Page: Disaster

Emergency & Disaster Preparation

Heat Ready CA

Create your Personalized Extreme Heat Plan – Answer a few simple questions below and we’ll create a personalized Extreme Heat Plan with steps to keep you safe during an extreme heat event! This plan can be easily saved to your device, sent to your email, and more. Want to create an Extreme Heat Plan for someone else? You can create as many plans as you need. Just refresh the browser and begin again. Key Words: Climate Change

Enrollment Links to CA Counties Emergency Alerts

Each County in California has an alerting program that you can sign up for to receive alerts if an emergency situation were to arise in your county. If you work in one county, but you live in another, you can sign up for both. Just find your county in the list below to sign up! In most cases you will need to provide a mobile phone number and an email address.

FEMA Start Your Recovery Process Graphics

4 Step Flyer for loss reporting – Multi-Language:  English, Spanish, Arabic, Creole, Hindi, llocano, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, ƌlelo HawaiÊ»i (Hawaiian), Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, Urdu and Vietnamese

CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IN THE UNITED STATES

8/1/21 This report contributes to a better understanding of the degree to which four socially vulnerable populations—defined based on income, educational attainment, race and ethnicity, and age —may be more exposed to the highest impacts of climate change in six categories: Air Quality and Health; Extreme Temperature and Health; Extreme Temperature and Labor; Coastal Flooding and Traffic; Coastal Flooding and Property; and Inland Flooding
and Property

Justice40 Initiative

1/27/21 The Justice40 Initiative seeks to deliver 40% of the overall benefits of investments in climate, clean energy, and related areas to disadvantaged communities. Using CEJST as a measure.

AirNow.gov

The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map provides information that you can use to help protect your health from wildfire smoke.

Santa Clara County Dept of Health Climate and health

The County of Santa Clara Public Health Department created a Climate and Health Program to respond to the climate crisis. The program helps our communities prepare and adapt to our changing environment. Several projects are funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through a Building Resilience Against Climate Effects grant. These projects focus on adapting to high heat and poor air quality. Key Words: Climate Change.

E https://publichealth.sccgov.org/health-information/climate-and-health

2023 was hottest year in decades

1/8/24  The European climate agency Copernicus said the year was 1.48 degrees Celsius (2.66 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. That’s barely below the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit that the world hoped to stay within in the 2015 Paris climate accord to avoid the most severe effects of warming. … The 1.5 degree goal “has to be (kept) alive because lives are at risk and choices have to be made,” Burgess said. “And these choices don’t impact you and I but they impact our children and our grandchildren.”  Key Words:  Climate Change

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County

Food, Health Care, Mental Health, Foster Care, Rental Assistance, Immigration Legal services,  refugee resettlement,  Disaster Casework., other free and sliding scale social programs for children, adults and seniors. provided in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, at offices in San Jose and Gilroy.   Member of the SCC Citizenship Collaboration and CADRE.  https://www.facebook.com/WorkingToEndPoverty/?ref=ts Key Words: RIF, CADRE, Disaster

Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants

 Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants 

 Admin@CADRESV.org 1 2/3/23v3 

 #1 It’s safe for immigrants to seek help 

President Biden expanded the national Protected Areas Policy which states that immigration enforcement agents should not arrest or intimidate people at or near places where disaster relief is being provided: emergency response shelters, service centers, places along evacuation routes (such as roadside checkpoints) or where family reunification is underway 

*See page 2 for more Protected Areas 

#2 Everyone is eligible for disaster relief. 

Eligibility for help is based on disaster-related needs – not on immigration status or income. Everyone is eligible for immediate, non-cash emergency relief. Eligibility for some longer-term government programs may require at least one citizen or eligible immigrant in the household. But all immigrants should feel safe to ask for the help they need from the responding non-profit or faith-based organizations. 

CA state law (SB 2327) prohibits disaster relief workers from asking for unnecessary documents or from asking questions about an individual’s immigration status. No one should be denied emergency assistance due to a lack of personal documents, which may have been lost or destroyed in a disaster. 

