccine is brewed, older children along with workers
who keep the electricity, water and phones running could be next to roll up their sleeves. At the end
of the line: The elderly and healthy younger adults. The new draft plan by the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) puts a rationale for step-by-step vaccination to paper, opening it to
formal debate before the list is finalized - not as set-in-stone rules, but as guidelines for
states. "Some local discretion is going to be imperative here," William Raub, emergency
planning chief at the HHS said.
Read the entire October 22 AP article by Lauren Neergaard:
www.physorg.com/news112297306.html
-
Warning: Children Potentially At-Risk
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Trust for America's Health (TFAH) issued a report in
October 2007, “Pandemic Influenza: Warning, Children At-Risk,” which finds that children
and teens between the ages of 0-19 account for nearly 46% of all H5N1 "bird" flu deaths. The
report also identifies gaps in US preparedness for treating and caring for children during a
possible pandemic flu outbreak. The AAP and TFAH recommend that pediatricians and pediatric medical
and surgical sub-specialists should be included in pandemic planning at all levels of government and
that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should conduct additional studies on
vaccine efficacy in young children and conduct more studies of antiviral agents for infants.
Download the Report:
http://healthyamericans.org/reports/fluchildren/KidsPandemicFlu.pdf
Read the October 17 Press Release:
http://healthyamericans.org/newsroom/releases/release101707.pdf
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Pet Preparedness
-
OEM Tip: Don't Forget Your Pet
After Katrina, OEM introduced Ready New York for Pets - a guide for pet owners on how to care
for
pets during an emergency. OEM encourages all pet owners to include pets in their disaster plans. Think
about where you will go with your pet and how you will get there if you have to leave home during an
emergency. Know what you will do if an emergency prevents you from returning home to your pet. Put
together a pet Go Bag.
Download Ready NY Pet Guide:
www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/ready/pets_guide.shtml
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Preparing Pets in Case of a Hurricane
Now is the time for pet owners to get prepared by creating a plan and gathering supplies when a
hurricane strikes. "The key to survival during a disaster for you and your animals is to be as
prepared as possible before the storm hits," says Randy Covey, director of disaster services
for
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). There are over 358 million companion animals living
in American homes. According to national surveys post-Hurricane Katrina, 61 percent of pet owners
will not leave their companion animals behind during a disaster, which highlights the need for pet
owners to prepare.
Learn what you need to know at the HSUS Hurricane Preparedness Page:
www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/_hurricane_preparedness_week.html
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FEMA Urges Pet Preparedness
Animals left behind in disasters can become a risk for emergency responders, and be at risk
themselves
of health complications, getting lost, injured or killed. Preparing for pet evacuation and sheltering
may seem complex at first, but it is as easy and effective as preparing for any emergency your family
may encounter. Learn what to prepare and what to take with you in an emergency. Then you need to know
where to go. Not all shelters allow pets. Some do take pets, but they are kept in a separate
section. You will need a transport such as a cage or crate and a leash.
Read FEMA’s September 27 Press Release:
www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=41089
FEMA has more information on developing a Pet Preparedness Plan:
ww.fema.gov/plan/prepare/animals.shtm
Download the DHS Ready America Pets brochure:
www.ready.gov/america/getakit/pets.html
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Disability & Underserved Preparedness
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Preparedness Guide for the Underserved
Operation HOPE, a national organization focused on bringing financial literacy and empowerment to
underserved US communities offers the ”Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide,” under its HOPE
Coalition America program, which serves as a resource network of companies, including banking, financial
services, and insurance as well as government, social service and emergency relief organizations that
mobilize to respond to disasters.
Download the Personal Disaster Preparedness Guide:
www.operationhope.org/pdpg/
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DHS' New Preparedness Resources For Seniors, Disabled & Pets
The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready Campaign released three new demonstration
videos on
the specific steps older Americans, individuals with disabilities and special needs, and pet owners should
take to prepare for emergencies. DHS worked with AARP, the National Organization on Disability, and The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to develop these new emergency preparedness resources. The new
videos are released in time for National Preparedness Month 2007, a nationwide effort held each September to
encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies.
