Special Needs Planning for 2010 CEOP

Johnson County has been awarded a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) / Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Technical Assistance Grant for special needs planning. Through this grant, DHS/FEMA has hired an outside consulting firm with expertise in special needs planning, IEM, to provide recommendations and planning guidance to Johnson County on how to address special needs issues in disaster planning.

While special needs issues are currently addressed in various disaster planning/preparedness initiatives, many of us have acknowledged that additional work is needed to formalize a more comprehensive approach. Special Needs considerations take into account economically disadvantaged, limited language proficient, disabilities (physical, mental, cognitive, or sensory), age vulnerable (under 5 or 65), & culturally/geographically isolated.

In the next few weeks, there will be community partners, county representatives, and other stakeholders joining in workgroup sessions to define the concepts, policies, and procedures to meet the 2010 CEOP planning needs.