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Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities
By Alicia Waters | August 1, 2016
Emergency Preparedness for Individuals with Disabilities or Access and Functional Needs
It’s hurricane season in Rhode Island and the Atlantic Coast. Are you prepared for a weather emergency? If you, or someone you know, has a disability or access or functional needs, be sure to take additional steps to stay safe, healthy, mobile, and independent during a disaster.
Find out about assistance programs that may be available in your local community and register in advance with your local office of emergency services, non-profit groups, and health departments. Start by registering with the RI Department of Health Special Needs Registry. Enrolling in the Special Needs Emergency Registry lets police, fire, and other first responders in your community better prepare for and respond to your needs during a hurricane, storm, or other emergency.
Many people may need extra help during a time of emergency, including people who:
- Are visually impaired, blind, hard of hearing, or Deaf;
- Use life support systems such as oxygen, respirator, ventilator, dialysis, pacemaker, or are insulin dependent;
- Have mobility disabilities and use a wheelchair, scooter, walker, cane, or other mobility device;
- Have speech, cognitive, developmental or mental health disabilities; or
- Use assistive animals or a prosthesis.
Make a disaster supply kit, a “go bag”, in advance of an emergency. Stay mobile and independent by including items in your disaster supply kit that meet your needs such as:
- Extra eyeglasses and hearing aids;
- Medical prescriptions;
- Batteries and chargers for assistance devices; and
- Written descriptions of service needs.
Looking for more ways to plan? Check out this video from the Ready Campaign and the Ad Council. The video is for all communities and shows people with disabilities taking charge to prepare themselves and their families for emergencies. The video provides equal access and includes open captioning, a certified deaf interpreter, and audio description for viewers who are blind or have low vision.
The Ready.gov site includes a page to support Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs.
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