Preparing Makes Sense For People With Disabilities And Special ...
3
Be Informed
About What Might Happen
Some of the things you can do to
1 Get a Kit
Of Emergency Supplies
The first step is to consider how an emer-
prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling
an emergency supply kit and making an emer-
Preparing
Preparing Makes
gency might affect your individual needs. Plan to
make it on your own, for at least three days. It’s
gency plan are the same regardless of the type
of emergency. However, it’s important to stay
Makes Sense
Sense. Get Ready Now.
possible that you wil not have access to a medical
facility or even a drugstore. It is crucial that you
and your family think about what kinds of resources
informed about what might happen and know
what types of emergencies are likely to affect
for People with
The likelihood that you and your family wil
you use on a daily basis and what you might do if
those resources are limited or not available.
your region. For more information about specific
types of emergencies, visit www.ready.gov.
Disabilities and
recover from an emergency tomorrow often
Basic Supplies: Think first about the basics for
Be prepared to adapt this information to your
personal circumstances and make every effort
Special Needs.
survival – food, water, clean air and any life-sustaining
depends on the planning and preparation done
items you require. Consider two kits. In one kit put
everything you will need to stay where you are and
to fol ow instructions received from authorities
on the scene. Above all, stay calm, be patient
and think before you act. With these simple
Get Ready
today. While each person’s abilities and needs
make it on your own for a period of time. The other
kit should be a lightweight, smaller version you can
preparations, you can be ready for
the unexpected.
Now.
take with you if you have to leave your home.
are unique, every individual can take steps to
Recommended basic emergency supplies include:
Preparing Makes Sense for People
prepare for all kinds of emergencies from fires
◗ Water, one gallon of water per person per day
for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
with Disabilities and Special Needs.
Get Ready Now.
and floods to potential terrorist attacks. By
◗ Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable
food and a can opener if kit contains canned food
evaluating your own personal needs and making
◗ Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a
This information was developed by the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security in consultation with AARP, the American
an emergency plan that fits those needs, you
NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra
batteries for both
Red Cross and the National Organization on Disability.
and your loved ones can be better prepared.
◗ Flashlight and extra batteries
This guide outlines commonsense measures
◗ First aid kit
individuals with disabilities, special needs and
◗ Whistle to signal for help
their caregivers can take to start preparing for
◗ Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and
plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
emergencies before they happen. Preparing
◗ Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties
for personal sanitation
makes sense for people with disabilities and
◗ Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
special needs.
◗ Local maps
◗ Pet food, extra water and supplies for your pet
www.ready.gov
Get Ready Now.
or service animal
READY-RP-0406-01.
Include Medications and Medical Supplies:
important if you need to be lifted or carried. Talk about
emergency. For more information about pet
If you take medicine or use a medical treatment on
communication difficulties, physical limitations, equip-
preparedness, visit www.ready.gov.
a daily basis, be sure you have what you need on
2
ment instructions and medication procedures. If you are
Staying Put:
hand to make it on your own for at least a week.
Make a Plan
For What You Will Do in an Emergency
hearing impaired, discuss the best ways to alert you in
Whether you are at home or else-
You should also keep a copy of your prescriptions as
The reality of a disaster situation is
an emergency. If you have a cognitive disability, be sure
where, there may be situations when it’s simply best
wel as dosage or treatment information. If it is not
that you wil likely not have access to everyday
to work with your employer to determine how to best
to stay where you are and avoid any uncertainty
possible to have a week-long supply of medicines
conveniences. To plan in advance, think through the
notify you of an emergency and what instruction
outside. Consider what you can do to safely shelter-
and supplies, keep as much as possible on hand and
details of your everyday life. If there are people who
methods are easiest for you to fol ow. Always participate
in-place alone or with friends, family or neighbors.
talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else
assist you on a daily basis, list who they are and how
in exercises, trainings and emergency dril s offered by
Also consider how a shelter designated for the public
you should do to prepare.
you wil contact them in an emergency. Create your
your employer.
would meet your needs.
own personal support network by identifying others
If you undergo routine treatments administered by
There could be times when you will need to stay put
who wil help you in an emergency. Think about what
Develop a Family Communications Plan:
a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services
and create a barrier between yourself and potentially
modes of transportation you use and what alternative
Your family may not be together when disaster strikes,
such as home health care, treatment or transportation,
contaminated air outside. This process is known as
modes could serve as back-ups. If you require handicap
so plan how you will contact one another and review
talk to your service provider about their emergency
“sealing the room.” Use available information to assess
accessible transportation be sure your alternatives
what you will do in different situations. Consider a plan
plans. Work with them to identify back-up service
the situation. If you see large amounts of debris in the
are also accessible. If you have tools or aids specific
where each family member calls or e-mails the same
providers within your area and the areas you might
air, or if local authorities say the air is badly contami-
to your disability, plan how you would cope without
friend or relative in the event of an emergency. It may
evacuate to. If you use medical equipment in your
nated, you may want to take this kind of action. For
them. For example, if you use a communication device,
be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to
home that requires electricity to operate, talk to
more information about “sealing the room,” visit
mobility aid, or rely on a service animal, what wil you
call across town, so an out-of-town contact, not in the
your health care provider about what you can do to
www.ready.gov.
