Plan for the emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live

• Be familiar with natural disaster risks in your community.

• Consider how you will respond to emergencies that can happen anywhere, such as home fires and floods.

• Consider how you will respond to emergencies that are unique to your region, such as volcanoes, tsunamis or tornadoes.

• Think about emergencies that may require your family to shelter in place (such as a winter storm), vs. emergencies that may require evacuation (such as a hurricane).

• Consult our emergency resource library for tips on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from specific disasters.

Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency

• Choose two places to meet up:
  • Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire
  • Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate

• Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should carry emergency contact information in writing and saved on their cell phones. Make sure places where your children spend time also have these contact numbers, like at school or daycare.

• Your plan should account for family members who may live elsewhere during the year, such as members of the military on deployment or students away at college, or those who travel frequently.
  • How will you need to adapt your plan if they are at home?
  • What will you need to do differently if they are away?

Plan what to do if you have to evacuate

• Decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there, such as:
  • A hotel/motel
  • The home of friends or relatives a safe distance away
  • An evacuation shelter

• Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Grab your emergency kit, just like you will in a real emergency, then drive your planned evacuation route. Plot alternate routes on your map in case roads are impassable. Make sure you have locations and maps saved on devices such as cell phones and GPS units and on paper.

• Plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone list of pet-friendly hotels/motels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes. Remember, if it’s not safe for you to stay home, it’s not safe for your pets either.

Plan for everyone in your home

Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs

Disaster Safety & Preparedness Guide for Seniors & People with Disabilities

 Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning
This guide is primarily intended to assist people involved in preparedness planning

Some members of your household may need special accommodation during an emergency, which means planning ahead is even more crucial.

Create your Emergency Plan in Just 3 Steps

Include Common Emergency Scenarios When You Plan

Plan for the emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live

• Be familiar with natural disaster risks in your community.

• Consider how you will respond to emergencies that can happen anywhere, such as home fires and floods.

• Consider how you will respond to emergencies that are unique to your region, such as volcanoes, tsunamis or tornadoes.

• Think about emergencies that may require your family to shelter in place (such as a winter storm), vs. emergencies that may require evacuation (such as a hurricane).

• Consult our emergency resource library for tips on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from specific disasters.

Plan what to do in case you are separated during an emergency

• Choose two places to meet up:
  • Right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire
  • Outside your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate

• Choose an out-of-area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should carry emergency contact information in writing and saved on their cell phones. Make sure places where your children spend time also have these contact numbers, like at school or daycare.

• Your plan should account for family members who may live elsewhere during the year, such as members of the military on deployment or students away at college, or those who travel frequently.
  • How will you need to adapt your plan if they are at home?
  • What will you need to do differently if they are away?

Emergency Contact Card

Make cards for the whole family in case you are separated during an emergency.

Download Template >>

Plan what to do if you have to evacuate

• Decide where you would go and what route you would take to get there, such as:
  • A hotel/motel
  • The home of friends or relatives a safe distance away
  • An evacuation shelter

• Practice evacuating your home twice a year. Grab your emergency kit, just like you will in a real emergency, then drive your planned evacuation route. Plot alternate routes on your map in case roads are impassable. Make sure you have locations and maps saved on devices such as cell phones and GPS units and on paper.

• Plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone list of pet-friendly hotels/motels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes. Remember, if it’s not safe for you to stay home, it’s not safe for your pets either.

Plan for everyone in your home

Some members of your household may need special accommodation during an emergency, which means planning ahead is even more crucial.

Resources on Emergency Preparedness & Recovery

• • • ACL Policy on CILs and Emergency Preparedness and Response 7.19.18 (docx)
    • FEMA Guide: Prepare for Emergencies Now: Information for People with Disabilities
    • Tips on Power Loss for People with Disabilities from Ready.gov
    • American Red Cross – Guide to Emergency Planning
    • Effective Emergency Preparedness Planning: Addressing the Needs of Employees with Disabilities
    • Emergency Planning for CILs: For Your Community (pdf)
    • Personal Emergency Notebook Checklist (pdf)
    • Emergency Information Form (pdf)
    • Ready.Gov
    • An ADA Guide for Local Governments: Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities
    • Lifeline: Affordable Telephone Service for Income-Eligible Subscribers

Information Specific to a Particular Disability:

• • • General Tips for Disabilities and Medical Concerns (pdf)
    • Cognitive Disabilities (pdf)
    • Communication Disabilities (pdf)
    • Hearing Impairments (pdf)
    • Life Support Systems (pdf)
    • Mobility Concerns (pdf)
    • Psychiatric Disabilities (pdf)
    • Service Animals (pdf)
    • Visual Disabilities (pdf)
    • Environmental and Chemical Sensitivities (pdf)

Disaster Preparedness Services

• • • Plan by location – Emergency Preparedness via State and National Resources
    • Plan by Disaster – Emergency Preparedness via Natural Disaster (Hurricane, Flood, etc.)
    • Plan by Hazard – Emergency Preparedness via Hazard (Bioterrorism, Chemical Emergency, etc.)
    • Emergency Evacuation Transportation – Register for transportation during an emergency evacuation
    • Find your Local Red Cross – Find your local chapter

First Responder Resources

• • • TRAIN (Disaster Preparedness Course) – A course designed for disaster relief workforce to better meet the needs of people with disabilities
    • Disaster Recovery Resources – Find a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) location near you
    • Apply for Disaster Assistance – Direct assistance for individuals, families, or businesses, whose property has been damaged or destroyed and whose losses are not covered by insurance.
    • National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System – When individuals or families are displaced due to a major disaster
    • American Red Cross Safe and Well – Register yourself, or search for family, that have listed themselves as “Safe and Well”
    • American Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Information – Picking up the pieces after a disaster
    • FEMA Interim Housing – Helping individuals and families find a place to live after a disaster
    • Natural Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center – Giving people affected by disaster legal assistance and resources

Job Accommodation Network

• • • Employers Guide to Including Employees with Disabilities in Emergency Evacuation Plans (pdf)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Resources

• • • Hurricanes…Unleashing Natures Fury: A Preparedness Guide (pdf)

KU Research & Training Center on Independent Living

• • Emergency Preparedness Trainings and Resources for People with Disabilities website
  • Service Animal and Pet ID Form

Plan to let loved ones know you’re safe

If your community experiences a disaster, be sure to register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well website to let your family and friends know you are safe.

Or, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and select the prompt for “Disaster” to register yourself and your family.

Read more tips for reconnecting with loved ones after a disaster or emergency.

Individuals with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs

Disaster Safety & Preparedness Guide for Seniors & People with Disabilities

 Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning
This guide is primarily intended to assist people involved in preparedness planning