Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Disability affects people in every demographic group. People of all ages, races, sexes, and national origins may have disabilities. These can be visible or invisible, and they impact each person differently. If you or a family member has a disability, it is important to think about your unique needs when preparing for emergencies and disasters.
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Complete a personal assessment
Consider the questions below and talk about your answers with people you trust. Your answers should explain what you can do on your own and where you might need help before, during, and after a disaster. Plan for times when you may not be at your best.
Daily Living
Personal Care: Do you regularly need assistance with personal care, such as bathing and grooming? Do you use adaptive equipment to help you get dressed? Do you have a caregiver or service you use that would be able to assist you?
Water Service: What will you do if water service is cut off for several days or if you are unable to heat water?
Personal Care Equipment: Do you use a shower chair, tub-transfer bench or other similar equipment?
Adaptive Feeding Devices: Do you use special utensils that help you prepare or eat food independently?
Electricity-Dependent Equipment: How will you continue to use equipment that runs on electricity, such as dialysis, electrical lifts, electric wheelchair, etc.? Do you have a safe back-up power supply and how long will it last?
Getting Around
Disaster Debris: How will you cope with the debris in your home or along your planned exit route following the disaster?
Transportation: Do you need a specially equipped vehicle or accessible transportation?
Errands: Do you need help to get groceries, medications and medical supplies? What if your caregiver cannot reach you because roads are blocked or the disaster has affected him or her as well? Do you have adequate resources to be on your own for multiple days?
Evacuating
Building Evacuation: Do you need help to leave your home or office? Can you reach and activate an alarm? Will you be able to evacuate independently without relying on auditory cues that may be absent if the electricity is off or alarms are sounding?
Building Exits: Are there other exits (stairs, windows or ramps) if the elevator is not working or cannot be used? Can you read emergency signs in print or Braille? Do emergency alarms have audible and visible features (marking escape routes and exits) that will work even if electrical service is disrupted?
Getting Help: How will you call for the help you will need to leave the building? Do you know the locations of text telephones and phones that have amplification? Will your hearing aids work if they get wet from emergency sprinklers? How will you communicate with emergency personnel if you don’t have an interpreter, your hearing aids aren’t working, or if you don’t have a word board or other augmentative communication device?
Mobility Aids/Ramp Access: What will you do if you cannot find your mobility aids? What will you do if your ramps are shaken loose or become separated from the building?
Service Animals/Pets: Will you be able to care for your animal during and after a disaster? Do you have another caregiver for your animal if you are unable to meet its needs? Do you have the appropriate licenses for your service animal so you will be permitted to keep it with you should you choose to use an emergency public shelter?
Additional Items for Consideration
Your personal needs are unique; keep this in mind when you prepare for an emergency.
If you use a walker or wheelchair, wear hearing aids, dentures, or eyeglasses, make sure you bring those with you in case of evacuation.
Make sure you have extra hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries, or a supply of oxygen available.
It is a good idea to also pack your kit with Medical alert tags or bracelets or written descriptions of your disability and support needs, in case you are unable to describe the situation in an emergency.
Medical Care
If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital, or if you receive regular services such as home health care, treatment, or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans.
If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity to operate, talk to your health care provider about what you can do to prepare for its use during a power outage.
