PREPARING IS CARING …. ARE YOU REGISTER READY?
"Register Ready" is a free, voluntary and confidential web-based program designed to identify the needs of people who may find it difficult to get to safety in the event of an emergency.
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is partnering with the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM) to improve the state’s ability to respond to residents with disabilities or those with functional needs when a disaster such as Hurricane Sandy occurs. The “Register Ready” Special Needs Registry for Disasters is an online registry in which citizens can provide emergency response agencies with important information (e.g., if a resident is wheelchair bound or requires medical apparatus) so that emergency responders can be better prepared to serve those individuals during a natural disaster or other emergency.
People with access and functional needs (or caregivers on their behalf) are encouraged to register electronically, if possible, by accessing www.registerready.nj.gov. Alternatively, they can call New Jersey’s toll-free 2-1-1 telephone service. This service will register people, offer free translation, and provide TTY services for the hearing-impaired.
Emergency management officials view special needs registries from varying perspectives, ranging from concerns about the need for consumer expectations management to an increased sense of confidence about being able to track individuals in their communities who require specific assistance during adverse conditions. Registries can also become a focal point for building a dialogue about emergency preparedness with individuals who have access and functional needs or establishing a rapport with stakeholder groups who work with at-risk populations.
Registries are a great tool to help emergency management officials enhance services to community members, but they are not the only tool. Planning, emphasis on personal preparedness, and the engagement of stakeholder groups who work with functional needs populations are also essential tasks aimed at building a program which serves vulnerable populations.
"Safety Starts with Me" Brochure