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16 <br />16 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />trust and their localized cultural expertise to support preparedness, response and to help community <br />members to prepare for current and coming climate impacts. They had many additional suggestions <br />reflected in the Emergency Planning, Evacuations, Shelters and other sections. <br />Evacuation <br />Community members wanted to be informed about evacuation plans, to be able to access the plans and <br />to be consulted in plan development. Participants with disabilities and medical needs indicated that <br />currently some individuals choose not to evacuate due to accessibility barriers and concerns. They <br />recommended coordinated evacuation of people with disabilities including disability community <br />oversight – key issues include accessibility to people with the full range of disabilities including non- <br />physical disabilities, access to power, escorting those who need assistance to shelters, medicines, <br />support network, transportation, and service / comfort animals. It was recommended to develop criteria <br />to aid evacuation prioritization (related to people with disabilities). <br />Further the need to address current every day, baseline conditions and institutional access barriers was <br />elevated as important to have in place to ensure access for evacuation for people with disabilities, older <br />adults, people with medical needs, such as: <br /> In all evacuation operations and communications including accessible transition from evacuation <br />to shelter and <br /> Through infrastructure improvements such as installing sidewalks, traffic islands and ramps and <br /> Through guidelines for signage, construction and other operations to eliminate temporary and <br />project-related barriers. <br />There was also concern about evacuation for transit-dependent people that is affordable accessible, and <br />at the needed times and places. A Senior Coastsiders’ program was mentioned as a best practice: a <br />buddy system pairing seniors or other community members who drive with those who don't in the <br />event of an emergency. There was concern that current traffic congestion would need to be decreased <br />to aid evacuation which was mentioned in Belle Haven/Menlo Park and on the Coastside, where there is <br />desire for additional ways to evacuate from the Coast. Coastal residents requested more local services, <br />such as shelter in place and outdoor sheltering options so transportation off the Coast is not needed. <br />Disability Access and Medical Needs <br />Comprehensive Access: Comprehensive disability access implementation was recommended including <br />new staff positions with detailed knowledge of how to help people with diverse disabilities including <br />non-physical disabilities, technology needs and legal rights. Dedicated staff and detailed training on <br />these topics for first responders and emergency personnel including shelter and cooling center staff was <br />also strongly recommended. Address current infrastructural and institutional access barriers, such as <br />related to sidewalks, buildings, construction, etc. to aid evacuation for people with disabilities, older <br />adults, people with medical needs during hazard events. <br />Additional accessibility needs included the following: <br /> Access to power including batteries with appropriate life span, back-up generators for people <br />who would have difficulty traveling, and hotel, and hotel rooms with power. <br /> Limited resources on the Coast was noted as a major challenge with a participant noting there <br />were no open gas stations and one hotel room using generator power during a PSPS event. <br /> Improving mechanisms for people to learn about where shelters are during an emergency that <br />addresses disability access, access for folks that can’t access the internet or phone system, and