Disaster Preparedness

Responding to disasters

You and your personal assistants (PAs) must be ready to respond to both natural disasters and man made emergencies--anything from floods to kitchen fires.

This page contains the following:

Preparing for emergencies
Preparing yourself
Evacuation

Preparing for emergencies

You should prepare a disaster supply kit. Use this kit in the event of a prolonged power loss, or take it along if you need to evacuate the building. (See Evacuation below.) Include:

Prescription medicines, eyeglasses, other essential medical supplies
Candles, matches, flashlight and extra batteries.
Portable radio and extra batteries
A first aid kit (described in Emergencies: First Aid).
Water--enough for each family member for three days (1 gallon per person per day).
Non-perishable canned foods for meals for a week and a non-electric can opener.
Barbecue or camp stove (to be used outside)
Small bottle of chlorine bleach to disinfect water
Blankets, warm clothes, change of clothing.
Pet food or supplies for service animal.
Heavy duty, waterproof plastic bags for protection or waste disposal.
Pipe or crescent wrench to turn off gas and water supplies.

Preparing yourself

Responding to a fire

Small, contained fires can be smothered with a wet towel. A somewhat larger fire can be put out with a fire extinguisher. If an electrical appliance catches fire, pull the plug or turn off the electricity at the source if possible.

If you or your PA are not absolutely sure that you can quickly extinguish a fire, get everyone out of the house or apartment immediately. If a fire alarm is available, sound the alarm. Call 911.

The telephone book

The front section contains a First Aid and Survival Guide. Become familiar with its contents. It probably is tailored to the natural disasters that occur in your area.

Sheltering or evacuation?

Emergency officials may order sheltering in the event of certain disasters, like chemical releases. Sheltering means staying indoors, closing doors and windows, and going to the safest part of the house.

In other cases--hurricanes, for instance--officials may order evacuation: leaving the home and going to a shelter in a safe location. Local radio stations will broadcast specific instructions for either sheltering or evacuation.

Evacuation

If you are unable to walk, plan for a possible evacuation with these things in mind:

Elevators can not be used during a fire or power outage.
Your PA may need to carry you. Discuss this with her and, if she agrees, have her try to carry you a short distance.
Do not count on emergency workers being able to get to you quickly.
Consider obtaining an evacuation chair, which can be used on stairs.
Find out if a relative or neighbor can get help or help your PA to carry you. Have the PA learn the technique called "a fireman's carry."
Have a back-up plan. The PA could use a large blanket to drag you out of the building, if necessary.
The main exit may be blocked so plan an alternate escape route. Agree on a meeting place outside the building, even if your PA expects to accompany you. All members of the household should know the meeting place.
Emergency officials may order an evacuation. If so, take along the Emergency Supply Kit described above.
Take along the Emergency Medical Information and Emergency Contacts forms anytime you leave the home in an emergency.

June Kailes has an extensive web site that covers disaster planning and preparedness for people with disabilities. It provides more detailed planning and checklists for survival including those from the American Red Cross. http://www.jik.com/disaster.html

Next to the phone, post

A copy of the Emergency Contacts information.
Printed directions to the home. An emergency worker may ask for directions to your location.

Place a plastic bag with the Emergency Contacts list and the Emergency Medical Information form so you or your PA can grab them quickly in an emergency or a disaster.

Go to Managing Your Own Health Care Next

Health and Safety > Disaster Preparedness