Emergency Registries – NEW - an expanded discussion of emergency registry content and recommendations covered in Getting it Wrong: An Indictment with a Blueprint for Getting It Right (2018). Covers the challenges and shortcomings of existing emergency registries with examples from recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida, as well as other disasters. Recommendations focus on the need to look beyond emergency registries to the new, ubiquitous technologies that more easily connect people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs to the supports and assistance they need in their communities before, during, and after a significant emergency.

Emergency registries may seem like an easy and logical answer for addressing what are perceived as “special needs” for a small segment of the population.  In reality, registry issues are complex, and the needs when  functionally defined, are not special, and are not limited to just a small group of people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs (Kailes and Enders, 2007).

We continue to discuss emergency registry issues, and aren't quite ready to write a peer reviewed journal article. But we have developed so much material over the last decade that we decided it was time to make some of it available online.

We are including a flowchart and assessment tool for making decisions about using a registry; a compilation of opinions about registries;  background discussion on what registries are, and the types of registries used in emergency management; links to some of the existing registries, so you can see the variation that exists.

We are still compiling additional registry materials such as: a registry evaluation tool useful to consumers and community organizations; alternatives to using registries; technology approaches in public and private sectors; whole community planning strategies which fully integrate people with access and functional needs, and registry research needed.

These pages represents our work in progress, discussions, drafts of articles and content presented at workshops and webinars. We encourage you to help refine its content, identify additional resources, and provide feedback about what works, doesn’t work, or needs work.  Please include “Registry feedback” in the subject line of your message to jik@pacbell.net.

• Part 1. Purpose and Scope
• Part 2. Assessment of Registry Viability
• Part 3. Assessment of Registry Operational Elements

Emergency Registries: Research Due to scarce and piecemeal research on registries, there is a lack of data for organizations contemplating creating and maintaining registries.  Much of the available guidance is hypothetical and untested, especially in large scale emergencies. There is little to no documented evidence that when activated emergency registries for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs have made a difference in protecting people’s life, health, and safety.