The CMIST Framework _review

Communiity members of different ages, genders, abilities, and races are in downtown Disasterville near a grocery store, all wearing face masks. Some people are walking in groups and some are sitting down at tables talking. Two people have service animals.
It may not look like it but the people in this scene are socially distanced.
Carrie, a Black woman in her 30s wears a facemask, has a white cane and a miniature horse that serves as her service animal

Carrie: We’ve been talking about access needs and function needs. Someone with access needs faces challenges accessing disaster or emergency resources or services. Someone with functional needs faces challenges with everyday functioning, like communication, staying healthy by taking medicine or maintaining their independence by using medical equipment, mobility equipment, assistive devices, service animals, or with support from someone else.

We said that the CMIST framework is useful for describing and planning for access and functional needs. First we’ll talk about this framework. Then we’ll give you some examples to think about.

The CMIST framework breaks access and functional needs into 5 categories. An emergency plan that addresses CMIST needs is likely to be 4ALL.

The CMIST framework assumes that there are 5 broad categories of access and functional needs: communication, maintaining health, independence, support & safety, and transportation. CMIST can be used for temporary and permanent conditions. Someone with a broken leg and someone without a car may benefit from CMIST. It’s not about a label or diagnosis. It’s about needs someone may have during an emergency.

CMIST categories: communication, maintaining health, independence, support & safety, transportation
ASPR, 2021 https://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/planning/a
bc/Pages/at-risk.aspx

Here is how the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) describes CMIST:

Carrie, a Black woman in her 30s wears a facemask, has a white cane and a miniature horse that serves as her service animal

Carrie: Look at some emergency items and supports to meet CMIST needs. Whole community emergency plans should include information about CMIST resources and where to find them if needed during an emergency.

Overview of emergency items and supports before, during, and after an emergency following the CMIST framework
PJ, in their 30s wears a facemask and uses a walking cane

PJ: You remember these folks, right? They’ve agreed to talk to you about their CMIST needs.

Click the quiz link below to speak to each person about their CMIST needs.