Emergency Guide for People With Special Needs
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EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
A Checklist for those with Special Needs
Evacuation during a hurricane or disaster can be a difficult task, especially for those with special needs. After a disaster, local officials and relief workers will be on the scene, but they cannot reach everyone immediately. It may take hours or days to receive help. Would your family be prepared to cope with an emergency until help arrives? These guidelines, tips and checklists will help you plan ahead for an emergency evacuation of and caring for your special needs family members.
Ask questions ahead of time!
If you or your family member use a personal care attendant from an agency check to see if that agency has special provisions for emergencies or provide services in another area should an evacuation be ordered
Create a Plan!
Meet with special needs household members or personal care attendants, discuss dangers of emergencies such as hurricanes. Determine what you need to do for the emergency. Prepare a Disaster Checklist!
A first aid kit, prescription medicines, over the counter medicine and an extra pair of glasses and sunglasses. A pre-constructed first-aid kit can be purchased at Wal-mart for under $20. This kit includes: • 50 3/4" x 3" adhesive strips • 10 extra large adhesive strips • Three 3" x 3" gauze pads • 5 yards each of 2" and 4" stretch gauze bandages • 5 yards of 1/2" adhesive tape 2
• • • • • • • •
5 knuckle and 5 fingertip bandages 4 iodine swabs and 2 antiseptic wipes 2 sting relief pads and 7/8 ounce burn cream Instant ice pack Tweezers and scissors Eye pad and 2 gloves First aid guide Sturdy plastic case with weatherproof gasket www.walmart.com
You can also create your own first aid kit by buying medical supplies at any area pharmacy and obtaining a small plastic box from any area discount store. A supply of water (one gallon per person per day) Store water in sealed unbreakable containers. Identify storage date and replace every six months. (Gallons of bottled water can be found at any area grocery store for under $1) A battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries. (These items can be found at any local discount store including wal-mart or target.) A supply of non-perishable food as well as any special foods that may be required. Remember for canned goods to pack a manual can opener Blankets, sleeping bags, and pillow. A few changes of clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes Extra set of car keys Toiletries-soap, lotion, wipes Important documents and valuables • Will, insurance policy, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds • Passports, social security cards, immunization records • Bank account numbers • Credit card account numbers and companies • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates) These documents should be kept in a lock box. A box can be bought at any area hardware store or any discount store with a hardware section. Garbage bags Photographs, magazines, favorite CD’s and tapes Place Emergency telephone numbers by the phone See Page #9
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Prepare a Checklist for the Car
Pads for car seats Water Non-perishable snacks—including special dietary needs Blankets and pillows Eyeglasses and sunglasses Medications including prescription and over the counter Draw sheets for the disabled Music Garbage bags Headphones/earplugs (in case you don’t agree on the music) Plastic hospital-type urinal
Important Information to Remember in the Event of an Evacuation!
If you do get caught in the storm and/or water is rising around your car get out and move yourself and your special needs family member to higher ground immediately! Cars can be swept away in only 2 feet of water! Stay away from downed power lines Shut off water, gas and electricity if instructed to do so. If you or your family member use a personal care attendant from an agency check to see if that agency has special provisions for emergencies or provide services in another area should an evacuation be ordered Make arrangements for pets. Animals, other than service animals may not be allowed in public shelters. Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment. Learn communities evacuation routes page #12 Listen to battery operated radio for emergency information Pick one out of state and one local friend or family member to call in case of an emergency Keep family records in a watertight fire-proof container
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Communication! Make sure everyone has an idea where they are going and an estimated time of return to alleviate any anxiety they might be facing Let others know when you left and where you are going
Sources:
www.michigan.gov/emd www.redcross.org ;
Information Specific for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Hearing aids Store hearing aid(s) in a consistent and secured location so they can be found and used after a disaster For example, consider storing them in a container by your bedside, which is attached to a nightstand or bedpost using a string or Velcro. Missing or damaged hearing aids will be difficult to replace or fix immediately after a major disaster. Batteries Store extra batteries for hearing aids and implants. If available, store and extra hearing aid with your emergency supplies. Maintain TTY batteries. Consult your manual for information Store extra batteries for your TTY and light phone signaler. Check the owner’s manual for proper battery maintenance. Communication Determine how you will communicate with emergency personnel if there is no interpreter or if you don’t have your hearing aids. Store paper and pens for this purpose. Consider carrying a pre-printed copy of important messages with you , such as: “I speak American Sign Language (ASL) and need an ASL interpreter If possible obtain a battery-operated television that has a decoder chip for access to signed or captioned emergency reports. Determine which broad casting systems will be accessible in terms of continuous news that will be captioned and/or signed. Advocate so that television stations have a plan to secure emergency interpreters for on-camera emergency duty. Alarms Install both audible alarms and visual smoke alarms. At least one should be battery operated. *Compiled from the Independent Living Resource Center,
San Francisco, California
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The Louisiana Commission for the Deaf provides information, interpreters, and emergency equipment. Contact information can be located on page #11
Special Considerations For Those With a Disability
Find two friends or family members that would be willing to help you in the event of evacuation Emergency Checklist Learn what to do in case of power outages and personal injuries. Know how to connect or start a back-up power supply for essential medical equipment Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate necessary equipment you may need Learn your communities evacuation routes *Evacuation Routes Attached page 12. Listen to battery-operated radio for emergency information. Disaster Supply Kit In addition to the general supply kit listed above persons with disabilities might want to include: Extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen, medication, catheters, food for guide or service dogs, or other special equipment you might need. A stock of Non-perishable food items that may be necessary for diet restrictions A list of the style and serial numbers of medical devices such as pacemakers Store back-up equipment, such as a manual wheelchair, at your neighbor’s home, school, or your workplace.
