FEMA taps San Antonio human services agency for national contract - San Antonio Business Journal:

shelly-polymer.blogspot.com
San Antonio-based BCFS received a $295,00o0 contract to develop a manual that will serve as the national model for functionalneedes support-services sheltering. Under this contract with BCFS will also hold training sessionssfor federal, state and local emergency managersx and community leaders throughout the country. Currently, no comprehensivwe guide exists for caring forthis population. This manual should be completed by November 2009 and trainingy should begin shortly thereafter throughout the various FEMA BCFS already provides sheltering services durinfgnatural disasters.
In fact, the organization most recently providedr shelter services to this population last fall durint the Hurricane Ikeevacuation efforts. Individualsd were moved from the Gulf Coast toSan Antonio. BCFS offersw care to individuals who are vision orhearinfg impaired, frail or elderly, in need of bariatri equipment, or face mental health challenges. Thesee are individuals who are able to live independentlt but because of their disabilities wouldf have a difficult time responding toa “When disaster strikes, communities are calle on to care for persons of all ages, of all healthg backgrounds and with varying degreea of mobility,” BCFS President and CEO Kevin C. Dinnin says.
“Havin g a plan already established to care for individualsa who require basic support services to remain independent will ensurse safety and continuity of care for thoseseeking shelter. That is what this manual will establish.” BCFS, formerlyg known as , is a health and humanh services organization with locations and programsthroughou Texas, Eastern Europe, Latin Southeast Asia and Africa. FEMA is responsible for coordinatingthe U.S. respons e to a national emergency ornatural disaster. It is an agency withihn the . www.bcfs.
net