#3 Accepting disaster assistance will not affect your immigration status 

Immigrants may be concerned that accepting disaster assistance could affect their immigration status. This is not true. The Public Charge Rule (Dec, 22) confirms that disaster assistance will not be considered in a public charge test when a person applies for a green card. This Public Charge Safe to Use List (see page 2**) also includes non-disaster-related benefits and services that are never considered, such as food, medical care, insurance, children’s programs, religious activities, education, and more. Disaster relief assistance is free and does not have to be repaid. 

#4 Everyone has rights – Report Concerns 

Everyone has a right to emergency information and assistance in a language they can understand and in a place they can access. Advocates and Service Providers can educate themselves and their communities on immigrant rights before a disaster. They can help identify and mitigate obstacles to access. Afterward, they can make sure people have the accurate information and necessary support to successfully apply for assistance. Disaster Rights of CA Immigrants 

Admin@CADRESV.org 2 2/3/23v3 

Links to Resources 

  • ‱ List of free and low-cost legal advice services in the San Francisco Bay Area 
  • ‱ Directory of California Rapid Response Networks to report ICE activities around protected areas – CA Collaborative for Immigrant Justice 
  • ‱ Multi-language Earthquake Safety Information – CADRE website 
  • ‱ Links to local, state and national resources and information – Immigrantinfo.org 
  • ‱ **Public Charge Safe to Use List (May, 21) English Spanish 
  • ‱ FEMA Government Disaster Assistance for Undocumented Immigrants (English) 10/9/20 

*Other Protected Areas: 

In addition to disaster or emergency response and relief activities, “protected areas” include: 

  • ‱ A school, such as a pre-school, primary or secondary school, vocational or trade school, or college or university. 
  • ‱ Places that provide social services “essential to people in need”: food banks, domestic violence shelters, facilities that serve disabled persons. 
  • ‱ Places where children gather, childcare centers, after-school programs, foster care facility, bus stops, and playgrounds. 
  • ‱ Medical treatment facilities: hospitals, doctor’s offices, COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites, mental health providers, community health centers, urgent care centers, places that serve pregnant people. 
  • ‱ A place where there is an ongoing parade, demonstration, or rally. 
  • ‱ Places of worship or religious study including temporary structures dedicated to activities of faith. 
  • ‱ A place where a funeral, graveside ceremony, rosary, wedding, or other religious or civil ceremonies or observances occur. 

2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Spanish

2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Vietnamese

2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-English 2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Spanish 2-3-23 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Vietnamese 2-3-12 Disaster Rights Info for CA Immigrants-Simplified Chinese

 

CADRE Connection Newsletter – December 2023

CADRE – (Collaborating Agencies’ Disaster Relief Effort) is the Santa Clara County chapter of NVOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster).  We are part of the network of local, state, and national VOADs.  CADRE provides free culturally appropriate disaster preparation training and facilitates collaboration between service providers.  During disasters, CADRE convenes nonprofits, faith-based and government entities to 1) Establish the current status of the emergency, 2) Connect like- organizations, 3) Develop relevant resources, and 4) Help find solutions, and 5) Give a voice to vulnerable populations in the disaster planning and relief process.

Dial 211 for Essential Community Services

In many states, dialing “211” provides individuals and families in need with a shortcut through what can be a bewildering maze of health and human service agency phone numbers. By simply dialing 211, those in need of assistance can be referred, and sometimes connected, to appropriate agencies and community organizations in the county where the caller is located. Key Words: Resource Directory. Multi-lingual:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Chinese |
Tagalog |
Korean |

HANDA California

Audio recordings in Mexican Indigenous languages. There’s a recording for Preparing for Disaster Safety Tips in Mixteco, Zapoteco, Triqui, Chatino, Tlapaneco, Purepecha, and MAM. Key Words: Language Access, Translation, Spanish

