Disability and Health Program • New York State Department of Health Disabilityand
Healthin
NewYorkState
Autumn2007•IssueNo.11
Be Prepared!
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Whenyouareinthemiddle
ofacrisis,thereisnotimetoplan
aresponse.Planninginadvance
isthebestprotection.Forpeople
withdisabilities,beingaware
andpreparediscriticalduring
anemergencysituation.Perhaps
youthinkthatsomeoneelsehas
alreadyconsideredyourneedsin
anemergency;thisbeliefcancreate
newdifficultiesandhazards.
Inside
this issue
•Developingan
EmergencyPlan
•PuttingTogetherYour
EmergencySupplyKit
•FireSafetyTips
•IndependentLivingCenter
ConsumersBeginPreparing
ThisissueofOnTargetlooksat
emergencypreparednessforpeople
withdisabilities.Weexplore
whatyoucandotoprepareforan
emergency,howtocreateapersonal
supportnetwork,whattoincludein
•EmergencyPreparedness
Resources
•NametheNewsletter
(continued on page 2)
1
anemergencykitandwheretogofor
helpinplanningforemergencies.You
maynotbeabletoavoidemergencies,
butwithsomethoughtfulplanning
youcanreducetheriskstheyposeto
yourdailyroutines,andbeconfident
thatyouareprepared.Agoodplancan
helpyoufeelincontrol,eveninthe
faceofunexpectedevents.
Accordingtoa2004HarrisPoll,96%
ofAmericansfeelitisimportantto
prepareforemergencies,butless
than20%describethemselvesas
totallyprepared.Despiteguidelines
fromgovernmentorganizationsand
communitybasedserviceslikethe
AmericanRedCross,only42%of
Americanshavecreatedapersonal
emergencykit.
What is emergency preparedness?
Peoplewithdisabilitiesmay
beespeciallyvulnerableduring
andafteremergencyevents.Inan
emergency,manysystemsyourely
onmaynotfunctionaswellasthey
usuallydo.Familiarlandmarks
andusualtravelroutesyouand
yourserviceanimalknowmaybe
altered.Utilitieslike
electricity,water,gas
andphoneservice
maybedisrupted.
Youmightneedto
temporarilyevacuate
toashelterwhichmay
notbefullyaccessible
foryourneeds.Thetips
andstrategiesinthis
newslettercanhelpyou
seedeta
ilsonpa
plantobepreparedfor
ge7
thesesituations.
Thetermreferstothesteps
youtaketomakesureyouare
safebefore,duringandafteran
emergencyornaturaldisaster.These
plansareimportantforyoursafety
inbothnaturaldisastersandmanmadedisasters.Examplesofnatural
disastersarefloods,
blizzards,tornadoesand
earthquakes.Man-made
disasterscaninclude
explosions,fires,
chemicalandbiological
attacks.
CONTES
Sincetheevents
ofSeptember11,
2001,andmore
recently,Hurricane
Katrina,Americans
aremoreaware
ofemergency
events. T
Rename
the
Newslet
ter
2
disabilitiesinanemergency.Some
communitiesandcountieshavea
voluntaryregistryforpeoplewith
disabilitiessohelpcanbeprovided
quickly.Informationaboutregistries
canoftenbefoundonyourcounty
orcommunitywebsitehomepage.
Contactyourlocalemergency
managementoffice.Itshouldbe
listedinthegovernmentpagesof
yourlocalphonebook.Manyoffices
maintainaregistryforpeoplewith
disabilities.Mostelectricandutility
companieshaveavoluntaryregistry
forpeoplewhodependonoxygen
orventilatorssoinapoweroutage,
theycanalertofficialsastowho
willneedhelp.Ifyouareuneasy
participatinginaregistry,remember
thepurposeofregistriesistogetyou
helpasquicklyaspossible.
Developing an Emergency Plan
Makingapersonalemergency
planisthefirststep.Themost
importantthingsforyoutoconsider
areyoursurroundings,your
physicalabilitiesandthetypesof
emergenciesthatmayoccurwhere
youlive.
