Emergency and Disaster Preparedness
Individuals with disabilities often are disproportionately impacted during times of disaster. A variety of barriers may already exist such as lack of transportation and inaccessible buildings, and other barriers are either created or exacerbated by the disaster itself. Effective and inclusive evacuation, sheltering, and other response and recovery activities are critical.
People with disabilities who are self-sufficient under regular circumstances may have to rely on the help of others in an emergency situation. They may need more time than others to make necessary preparations for an emergency. Arrangements need to be made for service animals and necessary medical equipment. The following resources will help you safely prepare for emergencies:
For People with Disabilities and Caregivers
Preparing for a Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs
The booklet gives tips on getting informed, making a plan, assembling a kit, and maintaining these plans for people with disabilities.These tips provide you and your caregivers with considerations needed to help manage communications, equipment, pets and home hazards.
Resources on Emergency Evacuation and Disaster Preparedness
Information from the Access Board including ADA requirements, evacuation planning and assistive products.Ready.Gov
Tools and information that people with disabilities and other access and functional needs may wish to consider when making their emergency plans and preparations.Are You Ready?: An In Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness
The guide has been designed to help the citizens learn how to protect themselves and their families against all types of hazards. It can be used as a reference source or as a step-by-step manual. The focus of the content is on how to develop, practice, and maintain emergency plans that refl ect what must be done before, during, and after a disaster to protect people and their property.
For Emergency Workers
Community Planning Toolkit for State Emergency Workers
The main focus of this toolkit is to serve as a support to state, local and tribal emergency planners to better prepare these entities for all types of disasters. The Toolkit is organized by the following needs-based categories: transportation, communication, medical care, supervision and maintaining independence.
For Children and Schools
Prepare.Org for Children and Schools
This material can be used to help children in school and home settings to prepare for natural and man-made disasters, respond safely to emergencies and recover from trauma.
Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools TA Center
The Center for School Preparedness provides support, resources, grants, and training to support emergency management efforts for local educational agencies (LEAs) and institutions of higher education (IHEs).