Listos SCC Disaster Directory

8/21 Listos has published directories for all 58 CA Counties in multiple languages Each directory provides:
* A brief profile of the county’s disaster risks
* Relevant vulnerabilities of its residents
* State and local alert resources for
* General emergencies
* Earthquakes
* Wildfires
* Public Safety Power Shutoffs
* Resources for people who are medically dependent on electricity
* State and county resources on COVID-19
Key Words: Language Access

Disaster & Religion App

The Disaster and Religion App.helps disaster responders better serve America’s diverse religious communities and build partnerships with religious leaders, with easily accessible religious literacy and competency information on 27 unique religions. It was created by the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), and the University of southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC).

Inclusive Emergency Management Community

This Community brings together emergency management professionals and community stakeholders who are currently working in or interested in inclusive emergency management. The Community provides a space for us to access diverse connections, knowledge, experiences, and ideas that help us expand the inclusive emergency management movement and work smarter, more efficiently, and with less friction in our own roles.

HOUSES OF WORSHIP SECURITY SELF-ASSESSMENT

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has developed a baseline security self-assessment that is designed for a person, with little to no security experience, to complete a security assessment.
Houses of Worship (HOW) security self-assessment USER GUIDE | Houses of Worship
Security Self-Assessment | The assessment, when completed, will provide an easy to follow road map for implementing suggested voluntary options for consideration
|

Just Serve

JustServe.org is a website where the volunteer needs of organizations may be posted and volunteers may search for places to serve in the community, providing opportunities to help those in need and enhance the quality of life in the community.
JustServe is a service to help link community volunteer needs with volunteers and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation in posting projects or in encouraging volunteers to serve according to our guidelines. Sponsored by the LDS Church

JAPANTOWN PREPARED!

Japantown Prepared is an all-volunteer CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) group. It formed in 2011 after the Fukushima earthquake and tsunami disaster. Our mission is to prepare San Jose Japantown for any major disasters. The businesses, organizations, churches, and residents of Japantown work together to help each other out. We train, communicate, and collaborate to prepare for disasters of all kinds. We serve our community to minimize loss of life, injuries, and property damage.

Understanding the Impact of Extreme Heat Events

3/28/22 The Los Angeles Times recently published an article detailing the impact of heat-related deaths in California and found that extreme heat caused approximately 3,900 deaths in California over the past decade”that is six times more than the state’s official count. Even so, extreme heat receives substantially less awareness than other disasters, despite killing more Americans each year than wildfires, hurricanes, and floods.

26 Steps to Preparedness Workbook

This workbook from Campbell CERT shows you how to build an emergency preparedness food, water and supply kit over the course of several weeks or months at a pace that fits into your already busy life. We’ve created this tool drawing from the guidelines of several authoritative agencies (FEMA, Ready.gov, Red Cross, and Santa Clara County Fire). Our Food & Water Calculator is designed to give you an idea of your food and water needs for the number of people in your household.
For more information, contact 26steps@campbellcert.org.

Assistance for Governments and Private Non-Profits After a Disaster

FEMA helps state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and certain types of private nonprofit organizations respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies. After an event like a hurricane, tornado, earthquake or wildfire, communities need help to cover their costs for debris removal, life-saving emergency protective measures, and restoring public infrastructure.
FEMA Public Assistance and Program Policy Guide 6/1/20

US flood risk is about to explode – but not for the reasons you think

2/3/22 Most new risk will come not from climate change but from population growth in areas that are already vulnerable to flooding. The findings underscore a hard truth with dire implications for climate adaptation policy: The lion’s share of U.S. flood risk does not stem from the changing nature of storms and seas, but instead from our decisions about where to build and where to live.

Mitigating Attacks on Houses of Worship –Security Guide

December 2020 Acts of targeted violence against houses of worship are a real”and potentially growing”problem in the United States and a top priority for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA has prepared this comprehensive security guide based on original analysis to help houses of worship develop a comprehensive security strategy to mitigate future incidents.

