Preparing for disasters and emergencies is essential for everyone.  It is especially important for people with a disability that do not have the same capability to safeguard themselves as an able bodied person during a disaster or emergency.

How well you prepare yourself for disasters and emergencies will determine how well you deal with and recover from an emergency or disaster.  Having a plan and preparing yourself based on your capabilities and limitations can help you during an emergency.

Keep in mind that your usual means of support and assistance may not be available to you for some time after an evacuation and/or disaster has occurred.  Taking basic steps in planning is a critical component of life and safety.

Communication Difficulties

If you have difficulty communicating your needs, you should consider the following:

• Be prepared to give clear and concise instructions.
• Build a support team to assist you.
• Have a card that states your communication difficulties.

Medical Information List

A medical information list should be compiled to inform emergency workers of your condition.

• Have a list of medications you are taking.
• Identify any allergies to medication you may have.
• Identify your disability clearly so emergency workers know how to treat you.

Out of Area Emergency Contact List

It is important to have a contact list of family members and/or friends that live out  of your immediate area.

• Give your family members or friends your medical information to relay to emergency workers.
• Have phone numbers and names available of family members and or friends to be given to emergency workers so they can contact them for you to identify your needs.

Blindness or Visual Impairments

People who are blind or visually impaired will have difficulty navigating a building during an evacuation or emergency.

• Calmly inform the person who is visually impaired that an emergency has occurred.
• Offer your elbow and escort them out of the building to a safe area.
• Do not grab the person because doing so may cause injury.
• As you walk, describe where you are and advise of any obstacles.
• When you have reached a safe area, orient the person to their surrounding and ask if any further assistance is needed.

Deafness or Hard of Hearing

Individuals who are deaf and/or have some hearing loss may not immediately realize that an emergency is taking place.

• One way to get the person’s attention is to turn “on and off” the lights.
• Write a note to the person that an emergency has occurred and to exit the building.
• Use hand gestures to communicate.

Mobility Impairments

People who use a wheelchair and/or have other mobility impairments may have difficulty evacuating a building, especially if they are above the first floor of a building.

• Ask the person the best way to remove him/her from their wheelchair in order to exit the building safely.
• Ask if a seat cushion should be brought along if the wheelchair is being left behind.
• Ask whether to carry the person forward or backward down a flight of stairs.
• Ask the person whether to extend or move extremities when lifting because of pain, catheter leg bags, spasticity, braces, etc.
• If unable to evacuate, it may be necessary to move the individual to a safe place and wait for emergency personnel.

Additional Resources

American Red Cross
County of Orange Health Care Agency
United States Access Board
National Organization on Disability
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
DisabilityInfo.gov