do if these are not available? If you are dependent on
impacted area, may be in a better position to communi-
prepare for its use during a power outage.
life-sustaining equipment or treatment such as a dialysis
cate among separated family members. You may have
Evacuation: There may be conditions in which you
trouble getting through, or the phone system may be
Additional Items: In addition, there may be other
machine, find out the location and availability of more
wil decide to get away or there may be situations
down altogether, but be patient. For more information
things specific to your personal needs that you
than one facility. For every aspect of your daily routine,
when you may be ordered to leave. Plan how you will
on how to develop a family communications plan, visit
should also have on hand. If you use eyeglasses,
plan an alternative procedure. Make a plan and write
get away and anticipate where you will go. Choose
www.ready.gov.
hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair
it down. Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency
several destinations in different directions so you
batteries, and oxygen, be sure you always have
supply kits and a list of important information and
Deciding to Stay or Go: Depending on your
have options in an emergency. Ask about evacuation
extras in your home. Also have copies of your medical
contacts in your wal et. Share your plan with your family,
circumstances and the nature of the emergency, the
plans at the places where you spend time including
insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cards readily
friends, care providers and others in your personal
first important decision is whether you stay or go. You
work, school, community organizations and other
available. If you have a service animal, be sure to in-
support network.
should understand and plan for both possibilities. Use
places you frequent. If you typically rely on elevators,
clude food, water, collar with ID tag, medical records
have a back-up plan in case they are not working.
Create a Personal Support Network: If you
common sense and available information to determine
and other emergency pet supplies.
anticipate needing assistance during a disaster, make
if there is immediate danger. In any emergency, local
Fire Safety: Plan two ways out of every room in
authorities may or may not immediately be able to
Include Emergency Documents: Include
a list of family, friends and others who will be part of
case of fire. Check for items such as bookcases,
provide information on what is happening and what you
copies of important documents in your emergency
your plan. Talk to these people and ask them to be part
hanging pictures, or overhead lights that could fal
should do. However, you should monitor television or
supply kits such as family records, medical records,
of your support network. Share each aspect of your
and block an escape path. Check hallways, stairwells,
radio news reports for information or official instructions
wills, deeds, social security number, charge and bank
emergency plan with everyone in your group, including
doorways, windows and other areas for hazards that
as they become available. If you’re specifical y told to
accounts information, and tax records. It is best to
a friend or relative in another area who would not be
may keep you from safely leaving a building during an
evacuate or seek medical treatment, do so immediately.
keep these documents in a waterproof container.
impacted by the same emergency who can help if
emergency. Secure or remove furniture and objects
If you require additional travel time or need transporta-
If there is any information related to operating equip-
necessary. Make sure everyone knows how you plan to
that may block your path. If there are aspects of
tion assistance, make these arrangements in advance.
ment or life-saving devices that you rely on, include
evacuate your home, school or workplace and where
preparing your home or workplace that you are not
those in your emergency kit as well, and also make
you will go in case of a disaster. Make sure that some-
Consider Your Service Animal or Pets: Whether
able to do yourself, enlist the help of your personal
sure that a trusted friend or family member has
one in your personal support network has an extra key
you decide to stay put in an emergency or evacuate to
support network.
copies of these documents. Include the names and
to your home and knows where you keep your emer-
a safer location, you wil need to make plans in advance
Contact Your Local Emergency Information
numbers of everyone in your personal support net-
gency supplies. Teach them how to use any lifesaving
for your service animal and pets. Keep in mind that
Management Office: Some local emergency
work, as well as your medical providers. If you have a
equipment or administer medicine in case of an
what’s best for you is typical y what’s best for your
management offices maintain registers of people
communication disability, make sure your emergency
emergency. If you use a wheelchair, oxygen or other
animals. If you must evacuate, take your pets with you,
with disabilities so you can be located and assisted
information list notes the best way to communicate
medical equipment show friends how to use these
if possible. However, if you are going to a public shelter,
quickly in a disaster. Contact your local emergency
with you. Also be sure you have cash or travelers
devices so they can move you if necessary or help
it is important to understand that by law only service
management agency to see if these services exist
checks in your kits in case you need to
you evacuate. Practice your plan with those who have
animals must be al owed inside. Plan in advance for
where you live or visit www.ready.gov to find links to
purchase supplies.
agreed to be part of your personal support network.
shelter alternatives that will work for both you and your
government offices in your area. In addition, wearing
Inform your employer and co-workers about your dis-
animals; consider loved ones or friends outside of your
medical alert tags or bracelets that identify your dis-
ability and let them know specifically what assistance
immediate area, pet-friendly shelters and veterinarians
ability can be a crucial aid in an emergency situation.
you wil need in an emergency. This is particularly
who would be willing to take in you and your pets in an
When traveling, consider alerting hotel or motel workers
if you will need help in a disaster situation.