Webinar (Recording): Preventing Targeted Violence and Protecting the Safety and Security of Houses of Worship through Faith and Community Based Approaches in the US and in Europe
Key Words: FBO, Faith Based Organization,

Nixle Alerts

Nixle keeps you up-to-date with relevant information from your local public safety departments & schools
Text your zip code to 888777 to opt in to receive emergency alerts. Nixle asks new subscribers for both their mobile phone number (for emergency texts) and their email address if they want to also receive informational messages. Multi-Language: Spanish option.
Frequently Asked Questions

FEMA closes gap that prevented many Black families in South from receiving disaster aid

9/2/21 The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced sweeping changes Thursday to the way the U.S. government will verify homeownership for disaster relief applicants who lack certain legal documents for inherited property.
The change responds to pushback against rules that have stymied Black Americans in the Deep South from getting help to rebuild after catastrophic storms if they can’t adequately prove they own their homes ” and it comes as Hurricane Ida threatened to repeat the cycle. Key Words: Equity

National Advisory Council Report to the FEMA Administrator November 2020 – Equity Gaps

11/20 Emergency management is part of the social safety net across all phases from response to recovery.
As such, first responders do not rescue people who can evacuate themselves, they only rescue people
who need help. Recovery programs, however, seem to do just that. They provide an additional boost to
wealthy homeowners and others with less need, while lower-income individuals and others sink further
into poverty after disasters. In 2045, emergency management is equitable across the full spectrum,
including preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, with resources going to those who need them.

Minority Health Social Vulnerability Index

Every community must prepare for and respond to hazardous events, whether a natural disaster like a tornado or a disease outbreak, or a human-made event such as a harmful chemical spill. Several factors, including poverty, lack of access to transportation, and crowded housing may weaken a community’s ability to prevent human suffering and financial loss in a disaster. These factors are known as social vulnerability. Using U.S. Census data, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched the first version of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) in 2011 to enable emergency response planners and public health officials to identify, map, and plan support for communities that will most likely need support before, during, and after a public health emergency.

How To Protect Yourself During An Earthquake

WHY RESCUERS AND EXPERTS RECOMMEND DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON. OFFICIAL RESCUE TEAMS from the U.S. and other countries who have searched for trapped people in collapsed structures around the world, as well as emergency managers, researchers, and school safety advocates, all agree that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Methods like standing in a doorway, running outside, and the “triangle of life” are considered dangerous and are not recommended (see below).

CADRE Connection Newsletter – November 2023

Monthly news from the Santa Clara County chapter of NVOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). Information and resources for local, state and national disaster training and relief programs available to Santa Clara County residents. News and updates about CADRE partner organizations, and opportunities to collaborate. The CADRE Newsletter is hosted by SVCN (Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits). Key Words: Disaster Preparation, SCC

Operation Blue Roof

Operation Blue Roof is a priority mission managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for FEMA. Operation Blue Roof aims to provide homeowners in disaster areas with fiber-reinforced sheeting to cover their damaged roofs until permanent repairs are made. This program is a free service to homeowners. This program is for primary residences or a permanently occupied rental property with less than 50 percent structural damage.

Home Alone: Prepare Kids for Emergencies

Many children don’t have adult supervision 100% of the time. Parents and caregivers have jobs, errands, and other responsibilities that require them to leave their kids home alone some of the time.
Emergencies and no-notice disasters can happen during these gaps in supervision. Here are some practical skills you can teach, and conversations you can have, to prepare them to be home alone.

Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans – FEMA

9/21 Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 provides guidance from FEMA on the fundamentals
of planning and developing emergency operations plans. The guide describes the steps to produce
an emergency operation plan, possible plan structures and components of a base plan and its
annexes. Other FEMA guides provide detailed information about planning considerations for specific
functions, hazards and threats

DCARA ASL Interpreting

DCARA Interpreting is a deaf managed non profit providing interpreting services which allows for on site and video communication between hearing people and deaf people in Bay Area, California. request@dcara.org 510-722-7004 Multi-language: ASL Key Words: SCC Language Access

American Red Cross (ARC) Contact Loved Ones

War and disaster can tear families apart when they need each other the most. The American Red Cross can help your family members reconnect, whether the separation was caused by a recent emergency here at home, war or natural disaster overseas, or events as far back as the Holocaust.
Reunification of Family in the US and US Territories
Restoring Family Links to locate a family member outside of the US separated by international crisis. Call our free Restoring Family Links national helpline at 1-844-782-9441
Multi-language: Spanish

FEMA Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG)

May 2021 The IAPPG version 1.1 consolidates information on all of FEMA’s Individual Assistance (IA) programs and activities and provides a comprehensive policy resource for state,1 local,2 tribal,3 and territorial (SLTT) governments, non-governmental organization
partners, and entities that participate in or support the recovery of disaster survivors. Key Words: Emergency, Disaster

American Red Cross (ARC) – Find Open Shelters

If an emergency has forced you to evacuate your home, the Red Cross may be able to help. National site with locations of all Red Cross sponsored emergency shelters.
Everyone is welcome at a Red Cross shelter. The Red Cross does not discriminate based on nationality, race, religious beliefs, class, disability, political opinions, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
Your service animal is also welcome. Please speak with a shelter worker if your service animal is in need of food or supplies. (You may also ask for help finding placement for your pets.)

La Cooperativa Campesina de California

A 501 c (3) corporation, is the statewide association of agencies implementing and administering farm worker service programs including employment training, advocacy and disaster relief. Members: California Human Development Corporation (CHDC) | Center for Employment Training (CET) | Central Valley Opportunity Center (CVOC) | Employers’ Training Resource (ETR) | Proteus, Inc. | Multi-language: Spanish

After Hurricane Maria Comic

Throughout 2017 and 2018 I investigated how low-income families in Puerto Rico recovered from Hurricane Maria, which devastated the Caribbean island in September 2017. Alongside the brilliant illustrator John Cei Douglas, I turned this ethnographic research into a comic, FREE to download in English and in Spanish. Although the comic tells the story of a fictional family, “After Maria” is based on the experiences that tie together all of the families I spoke to.
Spanish

Tsunami hazard map: The Bay Area neighborhoods you should flee on foot

7/9/21 An interactive map from the California Geological Survey shows which Bay Area neighborhoods should be evacuated on foot when there’s risk of a tsunami. If you’re there when a long earthquake hits, walk to safety in the green zone
An overview of CA Tsunami Preparedness Guide, including tsunami hazard map and data, and how the state presents updates to these.

How to get emergency alerts about California wildfires and other disasters

7/9/21 Wildfire season is here. And because a fire can start and spread in mere moments, the best way to survive is to get out of the fire’s path – quickly.
Every fire season there are countless reports of people who relied on alerts that never arrived because they didn’t know they needed to sign up for them. In other instances, the equipment failed. Or the alert arrived, but residents were confused about how and where to evacuate.
Thanks to the recent advancements, officials can now notify and protect residents with life-saving instructions and information through specialized mass communication tools.

CADRE Connection Newsletter – January 2024

Monthly news from the Santa Clara County chapter of NVOAD (National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). Information and resources for local, state and national disaster training and relief programs available to Santa Clara County residents. News and updates about CADRE partner organizations, and opportunities to collaborate. The CADRE Newsletter is hosted by SVCN (Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits). Key Words: Disaster Preparation, SCC

Violence against women during covid-19 pandemic restrictions

5/7/20 Protections for women and girls must be built into response plans
As the covid-19 pandemic intensifies, its gendered effects have begun to gain attention. Though data are scarce, media coverage and reports from organizations that respond to violence against women reveal an alarming picture of increased reports of intimate partner violence during this outbreak, including partners using physical distancing measures to further isolate affected women from resources.

