Personal Emergency Preparedness Plan
Cities and town governments are responsible for planning and responding to a disaster. Individuals should also prepare themselves, their families, and their caregivers. Use the information below as a guide. Download the PDF to fill in information as you go to create a record of your plan. You can also download the guide in rich text format.
Watch a short video about Emergency Preparedness on our Facebook Page. Captions are available on the video.
Community Emergency Plan
Emergency Planning is done for typical Community Hazards:
Hurricane
Winter storms
Explosions
Fires
Floods
Who is the Emergency Management Director? Record their name, office address, phone number, and email address.
The community where you live has responsibility for planning and responding to a disaster affecting its residents. The community needs to:
be able to communicate with all residents.
provide shelters to all residents when necessary
provide transportation to those who need assistance
store and replenish supplies with fresh food and medication & trackexpiration dates
practice their plan
Questions you need answers for before a disaster strikes:
Does the emergency plan address your needs?
Do you know how the community plans to notify you of an approaching disaster?
Do you know what your community evacuation plan is?
Shelters
Where is your neighborhood shelter? Does it meet it meet your minimum accessibility requirements? Record the shelter locations and manager phone numbers.
Is there a TTY/TDD available if you need it?
What is the TTY/TDD number?
Is the shelter accessible?
Does the shelter have signs in Braille?
Personal Plans
Individuals also bear a responsibility for preparing themselves and their families/caregivers for disasters.
Individuals should:
develop a personal, family (guardian) readiness plan that includes evacuation and care of pets
assemble supplies and needed information for use in disasters when sheltering in place or evacuation is required
assemble a Go-Bag with essential items, supplies and information
develop an evacuation plan for home, work and anywhere else you spend any prolonged period of time
know where the nearest accessible shelters are
store and replenish supplies with fresh food and medication & track expiration dates
practice your plan
Support Network
A support network is important. Write your list including work, home, cell numbers as well as addresses and email information. A recommendation is to have a contact who lives far way and won’t be impacted by the disaster for everyone to call.
How will your support network notify you of an approaching disaster? How will you notify your support network?
Evacuation Plan
How would you leave town? Does your support network know your plans? Consider at least two routes out whenever possible.
Public transportation may be interrupted or unavailable depending on the disaster. Will your support network help?
Medical Concerns
List any tests or treatments you take on a regular basis that will need to continue even in an emergency. Record the test, frequency, how long you can go without, and any additional comments.
List any current medications. Include names and doses of all medications including over the counter products. List the medication name, dose, method of intake, frequency, whether it is prescription or over the counter, and the renewal date.
List any allergies you may have to medications, food, or other allergens (ex., latex gloves or product). Include the reaction.
Make copies of prescriptions for your Go-Bag.
Equipment
List model numbers, vendor contact information and any other information needed to secure any equipment or assistive devices you will need whether at home or in a shelter.
If you use life-supporting technology or equipment:
Do you know how to replace equipment fast?
What do you need to do if the electricity fails?
Possible options might include the following:
Substitutions for treatment or equipment
Purchasing portable battery operated equipment
Buying a DC inverter (Before buying, check with your medical equipment vendor to assure compatibility)
Contact your vendor now to ask about service during power outages. Ask your medical supply vendor:
Will my backup supply last at least 48 hours? If not, find out what to do to get at least 48 hours of back up
Will you deliver additional equipment or supplies in threatening weather or other emergency?
How should I store equipment such as oxygen cylinders?
What supplies will I need for my cleaning equipment? Ask for a written procedure for cleaning the equipment
What is vendor’s plan to replenish my equipment and supplies after the storm/disaster?
Health Care Providers
In an emergency your support network or emergency personnel need to know who your health care providers are. Record your provider names, specialties, phone and fax numbers, and any additional notes.
Ask your doctor or health care provider about:
Medication:
What are substitutes for my medication?
A list of most important medications or equipment that needs to be replaced immediately
How much of my medications shall I keep for an emergency?
How do I reach my doctor in an emergency when the telephone may be out?
Who is my doctor’s backup?
What else do I need to think about?
Important Documents
Make copies of important documents: (Check off list as you collect information.) Keep in a waterproof, portable container.
Birth certificates
Licenses
Social security card
Bank/credit cards
Passports
Insurance information (health, car, home, etc.)
Wills/deeds
Stocks/bonds
Prescriptions
Immunization information
Proof of address
Inventory of household valuable goods
Go-Bag
Collect a Go-Bag of critical supplies and personal items in case you have to leave immediately. Leave the Go-Bag close to the door/exit. Tell your support network where it is. (Check off the list as you collect items for your “go bag.”)
Documents collected from the previous list
Include food for specific diets
A manual can opener
A flashlight and extra batteries
Information you or someone else might need about your disability or health condition
Cash (as much as you can afford)
Sanitation and hygiene items
First aid kit
Whistle
Change of clothes (consider potential weather conditions: coat, boots, mittens, etc.)
Small cooler with ice packs (kept in freezer until ready to go)
Supplies for cleaning respiratory or other equipment (vinegar, water, liquid detergent, a dish pan and paper towels)
Sunscreen
Any other specific items you need (hearing aid batteries, ostomy supplies, extra inhaler, urinary bag and tubing, etc.)
Food, vaccination information and veterinary contact for service animal. Be sure to record any service animal information.
Practice Your Plan
Practice your plan and make changes based on new information.
Locate the nearest accessible shelter. Contact the shelter manager whenever possible to discuss potential accommodation needs.
Discuss with your family and support network any other accommodations you need to plan for ahead of a disaster.
List plan modifications after practicing your plan. List additional considerations and accommodations.
Registration with Emergency Services
Some communities have developed procedures for people with disabilities to register in order to let Emergency Management personnel know who you are and maybe what your needs are. This may be the E-911 registration, part of a city census, or a separate procedure. This information will be kept confidential and used only in case of emergency.
Please consider registering if you have the opportunity.
Final Thoughts
We, at the Disability Policy Consortium (DPC), hope you found this helpful. When it comes to preparing for an emergency, we can never be too careful. While our local communities are required to serve all residents equally, we as responsible citizens must do our part. Having a completed personal emergency plan is a big step in being prepared.
