BEST Director and Support Group Coach, Jeff Hartson (courtesy photo)

BEST Director and Support Group Coach, Jeff  Hartson, recently presented important information about brain injury and brain injury awareness at the 2017 Tacoma-Pierce County High Risk Populations Disaster Planning Summit at the Star Center in Tacoma, Washington on June 14, 2017. The summit was organized by the Pierce County High Risk Populations Disaster Planning Coalition, a coalition formed in 2007 that is comprised of interested agencies, organizations and individuals who are dedicated to serving the needs of vulnerable populations, before, during and after disasters.

Jeff Hartson (far left, back) on the presentation panel at the summit. Photo credit: Jeff Hartson

 

Hartson presented in the Challenges in Communications segment of the summit. Traditional avenues of emergency messaging do not always fully address or relate to individuals with disabilities. Hartson shared valuable and important information about brain injury and brain injury awareness to help build education, understanding and to help support the refinement, development and enhancement of communications during a disaster to best support  and inform. individuals with brain injury and their families.

For Hartson, it was a great experience to share information, connect with others and learn more.

“It was a very positive experience,” says Hartson. “It was a great opportunity to educate people about brain injuries and other disabilities that people don’t hear enough about.”

Many thanks to Jeff Hartson for his terrific community representation at this event.

It was a full audience at the summit June 14, 2017. Photo credit: Jeff Hartson.

To learn more about Pierce County Emergency Management Services, please click here.  For emergency preparedness tips, follow this link to learn more.