To view the Videos:
www.ready.gov/america/about/instructional_index.html
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Disaboom.com - A New Resource
Just launched as the first interactive online community for people living with or directly affected
by disabilities, Disaboom is a comprehensive resource not only for people living with disabilities
but also for their caregivers, families, rehabilitation providers and employers. It is dedicated to
providing comprehensive and customized expertise to meet their specific needs and strives to
improve the overall quality of their lives. There are articles and resources on health, hotel
reviews, sports, and media, as well as a discussion room and a career center.
www.disaboom.com/
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Add Your Info to www.NYDIS.org Resource Library
Do you
have a useful resource for caseworkers, recovery providers and clients that you would like to submit? The
NYDIS Resource Library on our website contains a large compilation of
disaster resources including downloadable documents,
links to useful websites, and references to printed publications. We welcome your agency's resources,
which can be
posted on NYDIS.org by clicking on the "Resources" Tab. You will then find directions on how to
" Submit a Resource".
www.nydis.org
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NYU Study: Federal Disaster Relief Law Does Not Provide Ample Recovery Aid
The basis of the Federal disaster relief legislation, the Robert T. Stafford Act, is out of date and must be
reformed to provide for rapid relief following a catastrophe, finds NYU professor of urban policy and
planning, Mitchell Moss, in a new report released October 17. Two years after Katrina and six years after
9/11, the Federal government still lacks the legal authority to provide rapid financial assistance to
residents, small businesses and municipal governments following a major disaster. Prof. Moss faults the Act
for not recognizing threats like chemical, biological, nuclear or radiological attacks or accidents as legal
grounds for a major disaster declaration by the President; and failing to establish a difference between the
scale of rural and urban disaster. The Moss report recommends that Congress amend the definition of a "
major disaster" to recognize these threats; and to create a level of disaster specifically for "
catastrophes" to cover incidents like Katrina and 9/11 and provide increased levels of aid beyond that
provided at the "major disaster" level.
Download the Stafford Act Report: click here
Read the October 17 Press Release:
www.nyu.edu/ccpr/news/20071017-000282.html
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New Disaster Mental Health Guidebook
A new guidebook, Disaster Mental Health Services: A Guidebook for Clinicians and Administrators, published by
the National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, is an introduction to the field of disaster mental
health for clinicians and administrators. In a major disaster, since the primary objective is to restore
community equilibrium, effective mental health response requires the delivery of clinical and administrative
services in ways that differ from services typically provided by mental health professionals. Practical
guidelines and background information are provided for: Disaster Mental Health Reponse Strategies, Disaster
Mental Health Team Formation and Maintenance, and Strategies for Interfacing with the Federal Disaster
Response System.
Download any or all of the Chapters of the Guidebook:
www.wramc.army.mil/departments/socialwork/Provider/DMHS.htm
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Buy One, Get One Free Go-Bag Offer
LDRNY offers Ready-2-Go bags at a special two-for-one price for the month of November. Order now and get
two complete Go-Bags for $70, plus shipping and handling. Keep one and give the other as a gift, or have
one at home and one for the car or office.
For more information, or to order:
www.ldrny.org
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DOHMH Launches New 9/11 Health Website
Marking the sixth anniversary of 9/11, the NYC Health Department (DOHMH) has launched a new website to provide
up-to-date scientific information about the disaster’s lingering health effects and to highlight the
services
available to those affected. It also includes easily accessible research findings and treatment options for the
different groups of affected people: rescue and recovery workers, residents, children, city employees and others.
Visit the 9/11 Health Website:
www.nyc.gov/9-11HealthInfo
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HAN Web System Alerts NYC’s Health Providers
The NYC Health Alert Network (HAN), a web-based alerting system from the NYC Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene (DOHMH),
provides doctors and other medical providers with up-to-date information on urgent and emergent public
health issues.
To register:
1.888.NYCMED9
www.nyc.gov/health/nycmed
Download the HAN PowerPoint presentation: click here
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Updated Emergency Resources for At-Risk Populations
The new version of the workbook, "Locating and Reaching At-Risk Populations in an Emergency," first
released last fall, is just out. At-risk populations include those who are physically or mentally disabled
(blind, deaf, hard-of-hearing, cognitive disorders, or with mobility limitations), people with limited English
language skills, geographically or culturally isolated people, homeless people, elderly individuals, and
children. This workbook from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), and Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response
(COTPER) provides resources and information for effective planning for emergency preparedness and response.
Resource Guide 2007: click here
Workbook Manual 2007: click here
Inserts Manual 2007: click here
For further information, contact Mary Burt, NYS Department of Health:
518.474.5370
mpb06@health.state.ny.us
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Book Review: Amish Grace
The remarkable response of the Amish community to the shooting of ten schoolgirls at Nickel Mines, PA, in
October 2006, stunned the larger world. The community’s loving and compassionate response to the shooter
and his family is described in Amish Grace, which tells the story of their reaction to this tragedy
and explores their profoundly countercultural practice of forgiveness.
www.amishgrace.com
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Tribute WTC Visitors Center Features Children's 9/11 Art
The Tribute WTC Visitors Center is hosting a new exhibition, Coming Together: Our Children Respond to 9/11
with Hope for the Future. The show, which runs through January 18, features paintings, collages and
multimedia
created between 2001 and 2006 by children in NY, NJ and PA. All of the work was created with the support of
parents and teachers who recognized the strong need young people had and have to express their reactions to
the
catastrophic events of 9/11. It is at 120 Liberty Street on the South Side of Ground Zero.
