General Tips

• Plan to be on your own for at least 3 days after a disaster.
• Telephones, power, and transportation services may be disrupted.
• Review, drill, and update plans and equipment at least every 6 months.
• Include any service animals in drills.
• If you use walking aids, always keep them near you.
• Practice telling first reponders about the best way to assist you.
• Anticipate reactions you may have after a disaster and plan strategies for coping with them.
• NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio can be set to alert you to natural or man-made disasters by audible alarm, visual strobe alarm, or vibration alerts. For more information, see www.weather.gov.

Ready Kit

• Battery-operated flashlight, radio, TV
• All medications and cooler (if necessary); list of prescriptions
• 1-week supply of non-perishable food that meets your dietary needs; manual can opener
• 1 gallon of water per person per day; more if needed (ask your doctor)
• Cash, credit cards, checkbook, ATM card
• Any necessary medical equipment and assistive devices (e.g. oxygen and portable unit, hearing aids, walkers, glasses)
• Towels, masks, industrial respirators, etc., for chemical sensitivities, respiratory condition, etc.
• If applicable, items for infants, e.g. formula, diapers
• Important documents (photo ID, birth certificates, proof of address, medical insurance, etc.)
• Supplies for any service animals, including food, ID tags, etc.
• Emergency list (see below)

Assessment

• Identify possible disasters in your community.
• Learn emergency plans in workplace, community, apartment building, etc.
• Evaluate your needs during a disaster and the help you may need.
• Make safety officials, employers, teachers, building managers, etc., aware of your abilties and limitations.
• Review this information with your personal support network.

Personal Support Network

• Identify people to assist you before, during, and after emergencies.
• Include friends, family, co-workers, personal attendants, or others at home, work, and other places you spend time.
• Make a communications plan.
• Tell your support network about your assistance needs and how to operate any equipment.
• Give them a copy of your emergency list (see below) and spare key.

Emergency List

• Doctor's contact information
• Personal suppot network (see above) contact information
• Medication information: name, dosage, frequency.
• Equipment information:name, supplier, serial number.
• Service providers' contact information.
• Written information describing your abilities and limitations.

Preparing for Evacuations

• Leave when ordered or when in immediate danger.
• Include your needs in evacuation plans at home, workplace, etc.
• Identify 2 escape routes for every room.
• Keep distress flags, whistles, beepers close.
• Tell others about your needs (e.g. ramps, alerts, audible i nstructions).
• Write directions about equipment and safe transport methods.
• Set a meeting place near and outside the area.
• Plan for transportation disruptions.

Sheltering

• Make a plan to stay with family and friends.
• Find out which shelters have accessible accomodations.
• Bring special equipment (oxygen, mobility aids).
• Make a plan for any pets, as service animals are allowed in shelters but pets usually are not.
• If sheltering in place, follow instructions from officials.
• Prepare a kit of supplies to take with you (see above).

Service Providers

• Identify your regular service providers (home health care, personal assistance services, transportaion, meals, etc.).
• Learn about their emergency plans and emergency contact information.
• Ask them how services will continue during emergencies.
• Keep all service providers' numbers on your emergency list.
• Maintain a list of alternate service and equipment providers.

Created on 06/08/2009 12:24 PM by nnjdisab Updated on 06/29/2009 10:48 AM by nnjdisab