In order to be prepared, the Title VI Program must prepare a written disaster response plan. Developing a disaster response plan requires a significant amount of time for discussions and preparation. The Title VI Director should take the responsibility for developing the plan and can use the planning process discussed elsewhere in this manual as a guide. However, before beginning to develop a plan it is important to find out about the Tribe's overall disaster plan and disaster planning committee, if they exist. Access to disaster related services can oftentimes be limited by the lack of transportation and phones.
Many Indian reservations are geographically isolated and road conditions can be challenging.
Many older Native Americans do not have access to transportation on a regular basis so that transportation must be arranged for evacuation or to disaster assistance centers. The common absence of phones in their homes also contributes to elders' isolation and inability to access toll-free teleregistration numbers. On some reservations, it was particularly helpful renting or purchasing cellular phones so that the Project Director could make phone calls from the elder's home. Lap-top computers also facilitated being able to take applications in people's homes so they didn't have to be transported to the Disaster Assistance Centers. Contact lists need to be updated annually with current names and phone numbers.