See some of the pictures at the WTC Tribute website:
www.tributenyc.org/
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PlainViews: E-Newsletter for Spiritual Care Providers
Subscribe to this bi-monthly e-newsletter offering views on Professional Practice, Advocacy, Education
& Research, and Spiritual Development.
Sponsored by the HealthCare Chaplaincy in NYC and edited by NYDIS Board President The Rev. Dr. Martha
Jacobs.
Send your email address to:
info@plainviews.org
www.plainviews.org
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"Disasters: Recipes and Remedies" Conference
Thursday, November 1 - Friday, November 2
Manhattan
Leading experts will explore the commonalities of all disasters. They will examine the unequal protection
and treatment of populations made vulnerable by their location and or socioeconomic status; the impact of
disasters on the economy and overall human development; how hazards develop into disasters; and how design
factors either mitigate or amplify their effects. Nicholas Scoppetta, Fire Commissioner of NYC will give the
keynote address, followed by questions and answers with Bob Kerrey, President of The New School.
It will be held at The New School at 65 Fifth Avenue.
For information and conference details:
212.229.5776 x3121
socres@newschool.edu
For the Agenda: click here
http://socres.org/disasters/
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IAEM 55th 2007 Annual Conference
November 11-15
Reno, Nevada
"Partners in Emergency Management: Working Together", this year’s topic from the
International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM), provides a forum for current trends and topics,
information about the latest tools and technology in emergency management and homeland security. For
emergency managers, homeland security officials, first response coordinators, and contingency planners.
Conference details:
www.iaem.com/events/annual/intro.htm
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WTC Health Registry Public Meeting
Wednesday, November 14
Manhattan
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is presenting the annual World Trade Center Health
Registry (WTCHR) at Pace University (downtown Manhattan campus) from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Space is limited.
Contact Rebecca Friedland-Little, Public Health Educator Trainee, WTCHR:
212.442.2408
Rfriedl1@health.nyc.gov
Job & Volunteer Opportunities
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NYDIS, Office Volunteers
NYDIS is seeking office volunteers to support the finance and disaster preparedness/training departments,
and to answer
phones and perform administrative duties for 20 hours per week. Positions begin immediately.
To apply, please email your Cover Letter and Resume to:
pgudaitis@nydis.org or fax to 212.669.6101.
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FEMA, Disaster-Related Job Opportunities
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expanding and there are new jobs listed in the New York
area,
as well as every FEMA Regional Office around the country.
To see the list of jobs, and to get instructions on how to apply:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/
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HWCLI, Disaster Advocate and Recovery Coordinator
The Health & Welfare Council of Long Island (HWCLI) seeks an individual to oversee and coordinate two
disaster-related programs: the 9/11 Unmet Needs Roundtable and the Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active
in
Disaster (LIVOAD).
For details about this position: click here
To apply, submit Cover Letter and Resume to:
Loule Gebremedhin
lgebrem@hwcli.com
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NYC DOHMH, MRC Program Associate, Emergency Management Div.
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is looking for an individual with experience and
skills that can be leveraged to recruit, train and retain volunteer health professionals for its growing
Bureau of Emergency Management. The candidate for a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program Associate in
Manhattan should have strong interpersonal and communication skills, familiarity with marketing, training,
volunteer management, event coordination, and/or related activities, and an interest in working in Public
Health Preparedness.
Submit your resume online:
www.mhra.org
For details about the position:
click here
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NYC OEM, Job Opportunities
For all of the positions currently available at the NYC Office of Emergency Management (OEM), including
emergency management personnel, responders, planners, and administrative and support staff, please go directly
to the OEM “Job Opportunities” website page:
www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/abou/job.shtml
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 Support NYDIS - Donate Online
If you'd
like to make a donation to assist NYDIS in its mission of providing faith-based disaster services,
click here, or send a check to NYDIS
at 22 Cortlandt Street,
20th Fl., New York, NY 10007. NYDIS is a 501(c)(3)
corporation and contributions are 100% tax deductible. It is a great way to
honor or memorialize someone and we will send an acknowledgement of your gift.
To donate online, go to the NYDIS homepage and click "Make a Donation":
www.nydis.org
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Online 9/11 Client Inquiry
Form