QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Reducing Risk, Reforming Responses: A View from Congress
By Sara Wildberger
feeling the eff ects of Superstorm Sandy. As chairman of the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications, he oversees the federal government’s anti-terror and disaster re- sponse policies. And his experience in helping care for his mother makes him particularly sensitive to the safety of older Americans. Here, Rep. Donovan shares news on di-
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saster preparedness legislation and ideas for senior living leaders.
Investment in resiliency “With a record-breaking $306 billion in di- saster damages in 2017, it’s clear that every level of government and private industry needs to focus on resiliency measures to re- duce risk from natural disasters. After Super- storm Sandy, the federal government made signifi cant investments in hazard mitigation projects—because every $1 spent on protec- tion saves $4 in future disaster-related costs. “I think we’ll continue to see that sort of fo-
cus—and the disaster relief-funding bill passed in December 2017 had many provisions re- garding just these types of investments.”
Pushing for a streamlined aid approach But the post-disaster recovery process “needs dramatic reform,” Donovan says.
hen Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) was sworn in, in 2015, his home- town of Staten Island was still
Some reforms he suggested were included in the 2017 bill. “It takes far too long and costs way too
much money to rebuild after a disaster, and much of the blame lies with an overly complicated federal process. For example, it’s way too diffi cult for disaster victims to apply for aid, especially seniors, because there are diff erent processes for all of the diff erent federal agencies that deliver relief. At my suggestion, FEMA will be required to develop a streamlined approach that might include a single application ‘portal.’”
Steps to safer residences
“Making sure vulnerable populations are safe, prepared, and looked after during a disaster is always a major priority,” Donovan says, pointing to how some were put at risk when elevators failed after Superstorm Sandy. “Residential structures that house vulnera-
ble populations, especially senior citizens, need contingency plans in case of a natural disaster. The federal government has some grant and loan programs available for this type of work.”
Community connections count
“I was blessed to have my mother in my life for 58 years,” Donovan says. “A lot of peo- ple don’t have that much time, so I consider myself lucky. For several years, my mother suff ered from dementia that got worse and worse. I spent all of my savings caring for her,
FOUR TIPS FOR SENIOR LIVING LEADERS
1. Anticipate the types of disasters most likely to occur—for example, fl oods in a coastal area or fi res in vulnerable regions.
2. Have a plan in place that can still function if power and cell service is unreliable.
3. Store suffi cient food, water, and medicine to care for residents during an extended power outage or emergency.
4. Communicate and coordinate with local emergency responders in advance. Share disaster plans and get advice. Help them get to know your communities.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
ARGENTUM.ORG 27
Change Agent Profi le
Rep. Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. New York’s 11th Congressional District Chairman, House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications
and had to hire two aides to watch over my mother near the end. Those two women will forever be part of my family—they cared for my mother like she was their own. “I don’t think my experience as my moth-
er’s caregiver really changed my views—it just opened my eyes to the enormous chal- lenges caregivers face in even basic day-to- day care,” Donovan says. A lesson that connects to emergency pre-
paredness: It starts at the community level. “Family and neighbors are really the fi rst line of defense. The local police depart- ment may not have time or resources to check every home before a disaster strikes, so family and community have to take the responsibility upon themselves to check in on seniors to make sure they’re prepared or get them out of harm’s way.”
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