Compiled from American Red Cross Web Site: http://www.redcross.org
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Special Considerations When Caring for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly
Caring for those with special needs in the event of an evacuation can be easy if preparation is done ahead of time. Following are suggestions on how you can prepare for an evacuation. Use the Buddy System If you have a special needs family member or friend and are planning in assisting them in evacuation remember it is not easy to do it alone. Prepare by designating at least two people to help in the evacuation. Special Checklist Considerations Remember your special needs family member or friend are under stress and may be preoccupied during the event of an evacuation and may not pack everything they need. Following is a checklist of important items to remember in an evacuation in addition to the checklist stated above. Medications—have a list of all prescription medications, times they are to be taken, and an extra supply of these medications. *See page #8 Have the names and phone numbers of their doctors, pharmacy and home health agency *See page #9 Pack all of their personal hygiene articles, including denture cleansers and adhesives. Valuable documents and jewelry including: • Will, insurance policy, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds • Passports, social security cards, immunization records • Bank account numbers • Credit card account numbers and companies • Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates) Have a location or box ready ahead of time for them to store valuables themselves Draw sheets for persons with mobility issues 7
Adult diapers/depends Plastic hospital-type urinal
FAMILY EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS POLICE DIAL 911 OR_________________________ FIRE DIAL 911 OR_________________________ AMBULANCE DIAL 911 OR_________________________
Local Contact Name_________________________________________________________________ Address, City___________________________________________________________ Telephone #: Day( )____________________Evening ( )_____________________ Cell( )____________________ Out of Area Contact Name__________________________________________________________________ Address, City____________________________________________________________ Telephone #: Day( )_____________________Evening ( ) __________________ Cell( )_____________________ Nearest Relative Name___________________________________________________________________ Address, City_____________________________________________________________ Telephone #: Day( )________________________Evening ( )__________________ Cell( )________________________ Family Work Numbers Father ( ) ______________________ Mother ( )_____________________________ Guardian ( )____________________ Other ( )_____________________________
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Family Physician Name_____________________________ Telephone ( Name_____________________________ Telephone ( Name_____________________________ Telephone( Home Health Agency Name____________________________ Telephone ( Pharmacy Name____________________________ Telephone ( Name____________________________ Telephone ( Family Meeting Places:
)_________________________ )_________________________ )_________________________
)__________________________
)__________________________ )__________________________
2. Away from neighborhood (in case you cannot return home) ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
List Of Medications
Type of Medication 1.____________________ 2.____________________ 3.____________________ 4.____________________ 5.____________________ 6._______________ 7._______________ 8._______________ 9._______________ Time Taken ___________am/pm ___________ am/pm ___________ am/pm ___________am/pm ____________ am/pm Number of Times/day _______ _______ _______ _______ _______
_________am/pm __________am/pm __________am/pm __________am/pm
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_____ _____ _____ _____
10._______________
__________am/pm
_____
Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD)
Distribution Center Visual Communication ServiceAlexandria Parishes Served
Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Sabine, Vernon, Winn
Executive Director - Cynthia Pace 6647 First Street Alexandria, Louisiana 71303 318/ 473-0308 V 318/ 473-0398 Fax/TTY 337/ 461-2761 Fax Interpreting 866/ 473-0308 Toll Free 866/ 473-0398 Toll Free TTY 866/ 629-1815 Toll Free "V" Cynthia Pace email-vicomm@centurytel.net Office email: none243@bellsouth.net Interpreter Coordinator: Cynthia Pace Cynthia’s Cell: 337-224-9053 Equipment Coordinator: Tammy Cobb
Interpreting and Equipment Distribution Catholic Deaf Center - Baton Rouge
Executive Director - Bill Dugas 2585 Brightside Drive Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70820 225/ 766-9320 V/TTY 225/ 766-1190 225/ 766-6615 Fax 888/ 834-7955 Toll Free Bill Dugas email: cdcstfdsp@aol.com Equipment Coordinator: Beverly Hills Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. James, West Baton Rouge, West Feliciana
Email: bjh8507@aol.com Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermillion
Deaf Action Center - Lafayette
Executive Director – Myra Mouton 1408 Carmel Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 337/ 232-3463 V/TTY 337/ 233-1916 FAX 800/ 463-6010 Toll Free daclaf@bellsouth.net Interpreter Coordinator: Julie Caillouet Equipment Coordinator: Monique Mouton
Office email
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Southwest LA Independence Center-Lake Charles
Executive Director – Mitch Granger 1202 Kirkman Street Lake Charles, Louisiana 70601 337/ 477-7194 V 337/ 477-7196 TTY 337/ 477-7198 FAX 888/ 403-1062 Toll Free mitch@slic-la.org Interpreter Coordinator: Gretta Preston, ext 12 Equipment Coordinator: Josie McGee, ext. 23
Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis
gretta@slic-la.org josie@slic-la.org
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source: www.dotd.louisiana.gov
For more information on evacuation routes go to www.dotd.louisiana.gov or for an extra copy of evacuation routes contact: Louisiana State Police 1-800-469-4828 American Red Cross 1-800-229-8191 Louisiana Office of 1-225-925-7500 Homeland Security and Emergency preparedness
Resources Compiled From: Department of Transportation www.dotd.louisiana.gov www.readysouthtexas.gov www.redcross.org www.michigan.gov/emd Susan Indest Louisiana Commission for the Deaf: www.dss.state.la.us
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