Seniors & People with Disabilities

To create a personal/family emergency plan now – before disaster strikes – please click here. This web site will help you create your own personalized Family Disaster Plan.

For the millions of Americans who have physical, medical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, emergencies such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism present a real challenge. The same challenge also applies to the elderly and other special needs populations. Protecting yourself and your family when disaster strikes requires planning ahead. This section will help you get started. Discuss these ideas with your family, friends and/or your personal care attendant, or anyone else in your support network and prepare an emergency plan. Post the plan where everyone will see it, keep a copy with you and make sure everyone involved in your plan has a copy.

Care

• During an emergency, personal care attendants may not be able to make it to their patients. Make sure you have made arrangements with caregivers and/or are familiar with your personal care agencies emergency policy. This includes having emergency supplies on hand at home and having a support network that is aware of your situation.
• If you have a service animal, make sure that it has a registered tag and that it is recognized by service professionals. This includes if the animal travels with you in a car or on public transportation – have a decal on the car window that indicates “Service Animal Inside".

Medication

• Keep a separate supply of at least 7 days worth of any medication or critical medical supplies, such as oxygen. Check with your insurance and doctor to arrange this.
• If you rely on electric medical equipment, such as wheelchairs, ventilators and oxygen compressors, talk to your medical supply company about getting batteries or a generator as a back up power source. Have their telephone number on speed dial.

Mobility

• If you or a family member have difficulty moving quickly and easily, make sure your neighbors are aware and that you have someone who can check in during an emergency. You might want tot give a trusted neighbor your contact person’s number.
• Develop a support network with several people who will continue to follow up with you following an emergency.
  

This site will provide a wide range of information about other preparedness activities to benefit you and your family:

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