September
12, 2019 By ACL Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging Lance
Robertson
Every September, National
Preparedness Month brings focus to disaster planning and getting
ready for emergencies. This year’s theme says it best – we should aim to be
“Prepared, Not Scared.”
Of course, even with the best plan, a
catastrophic storm, or wildfire, or any other kind of emergency situation can
still be very scary. And no amount of preparation will completely eliminate the
stress of evacuating your home. But with a comprehensive, individualized
emergency plan, no one should have to be afraid for their life, health, or
independence.
Emergency preparation is important for everyone.
However, older adults and people with disabilities often face additional
challenges during emergencies because of health issues, mobility challenges,
and use of devices that rely on power. Those individual circumstances make
having a plan absolutely critical.
Whether you’re updating your existing plan, or
creating one for the first time, asking yourself these questions can help frame
what you need to think about:
·
What kinds of disasters
are most likely to affect your community?
·
How might a disaster
affect you?
·
Is evacuation a likely
possibility? Where would you go?
·
Could you make it on
your own for at least three days? What would you need?
·
What problems would you
experience if you did not have power for 8 hours? 24 hours? A week?
Every plan will be different, based on
individual needs. However, everyone should have an emergency kit that includes
food, water, and at least a week of medications. Include this this card, completed
with your vital medical information, and if you have a communication-related
disability, this card can help first-responders assist you in
the way that is best for you. Include a flashlight and extra batteries, and
first aid supplies. Ready.gov has an outstanding emergency kit checklist that will help you
think of everything you need. (For additional ideas, see this
checklist for kids.)
Other things to think about when you’re putting
together your plan include:
·
Which shelters are able
to accommodate your individual needs? If possible, be ready to tell first
responders, so that you are able to evacuate with your family, service animal,
caregiver, personal assistant, and assistive technology devices and supplies.
·
Plan ahead for
accessible transportation. Work with local services, public transportation or
paratransit to identify your options, and include contact information in your
emergency kit.
·
If you are dependent on
dialysis or other life-sustaining medical treatment, note the location and availability
of more than one facility.
·
If you use in-home
medical equipment that requires electricity, talk to your health care provider
about how you can prepare for a power outage.
·
If you use an
augmentative communications device or other assistive technologies, plan for
how you will communicate with emergency personnel if your equipment is not
working -- this might include laminated cards with phrases, pictures or
pictograms.
·
If you use assistive
technology, make sure your plan considers what you will need to take them with
you. Have extra batteries available. To simplify replacing equipment that is
lost or destroyed, your emergency kit should include model information, where
the equipment was purchased, and how it was paid for (Medicaid, Medicare, private
insurance, etc.).
·
Don’t forget to include
your service animals and pets in your planning. Have an emergency kit that
includes food, water, medicines, and first aid supplies for them, too.
Finally, consider the help you may need to
execute your emergency plan. Create a support network of friends, family and
others who can assist you during an emergency, and share your disaster plans
with them.
National Preparedness Month also is a great time
for communities to make sure their disaster response and recovery plans
consider the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Across the
nation, the community-based organizations that form the aging and
disability networks are providing critical expertise that is resulting
in emergency plans that are more inclusive and accessible than ever before. If
you are working to improve your community’s plan, I encourage you to bring the
networks in as partners.
Whether you’re working on your personal
emergency plan, are part of a community planning team, or are supporting older
adults and people with disabilities in the community (or all of the above!), ACL’s
website can point you to many resources available to help.
Planning for disasters is everyone’s business,
and together, we can make sure everyone is included.
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