Itdoesnotmakesensetoplan
forsomethingthatwillnothappen
inyourtown.Forinstance,aperson
wholivesinUpstateNewYorkdoes
notneedtoworryaboutatsunami,
ortidalwave.But,youmayneedto
prepareforafloodifyouliveneara
riverorcreek.Inadditiontolearning
aboutthetypesofemergencies
thatmayaffectyou,learnwhat
emergencyplansareinplaceinyour
community.Emergenciescanoccur
whenyouandyourfamilyareaway
fromhome,solearnaboutplansat
schoolandwork,too.Itisimportant
tofindouthowyouwillbenotified
ofanemergencyeventatschooland
work.Learnaboutyourcommunity’s
warningsignalsandwhatyoushould
dowhenyouhearorseethem.
Next,makealistofwhattypeofhelp
youwillneedduringanemergency.
Thismeansyouneedtobeawareof
yourphysicalandmentalstrengths
andweaknesses.Youdonotneed
tobeapersonwithamobility
impairmenttoqualifyassomeone
whomayneedassistanceduringan
emergency.Forexample,ifyouwear
hearingaidsorrelyonlip-reading
Askaboutregistriesthatmay
beinplacetohelppeoplewith
3
tocommunicate,youmostlikely
donothavetroubleunderstanding
yourco-workersinyournormal
officeworkspace.But,youmight
havetroubleunderstandingthem
ifyouarestandinginasmoky,dark
stairwellafterthepowerandlights
havegoneout.Likewise,youmay
haveavisualimpairmentanda
guidedogtoassistyouinwalking
aroundyourofficebuilding.If
yourguidedoghasparticipatedin
allemergencydrills,youmaynot
requireassistancetoevacuateyour
officeinanemergency.
Whenyouhavemadealist
ofwhatyourneedswillbeinan
emergency,youcanthenfocuson
yourpersonalemergencyplan.Your
emergencyplanshouldbeastepby-stepguidelinethatwillhelpyou
prepareforanddealwithemergency
situations.Agoodplancanhelpyou
feelincontrol.Onceyouhaveyour
plan,shareitwithfamilymembers,
friends,neighbors,personalcare
attendantsandco-workers.Postyour
planinyourhousewhereyoucan
easilyreferenceit.
Itisbesttostartyourplan
bycreatingyourpersonalsupport
network.Thisisyour“self-help
team,”thepeoplewhoknowabout
yourneedsandarewillingto
helpinanemergency.Members
ofyoursupportnetworkcouldbe
roommates,relatives,neighbors,
personalcareattendants,friendsand
co-workers.Theyshouldbepeople
thatyoutrustandwhocareabout
yoursafety.Donotdependonjust
oneperson.TheAmericanRedCross
recommendsyouincludeatleast
threepeopleinyournetworkfor
eachlocationwhereyounormally
spendalotoftime.
Somepeoplefinditeasierto
listalloftheirneedsbythinkingof
theirdailyroutinesandactivities.
Thisincludesroutinesforpersonal
care,dailymedications,adaptive
devicesandanyequipmentthat
requireselectricity.Includeyour
serviceanimalinyourlist.Many
agencies,suchastheAmerican
RedCrossandtheNewYorkState
EmergencyManagementOffice,
havecreatedmedicalinformation
sheetstohelpyouorganizethislist.
Anexampleofsuchasheetcanbe
foundonpage9ofthisnewsletter.
4
Onceyouhaveyoursupport
networkinplace,sharewith
themyourlistofwhat
yourneedswillbeinan
emergencyandyour
emergencyplan.If
youuseamobility
device,showyour
supportnetwork
membershowto
operateandsafely
moveit.Havethem
practiceusingitsothat
duringanemergency,
theywillfeelconfident
helpingyou.Practice
givingshort,specific
directionstopeople.
Thatway,youwillfeel
confidentinyourabilities
tocommunicateimportant
informationinanemergency
situation.Eventhoughyouhave
practicedwithyournetwork,ina
realemergencyyoumayhavetorely
onstrangersorpeoplewhohave
neverhelpedyoubefore.
disabilitypreventsyoufrom
accessingvisualoraudioemergency
announcements.Agreeonhowyou
andyournetworkwillcommunicate
duringandafteranemergency.