READY, SET, GO! Wildfire Action Plan

You can dramatically increase your safety and the survivability of your property by preparing well in advance of a wildfire. This brochure provides comprehensive information on how to improve your home’s resistance to
wildfires and prepare your family to be ready to leave early in a safe manner. The guide illustrates the importance of having defensible space around your home and it will help educate you about the preparations you need to make so you can leave early and evacuate well ahead of a wildfire. Multi-language:
Spanish

Silicon Valley, a Global Pandemic,and a Better Normal

6/21 The COVID-19 crisis has caused major disruption across Silicon Valley and exacerbated long-standing structural inequities, demanding a strong response. Silicon Valley has never been satisfied with the status quo, so we set our sights higher. Our Silicon Valley Recovery Roundtable (SVRR) colleagues were tasked with finding ways to emerge from the pandemic into a better, more inclusive, and more equitable region where we could make strides toward resolving long-standing challenges,
and address those magnified by COVID-19.

National Integrated Drought Information System

View up-to-date drought conditions down to the city and county level, including temperature, and precipitation conditions, key drought indicators, outlooks, historical conditions, and water supply, agriculture, and public health maps. The U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) is updated each Thursday to show the location and intensity of drought across the country. This map shows drought conditions across California using a five-category system, from Abnormally Dry (D0) conditions to Exceptional Drought (D4). The USDM is a joint effort of the National Drought Mitigation Center, USDA, and NOAA. Key Words: Weather, Water

Outsmart Disaster

5/21 The Outsmart Disaster campaign aims to equip California businesses with the tools they need to get back to business faster in the face of any disaster. Key Words: Employer, preparation
The Resilient Business Challenge is a virtual, self-guided process composed of five steps. Each step covers a different topic and includes assessments, materials, training, and processes to help your business become more resilient. Also available: Resiliency Tool Kit

What Kids Can Do: Paying Attention to Children’s Capacities in the Pandemic

2/25/21 Opening up opportunities for children to get involved can make a tremendous difference to their recovery by increasing feelings of solidarity, empowerment, and interconnection. Still, the knowledge, creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and social networks that children have to offer could be better used.
We have consistently found that during times of crisis, children want to help. When they are given the opportunity, there are many things that they can do to support adults, other children, and themselves. We are now seeing evidence of this in the Covid-19 pandemic as well, although there has been little public discussion of it.

Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

The only U.S. disability-led organization with a focused mission on equal access, disability rights and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during, and after disasters and emergencies.
Disability Rights in Shelters and in Disaster/Emergency Response |
Sus Derechos en un Desastre |
Disaster Hotline: (800) 626-4959
Spanish Key Words: AFN

RedRover Animal Rescue

RedRover helps animals rescued from disasters or neglect, domestic violence victims seeking safety with their pets, and animals with life-threatening illnesses. We use innovative solutions to prevent cruelty. Links to pet friendly hotels and shelters.

Disaster Food Stamps  (D-SNAP)

Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP or Disaster CalFresh) gives food assistance to low-income households with food loss or damage caused by a natural disaster. D-SNAP uses different standards than normal SNAP. If you would not normally qualify for SNAP, you may qualify for D-SNAP. Disaster Calfresh Eligibility
Current SNAP clients may also request replacement benefits for food that was lost in the disaster and bought with SNAP benefits.
Disaster Relief is not subject to Public Charge.

CDC Social Vulnerability Index

Social vulnerability refers to the potential negative effects on communities caused by external stresses on human health. Such stresses include natural or human-caused disasters, or disease outbreaks. Reducing social vulnerability can decrease both human suffering and economic loss.
CDC Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI) uses 15 U.S. census variables to help local officials identify communities that may need support before, during, or after disasters.

How California can recover from wildfires without leaving its most vulnerable behind

9/11/20 “While people claim that disasters do not discriminate, there are human decisions that make some populations more vulnerable than others” said Michael MĂ©ndez, an assistant professor at the University of California, Irvine, who co-authored the article. “The big picture is understanding that systemic racism and cultural norms determine who is a worthy disaster victim.”

