Academy Initiatives
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Emergency Preparedness Opportunities
Emergency Preparedness for Meals On Wheels Program Professionals
There are no classes scheduled at this time.
About Emergency Preparedness
Historically, emergency management planning in the U.S. has concentrated on disaster response and damage repair.
Nationwide plan reviews and “lessons learned” reports following events like Hurricane Katrina showed that insufficient consideration was given to addressing the needs of those who may need additional assistance when emergencies occur. As these plan reviews and reports pointed out, those who are particularly vulnerable include homebound and vulnerable older adults. For example seniors over the age of 60 accounted for 70% of the fatalities resulting from Hurricane Katrina. Senior Nutrition Programs (SNP) are an important community link in reaching this isolated population.
The following testimonials from MOWAA Members illustrate the need for an Emergency Preparedness Plan also:
“In the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma a significant amount of the roadways were either impassible or very dangerous…Our food service provider did not have a generator and lost all the food in the freezers…the gas stations didn’t have generators so…we were running out of fuel within about four days!”
~ Peggy Miller, CEO, Broward Meals On Wheels, Inc.
“Following a tornado that leveled 95% of Greensburg, Kansas in 2007
It took one year and three months to bring home-delivered meals back to the community…it took two years to restore congregate meals…It has taken a long time to rebuild…we thought it would come back faster.”
~ Janet Splitter, Executive Director, Eldercare, Inc.
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