From FEMA:
"Hurricane Preparedness for People
with Disabilities Takes Time, Thought"
– For the child or adult facing
challenges because of a disability, planning ahead for hurricane season takes
added time and thought.
Planning may mean stocking up on
hearing-aid batteries or keeping an emergency supply kit in a walker or
wheelchair. For a child or person with autism, it may mean packing a computer
game or headphones to help ease stress. It could mean showing others how to
operate a wheelchair. Caregivers play a critical role in hurricane preparedness
for those with disabilities.
Here are some tips to help everyone
prepare:
General tips:
Talk with friends, family or a
support network about how to stay in touch.
Keep phone numbers for doctors,
aides and family in a sealed waterproof bag.
Pack eyeglasses, contact lenses,
hearing aids and dentures in an emergency kit.
Ask neighbors or someone in your
support circle to help keep you informed.
Plan ahead for accessible
transportation in case evacuation becomes necessary.
Identify the closest shelter in
case you need to leave your house.
Identify which medical facilities
are close to your house or shelter.
Wear medical alert tags or
bracelets with information about healthcare needs.
Plan and practice for an
evacuation, and remember to take your medical devices in a waterproof bag.
Have at least a 10-day supply of
prescription medicines along with copies of prescriptions; list of all
medications and dosage; list of allergies; list of dietary restrictions.
Make plans for a pet, including a
note for emergency responders: I have a service animal named ____, who must
evacuate with me.
Tips for people who are deaf or
hard of hearing
Get a weather radio with text
display and a flashing alert.
Stock up on extra hearing-aid
batteries and protect them with a plastic bag.
Carry pen and paper to help
communicate with someone who does not know sign language.
Have access to TTY and/or VRS.
Tips for people who are blind or
have low vision
Carry a picture of your family
members to help connect you with them in an emergency.
Mark emergency supplies with
Braille labels or large print. Keep a list of emergency supplies on a portable
flash drive or make an audio file and keep it in a plastic bag and where it’s
easy to find.
Keep a Braille or deaf-blind
communications device in an emergency supply kit.
Practice your evacuation route
and be comfortable getting to your family’s meeting point.
Tips for people with a mobility
disability
Make sure all assistive devices
that depend on electricity or batteries are working and keep your batteries in
a waterproof bag.
Keep an emergency supply kit in a
backpack attached to your walker, wheelchair or scooter.
Show others how to operate your
motorized wheelchair, and have a lightweight manual chair available as a
backup.
Keep an extra cane or walker for
emergencies.
Keep an extra seat cushion to
protect your skin or maintain your balance, and take it along if evacuation
becomes necessary.
Tips for children and adults with
autism
Familiar items will help children
adjust to new surroundings and ease the stress of the transition. Remember to
pack their favorite toys, movies and computer games.
Headphones or earplugs can dampen
the noise in unfamiliar settings. Consider bringing duct tape to mark the
perimeters of your family’s assigned space in a communal shelter.
Children with autism often wander
away. Work with teachers, police and community members as you develop safety
plans to help protect children from dangerous situations.
Tips for people with a mental
health condition
The stress that comes with an
emergency can be hard to manage. Be ready to provide important information
specific to your situation, or write it down and keep it with you. For example:
“I have a mental health condition and may become confused in an emergency.
Please help me find a quiet place. I will be okay shortly.”
The range of needs runs wide and
effective planning runs deep. Be ready for the hurricane season and help those
who may need neighborly assistance.
For more information and
hurricane season preparedness, visit fema.gov/disaster/4339. Disaster recovery assistance is
available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age,
disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know
has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362)
711/VRS - Video Relay Service). Multilingual operators are available. (Press 2
for Spanish). TTY call 800-462-7585.
^ This is very important information for those that are disabled and those that care for them. ^
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