Insurance Advocacy – United Policyholders Roadmap to Recovery

Since 1991 our Roadmap to Recovery program has been improving disaster recovery by providing free insurance and decision-making guidance, tools and resources to people, businesses and communities. The program includes our online library of claim tips, sample letters, reports, instructional videos, professional help directory, and articles written by leading experts in personal finance, construction and the law. Key Words: Wildfire

Returning Home After A Wildfire

8/28/20 Safety Tips from the CA DEPT of FORESTRY and FIRE PROTECTION – Once a wildfire has burned through an area, many dangers could remain. Firefighters and utility workers begin restoring fire damaged areas as soon as they can. Making the area safe for the public can take multiple days. Stay out of the evacuation area until fire officials tell you it is safe to return. It is extremely important to be aware of the hazards and know what to look for when the evacuation order is lifted.

Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC)

To qualify, one must:
***Be a person with a significant disability or impairment, which limits ability to function independently in home, community, environment, or work
***Be able to benefit from services to achieve a greater level of independence; and
***Live or work in Santa Clara County, or a county that does not provide independent living services that SVILC provides.
Complete the Intake process to receive SVILC’s services. Please email info@svilc.org or call (408) 894-9041 to begin this process.
For anyone who relies on electricity for life sustaining equipment, call SVILC at 408-894-9041 or email us at PSPS@svilc.org to get on our Public Safety Power Shutoff contact list,
Multi-language: Spanish, Vietnamese

Emergency Preparedness: Plan (ASL)

This 6-minute video from the Arizona DEMA’s Emergency Preparedness series encourages community members to create a plan for what to do in the case of an emergency. It emphasizes the need for separate versions of this plan for different places you spend time (such as home, work and school), choosing a meeting place out of the area as well as nearby, and discussing with your family the steps to take in either an evacuation or staying in place. It gives advice such creating pre-written messages as it may be easier for those who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate, and checking with local emergency management agency to see if they keep a record of those with access and functional needs.
This video gives a lot of information and details every step of preparing for an emergency situation. Key Words: communication, AFN, Translation, Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Coronavirus, Pandemic, Disaster, Language Access

Sign Language for First Responders (Evacuate)

Simple, 3-minute video that shows first responders key words in American Sign Language (ASL) that would be helpful in communicating with those who are deaf or hard of hearing in an evacuation. Words include emergency, help, wait, go, sit, let’s communicate through writing, etc. Overall a well-done video. She repeats the signs a few times to help ingrain them in your head and points out how signs are different if they are similar to one another. Key Words: communication, Language Access

Disability Disaster Hotline

The Disaster Hotline provides information, referrals, guidance, technical assistance and resources to people with disabilities, their families, allies, organizations assisting disaster impacted individuals with disabilities and others seeking assistance with immediate and urgent disaster-related needs.
available for intake calls, 24/7 at (800) 626-4959 and info@disasterstrategies.org. We will respond to your call as soon as possible, often immediately, and we intend to respond to all callers within 24 hours.

American Red Cross Individual and Group Emotional Support for Frontline Workers

This ARC free service helps frontline workers cope with the stress of working with families affected by COVID 19. Individuals may call our tollfree number 833-492-0094. Groups may schedule a support session using the
Psychological First Aid Training Request Form. Red Cross volunteers who are professional healthcare providers, mental health providers and spiritual care providers will work with the individual directly or can schedule a group support session. All services are free and confidential. You are not alone!

Archive – ARC – Preparing for Disaster During COVID-19

Disasters can cause sudden challenges like knocking out power, blocking roads, disrupting the response of emergency services, and causing stores and pharmacies to close for an extended period. COVID-19 adds to this complexity. Prepare now so that you have critical skills and can meet your basic needs. Key Words: American Red Cross Multi-language:
Spanish |
Vietnamese |
Simplified Chinese |
Traditional Chinese |
Korean |
Tagalog |
Arabic |
French |
Haitian |