Inclusive Emergency Management and Outreach

OEM’s Inclusive Emergency Management and Outreach (IEMO) program serves to strengthen New York State’s emergency preparedness and response. The team is dedicated to improving access and support for everyone in New York State. Through research and outreach, the team works to ensure that all New Yorkers are assisted during emergencies.

IEMO is a team of seven, collaborating with OEM sections and field staff, State agency partners, counties, local governments, independent living centers, disability advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, and other stakeholders to advance awareness through guidance, tools, resources, and training.

IEMO consists of two teams: Community Outreach and AFN/DEIA/Vulnerable Populations.

Community Outreach Team

The team develops promising practices and resources to integrate community-based organizations and disability advocates into county and local emergency management preparedness and response efforts. They identify key community stakeholders to maximize outreach and be service force multipliers. They coordinate with relevant Division and State teams to facilitate relationship building and promote the State’s emergency management program.

AFN/DEIA/Vulnerable Populations Team 

The team focuses on People with Disabilities / Access and Function Needs (AFN), Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), and vulnerable populations considerations in emergency management programs. This includes incorporating promising practices and resources to enhance State, county, and local emergency management preparedness and response efforts that support the whole community. 

The Inclusive Emergency Management and Outreach (IEMO) program was established in 2025 to improve integration of considerations for people with disabilities and those with access and functional needs into all aspects of emergency management. The program is a result of support from leadership in State government and inter-agency coordination.

IEMO acknowledges the struggles and barriers that individuals with disabilities and other marginalized communities have faced historically. The team recognizes that people from underserved communities and identities are adversely affected by disasters and is committed to addressing these disparities. IEMO is an investment in integrating inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility into New York State’s emergency management programs and initiatives. New York State takes pride in integrating comprehensive considerations for individuals who may experience specific vulnerabilities during disasters and emergencies. 

Access and Functional Needs (AFN) considers the broad range of access limitations and individualized supports and services that some individuals may need to ensure equity in emergency and disaster planning and response. It recognizes the needs and limitations that that various people may have to prepare for, respond to or recover from emergencies and disasters, including the following: 

• Individuals with disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and/or pharmacological dependencies, 
• Individuals who speak a language other than English, 
• People from diverse cultures, 
• Those who are pregnant and/or parenting person(s), 
• Children and older adults (with or without disabilities), 
• People who are limited income and/or lack transportation access.

DHSES

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Access and Functional Needs webpage provides information and resources on how to plan for emergencies given individual functional needs and limitations. 

• https://www.dhses.ny.gov/access-functional-needs

State Agency Landing Pages

The NYS Department of Health (DOH) provides a variety of information for parents, people with special needs, pregnant individuals, and others who may have specific health considerations during emergencies.

• https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/emergency

New York City (NYC) "Be Ready" emergency management preparation resources provide information for people with disabilities in preparation for an emergency or disaster. 

• https://www.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/disabilities-access-functional-needs.page

The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) provides a variety of mental health strategies for use preparing for and responding to all types of emergencies.   

• https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/disaster_resources

The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) offers a variety of programs to assist individuals in need of food, shelter, employment, childcare, and additional support services.  

• https://otda.ny.gov/programs

The NYS Office of the Chief Disability Officer (OCDO) provides resources related to accessibility and supports for individuals with disabilities. 

• https://www.ny.gov/programs/office-chief-disability-officer

The NYS Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office aims to provide resources and improve quality of life for Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing people.

• https://www.ny.gov/programs/new-york-state-deaf-deafblind-and-hard-hearing-office

Federal Resources and Landing Pages

CDC Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities provides information for people with disabilities for emergencies as well as communication resources.  

• https://www.cdc.gov/disability-emergency-preparedness

DisasterAssistance.gov provides survivors of disasters resources and support to help aid recovery.    

• https://www.disasterassistance.gov

Ready.gov Information Center assists people with disabilities with access to information on how to prepare and make a plan for an emergency/disaster.  

• https://www.ready.gov/people-disabilities

Etiquette Guides

New York State Person-First and Identity-First Language Glossary   

• https://ogs.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2025/10/ola-pfif_glossary-2025_english_second_edition.pdf

New York State Physical and Sensory Disability Etiquette Handout   

• https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2023-10/CDO_Brochure_Phys_Sens_Web.pdf

New York State Intellectual, Developmental, Mental Health, and Communication Disability Etiquette Handout   

• https://www.ny.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/CDOBrochure_Intellectual_0.pdf

United Spinal Association Disability Etiquette Guide: Tips on Interacting Respectfully with People with Disabilities 

• https://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/DisabilityEtiquette.pdf

Emergency Planning Guidance

Preparedness for Older Adults (American Red Cross) 

• https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/older-adults.html

Before an Emergency Happens (NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services)   

• https://www.dhses.ny.gov/before-emergency

Roll Program Emergency Preparedness for Wheelchair Users (United Spinal Association)

• https://unitedspinal.org/ready-to-roll

Disaster Preparedness Commission (DPC) Determination of Essential Workers 

• 2024-1106-guidance-essential-travel_0.pdf

Emergency Supply Kits (ADA National Network)

• https://adata.org/factsheet/emergency-supply

Individual Preparedness Resource Videos

How to Prepare an Emergency Kit 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4enqHGluLI

Preparedness for All: Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities - ASL   

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv2rKUmt66U

Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities and Other Access and Functional Needs   

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAEaGAQDQ5I

Helping Children with Disabilities During an Emergency  

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqw22ixcQRQ&feature=youtu.be

Personal Disaster Preparedness: I Use a Wheelchair   

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?si=uqPd3uEgVpZRBr-I&v=WZHIk0k4Gpg&feature=youtu.be

Personal Disaster Preparedness: I am Blind   

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWKcroRJUw8

Personal Disaster Preparedness: I am Hard of Hearing 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vZ3ku7Jgoc&feature=youtu.be

* Videos are available with open caption and a certified deaf interpreter.

Contact us at [email protected].