EXEMPLARY PRACTICES IN EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Special Needs Awareness Program (SNAP)
Program Description: After flooding occurred in areas of southeast Texas in October 1994, students in the Community Problem Solving class of Austin Middle School, Beaumont, Texas, responded to stories they had heard about people having difficulty during emergency evacuations. The students originated the idea for SNAP and established a pilot program in their community.The goal of SNAP is to identify those persons, such as the elderly, mentally and physically challenged, or homebound, who would have difficulty in an emergency evacuation. These residents are given special SNAP signs for display only during an emergency. SNAP also notifies police, fire, and emergency management personnel that they should look for the SNAP signs to determine where assistance is needed in an evacuation.
SNAP distributes information on the program to civic organizations, churches, and government agencies in the area through letters, speakers bureaus, and videotapes. The program has spread throughout the United States and internationally via the Internet and magazine articles.
Evaluation Information: Information on the program has been requested by agencies in 31 States, the Dominican Republic, and Australia. Three magazines -- Natural Hazard Observer, Wanted Magazine, and D.E.M. Digest -- have featured articles on the program. The 41 SNAP students from Beaumont Middle School who originated the program won first place in the intermediate division in the 1995 International Future Problem Solving (Community Problem Solving) Competition in Providence, Rhode Island.
Annual Budget: $1,200.
Sources of Funding: Beaumont Public Schools Foundation, Inc., FAD (Falcons Against Drugs), funds raised by SNAP team members, and personal donations.
Source for Additional Information: Mrs. Lynne Buchwald, Austin Middle School, Beaumont, TX (409-866-8143).
Program Type: Emergency evacuation assistance.
Target Population: Elderly, physically and mentally challenged, and homebound residents who would require special assistance during an emergency.
Setting: Any residential area in any State; the SNAP program originated in Beaumont, Texas.
Project Startup Date: 1994.
Contact:
Sgt. Robert J. Smith
Project Director
St. Luke's UMC
4265 E. Lucas Drive
Beaumont, TX 77708
Tel: 409-880-3818
Fax: 409-880-3873
Last Modified: Wednesday, 29-Mar-2006 12:18:27 EST