Edward Glover is currently the Emergency Response Coordinator at AccessAbility. Glover previously served as a Corporate Field Trainer for Sentinel Offender Services and was also a FEMA Contractor for 15 years, where he developed his disaster preparedness skills. In his free time, Glover likes to go saltwater fishing and leisurely watch women’s basketball.
In this interview, Glover describes everything from his role in the organization to emergency preparedness tips for individuals with disabilities.
Can you describe your role at AccessAbility and how it contributes to the organization’s mission?
My duties and responsibilities include analyzing local hazards and threats to develop, schedule, and implement plans to respond to emergencies and disasters in order to minimize risk to people, equipment, and programs tailored for people with disabilities and those with access and functional needs.
I organize and conduct emergency preparedness education and training programs for our internal staff, external consumers, emergency volunteer workers, and the general public; provide public health outreach programs and deliver disability-focused preparedness training to help individuals and their families prepare to be self-reliant during a disaster.
When a disaster strikes, I coordinate the agency’s response efforts across different agencies like the American Red Cross, SC Emergency Management Division, and other local state and federal disaster response teams to support emergency planning efforts such as emergency evacuation support, public warnings and disseminating information about the disaster, and emergency shelters to name a few.
How does AccessAbility support individuals with disabilities during emergencies like hurricanes?
During major weather events and public health emergencies, we work with government agencies to ensure disability-focused support services are accessible and equable. We provide technical assistance with disability-inclusive practices and inclusion of people with disabilities and people with access and functional needs throughout emergency management operations.
We become focused on ensuring people with disabilities and access and functional needs maintain their independence and we prepare ourselves to help address the many difficulties experienced by people with disabilities during emergencies.
In short, we:
-Provide disability-focused resources, knowledge, experience, and subject matter experts (SME) expertise to local and state emergency response agencies, in working with at-risk individuals and communities.
-Conduct rapid reasonable accommodations assessments and provide Consumable Medical Supplies (CMS) and replacement durable medical equipment for disaster survivors.
-Grenade preparedness education outreach programs, expands operational shelter support to manpower, train shelter clients, and aid in transition into recovery wrap-around services and case management.
What specific partnerships or collaborations does AccessAbility engage in to enhance its emergency response efforts?
During all emergency response efforts, we advise and partner with human service agencies that serve populations that often experience marginalization, economic disadvantages, and disproportionate negative impacts in a disaster. We concentrate on improving opportunities to deliver human services equitably to all populations, especially those who are socially vulnerable (high risk).
We coordinate and collaborate with government disaster response teams, human and social service stakeholders, and other NGOs to ensure response team members are aware of each other’s roles and what disaster services are available for people with disabilities, those access and functional needs, and other disproportionately impacted populations.
Can you share a recent example of AccessAbility’s impact during a natural disaster?
During Hurricane Helene, we activated our emergency response teams and we collaborated with other disability service providers and government agencies. We participated in statewide planning through the South Carolina Disability Partners in Disaster Coalition to identify disability-related services and address people’s basic resources, such as food, safe housing, or transportation; in the hurricane-impacted areas and all coastal areas of South Carolina.
What resources or advice can you provide to community members with disabilities to help them prepare for emergencies?
-Be ready now, so you won’t have to get ready.
-Make sure you prepare a “Grab and Go” bag.
-Create your emergency health information card.
-Make a list of your medications and if you have allergies.
-Plan your escape from your house or building and your emergency evacuation zone.
-Learn and practice how to give quick information on how to help you stay independent (for fire services, police healthcare workers, and Red Cross shelter workers).
-Learn what to do in case of power outages and personal injury. If you use equipment that needs electrical power, look now for another place in your community that has electrical power you can use (plan in advance).
Now that we’ve met Edward Glover, we hope that you have a better understanding of his role at AccessAbility and can appreciate the brief insight into the operations behind our emergency preparedness and public health service teams.