Recommendations

DHS should create accountability systems that effectively balance the need for fast and flexible response against the need to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA )

DHS should provide guidance on advance procurement practices (precontracting) and procedures for those federal agencies with roles and responsibilities under the NRP. For example, DHS should develop knowledge of contractor capabilities and prices, and establish a scalable operations plan to adjust the level of capacity to match the response with the need.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA )

ARC must do the following if it is to improve its relationships with and better serve diverse communities: Create authority to minimize bureaucracy.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC )

ARC must do the following if it is to improve its relationships with and better serve diverse communities:  Diversify executive staff and Board of Directors.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC )

ARC must do the following if it is to improve its relationships with and better serve diverse communities: Foster key relationships with local and national organizations.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC )

Maintain and expand the infrastructure of local emergency management operations across the country to be able to make appropriate changes to accommodate people with disabilities in their services, assure accessibility in shelters, develop special needs shelters, and develop appropriate surveillance measures.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS FEMA HHS HUD STATES )

Train the emergency managers interviewed in the original NLB study with new training guidelines and then conduct a follow-up evaluation to determine what gets integrated into the operations.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Develop a best-practice appendix/annex that clearly describes how to prepare people with disabilities for emergencies and how to get them out of harm’s way in the event of a catastrophic event.  Further, the appendix/annex will describe how to incorporate people with disabilities and their knowledge and experience into the overall process of emergency management.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Analyze the operational process of emergency management from a functional viewpoint, especially in addressing the needs of people with disabilities. Link the identified needs from this to a plan for technical assistance.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Develop a guide to assesses community resources, and areas of safety for people with disabilities.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Conduct a study among first responders to determine what knowledge they have regarding preparedness and response for people with disabilities.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Explore the role of CILs in local preparedness and response efforts and develop pilot projects with CILs.

Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

Investments need to be made at the community level to provide back-up community supports for persons with disabilities in disaster affected areas whose abilities to function independently are dependent upon maintaining access to social and medical services.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ARC DHS FEMA HHS STATES )

It is also recommended that the CILs encourage consumers to have individual disaster evacuation plans and to become active in the community to develop evacuation plans at worksites and public buildings.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( ALLORGS DHS FEMA HHS )

Notify utility companies to provide emergency support during a disaster. Help create contingency plans if the utility company is not able to provide an alternative power source in the event of power loss.
Target Agencies/Organizations: ( DHS FEMA HHS STATES )