What is the difference between Disaster Planning for

Individuals with a Visually Impairment and Cognitive

Disability versus Individuals without a visual

impairment?

Little input into disaster planning

Emergency Preparedness information is not available in accessible formats

Assumptions that someone else has taken care of it.

Professional Responsibility

Be prepared for disasters

Share this information with your agency & individuals you work for.

Assist individuals you work with in being prepared for any emergency

Participate in community’s disaster preparation planning

Encourage others to participate

Advocate on behalf of the individuals you work with.

Never assume plans are in place for disaster.

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness means being: Being prepared yourself and having your

family prepared for all kinds of emergencies able to respond in time of crisis to save lives

and property able to help a community return to normal

life after a disaster.

.

Emergency Preparedness

Is everyone’s concern!

Why prepare?

The need to prepare is real.

FEMA Emergency Preparedness Pyramid

Government

State

Community

Citizen

Step One: Get Informed

Be knowledgeable about:

Natural hazards Man-made hazards Community Hazards Community Disaster Plans Community Warning Systems Assistance Programs for Individuals with

Special Needs

Resources:

911 Indicator Form

ICE phone #

Medical Reserves Corps

Check Local City/Town’s plan-What is the Community Warning System?

Do you know your Agency’s plan?

Step Two: Make a Plan

Meet with your family and review the information you gathered about community hazards and emergency plans Choose an "Out-of-Town" Contact Decide Where to Meet Complete a Communications Plan Escape Routes and Safe Places Plan for Pets

Things To Check Before a Disaster

Utilities Fire Extinguisher Smoke Alarms Insurance Coverage First Aid/CPR Inventory Home Possessions Vital Records and Documents Reduce Home Hazards

Step Three: Assemble a Kit

You may need to survive on your own after a disaster. This means having your own food, water, and other supplies in sufficient quantity to last for at least three days.

Every household should assemble a disaster supplies kit and keep it up to date.

A disaster supplies kit is a collection of basic items a family would probably need to stay safe and be more comfortable during and after a disaster.

Have emergency supplies for home, work, and vehicles.

What to include in your disaster

supplies kit Water

Food

First Aid supplies

Non-Prescription and Prescription Medicine Kit Supplies

Kitchen Items

Equipment and Tools

Clothing

Sanitation and Hygiene Supplies

Documents and Keys

Flashlights, crank-up radio & extra batteries

Contact information

Pet supplies

Map

Comfort Items

Remember the special needs of your family members

Step Four: Maintain your plan

and kit Review your plan

Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills

Keep canned foods in a dry cool place

Keep kit in airtight portable containers

Change stored food and water supplies every six months

Write the date you store it on all containers

Check clothing and other supplies

Update your communication plan

Update pet plan

If Disaster Strikes

stay put

get away

evacuate

Additional Tips for Individuals

with Special Needs

Create a Personal Support Network

Complete a Personal Assessment

Tips for People with Visual

Disabilities

Canes

Guide Dog Issues

Alternate Mobility Cues

Label Supplies

Secure Computers

Advocacy Issues

(from the American Red Cross www.redcross.org)

Animal Safety Pets and Disaster

Have a Safe Place To Take Your Pets

Assemble a Portable Pet Disaster Supplies Kit

Know What To Do As a Disaster Approaches

Have Neighbor as back up in a disaster

Keep animals secured and attended

Do not leave your animals behind. (from the Humane Society and the American Red Cross)

Handout

Disaster Supplies Calendar

Family Communications Plan

911 Disability Indicator Form

Suggestions for Making Community Emergency Preparedness Programs Accessible

Resources Personal Emergency Preparedness Plan: Disability Policy Consortium, Boston MA 866-745-

0917 www.dpcma.org Free Booklet

Emergency Preparedness & People Who Are Blind: www.acb.org

Hadley School for the Blind Course: www.hadley-school.org

An ADA Guide for Local Governments: New Emergency Preparedness Guide US Dept. of Justice: www.ada.gov

