The Bay Area Emergency Preparedness Coalition for Seniors and People with Disabilities is a collaborative disaster preparedness and prevention effort that brings together Area Agencies on Aging and Centers for Independent Living in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. These partners formed the Coalition in 1994 to collaborate with other community organizations and official disaster response groups to (1) strengthen the ability of senior and disability organizations to meet the challenges of a disaster and to (2) build the capacity of our communities to respond to the special needs of older and disabled adults in disasters.

Through the work of a project coordinator, the Coalition provides training in agency emergency preparedness. These workshops have helped 450 organizations responsible for the daily care and welfare of our elderly and disabled residents, to prepare for disasters and to respond to their consumers' needs in disasters.

Mission: The Coalition strengthens, supports and prepares community organizations serving seniors and people with disabilities to meet the challenges a disaster would create. We provide training in disaster planning and preparedness to agencies serving seniors and people with disabilities. We also promote a variety of disaster education programs to help the individuals served by these organizations take responsibility for their own emergency preparedness at home.

For further information contact Mary Louise Zernicke at the Alameda County Area Agency on Aging in Oakland, CA , 510-567-8053 (phone).

Email: BASrsPwD@aol.com

Example disaster preparedness plan.

-- Daren Henderson (TryChange@aol.com), April 15, 1999