NOAA Radio Information: www.weather.gov/nwr

National Organization on Disability: www.nod.gov

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org

Presenter Contact Information

Meg Robertson COMS Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Director, Orientation & Mobility Department

Boston MAMeg.Robertson@state.ma.us

617-626-7581

Margie Carney

Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Perkins School for the Blind

Watertown MA

Margie.Carney@perkins.org

Emergency Preparedness Visual Disabilities

Related Sites and Information:

Emergency Evacuation: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety: A Guide to for People with Disabilities and Other Activity Limitations. June Isaacson Kailes, from Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic,800-221-4792 GV 5200, or go to her website at http://www.jik.com/disaster.html

Emergency Responders and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Taking the First Steps to Disaster Preparedness.2006 Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Emergency Preparedness Network CEPIN Project 301-589-3786/v -3006/TTY www.tdi-online.org “Are You Ready” Fact sheets.

Tips for First Responders: Laminated filed guide on information on how to assist persons with disabilities. Contact Anthony Cahill at Center for Development and Disability; 505-272-2990 or acahill@salud.unm.edu

Employers’ Guide to Including Employees with Disabilities in Emergency Evacuation Plans. JAN-Job Accommodation Network http://www.jan.wvu.edu/media/emergency.html

New Emergency Preparedness Guide. An ADA Guide for Local Governments: US Dept. of Justice. http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm

The Access Board: www.access-board.gov: Publications: Access Board Emergency Evacuation Procedures ADA Design Requirements for Accessible Egress Resources on Evacuation Planning and Assistive Products

American Red Cross: www.redcross.org

Be Ready Campaign: www.ready.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency: www.fema.gov

Prepare: www.prepare.org

American Assoc. for People w/Disabilities: www.aapd.com

Disability Resources:   www.disabilityinfo.gov

National Organization on Disability: www.nod.gov

National Council on Disability: www.ncd.org

The National Center on Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities: www.disabilitypreparedness.com

Pet Safety Emergency

Preparedness Disability Related

Sites: Prepare:

www.prepare.org

Humane Society: www.hsus.orG

Resources to Purchase

Emergency Supply Kits 911 Pack: www.911pack.com

Target Stores: Target/American Red Cross First Aid Emergency Preparedness Starter Kit:

www.target.com

Solar Lanterns & Radios: Check out hardware/outdoor rec stores

Or try Real Goods: 800-919-2400www.realgoods.com

NOAA Radio information: www.weather.gov/nwr/nwrrrcvr.htm

Or “Google” ‘emergency supply kits’ for other resources.

(No endorsement implied!)

Evacuation Chair Resources:

Garaventa Accessibility: Evacu-Trac Emergency Evacuation Chair www.garaventa.ca or www.evacutrac.com 800-663-6556

Stryker: Safety Evacuate Immobile Personnel Chair: www.evacuation.stryker.com

800-784-4336

Suggestion for Making Community

Emergency Preparedness Programs

Accessible to Persons who are Legally

Blind Notification Issues: TV announcements/notices are not in usually

in an audio format. Be sure websites are accessible to screen

reader software. All handouts should be in large print, at least

14 point or larger.

Evacuation, Emergency

Transportation: How are folks expected to get to a shelter

or evacuate without a car?

Will transportation be provided and will it be accessible? Is the pick up location accessible to walk to? Are there detailed walking directions?

Shelter/meeting areas should be accessible by Public Transportation with detailed walking directions from the bus stop and/or train/subway station. etc.

Additional Tips

Develop a personal assessment of individuals you work with Base plan on the lowest anticipated level of

functioning ADL issues Getting around Evacuating: What is the plan for home &

day/work program?

How agency plan to communicate with the emergency personal?

What is the agency’s communicate plan? Is there a place for back-up equipment?

State Emergency Resources

Massachusetts: www.mass.gov/mema

Also try State Red Cross chapters, State Department of Public Health & Safety and or Homeland Security agencies or State FEMA agencies