Yourtelephonemaynotbeworking
sohaveanalternativeplan.Give
membersofyournetworkallthe
necessarykeystheymayneedtoget
intoyourhouseorvehicle.
Askformembersofyournetwork
tocheckwithyouimmediatelyif
localofficialsgiveanevacuation
orderorifadisasteroccurs.This
isespeciallyimportantifyour
5
Putting Together Your Emergency
Supply Kit
Thefollowingchecklistincludes
recommendeditemstoinclude
inyoursupplykitorGoBag.You
maywanttoaddsomeextraitems
dependingonyourspecificneeds.
Ittakestimeandefforttoprepare.
Gathertheseitemsalittleata
time,asyourenergyandbudget
allow.Thinkabouttheseitemsand
determinewhicharemostimportant
andrelevanttoyou.
IfyousearchtheInternetfor
informationrelatingtosupplykits,
youwillfindavarietyofchecklists
thatsuggestwhattoincludein
anemergencysupplykit.The
AmericanRedCrossandtheFederal
EmergencyManagementAgency
bothsuggestthatyoukeepenough
suppliesinyourhometomeetyour
needsforatleastthreedays.Store
theseitemsinsturdy,easy-to-carry
containerssuchasbackpacks,duffle
bagsorplasticstorageboxes.Ifyou
needtoevacuate,youwillwanttobe
abletotakeyoursupplieswithyou.
•Three-daysupplyofnonperishablefood
•Three-daysupplyofwater-1
gallonofwaterperperson,per
day
• Cashandcoins
• Copiesofinsurancepoliciesand
bankaccountnumbers
• Prescriptionmedicationsandalist
ofcurrentdosesandschedule
• Eyeglassesand/orcontact
lenssolutions
• Bowlforfoodandwater
• Hearingaidbatteries
• 3daysupplyoffood
• Listofstyleandserialnumbers
ofmedicaldevicessuchas
wheelchairorpacemaker
• Blanketforbedding
• Plasticbagsandpapertowelsfor
disposingoffeces
• Achangeofclothingandfootwear
• Extraharnessand/orleash
• Paper,pensand/orpencils
• Medications(ifapplicable)
• Firstaidkitandmanual
• Sanitationsupplies(moist
towelettes,toiletpaper,waterless
handsanitizer)
•Matchesinawaterproof
container
• Extrasetofhousekeysand
carkeys
•Kitchenutensils,includinga
manualcanopener
• Emergencycontactlistandphone
numbers.Makesuretoincludeat
leastoneout-of-statecontact,too.
Rememberthatpets,incontrast
toserviceanimals,arenotallowed
inmostemergencysheltersdue
tohealthregulations.Identify
someanimalsheltersorkennels
inadvanceforyourpets.Your
veterinarianorlocalchapterofthe
AmericanRedCrossmaybeableto
providehelpwiththis.
•Flashlightwithextrabatteries
•Awhistle(tonotifypeople
outsideofyourlocation)
6
Ifyouhaveaserviceanimal,make
planstoincludeitemsforhim/her
inyourkit.Makesureyourservice
animalhasidentificationtagswith
bothyourhomephonenumberand
thatofsomeoneinyoursupport
network.Youshouldputacopyof
youranimal’slicenseandvaccination
historyinyourkit.Otheritems
specifictoaserviceanimalinclude:
• Sleepingbagorwarmblanketfor
eachperson
•Portable,batteryoperated
radioortelevisionwithextra
batteries;handcrankradiosare
alsoavailable
TheNewYorkCityOfficeof
EmergencyManagementsuggests
eachhouseholdshouldassemble
aGoBag–a
collectionof
itemsyoumay
needinthe
eventofan
evacuation.
Thisshould
bepackedinasturdy,easy-to-carry
container.YourGoBagshouldbe
easilyaccessibleifyouneedtoleave
yourhomeinahurry.
• Photocopiesofcreditcardsand
personalidentificationcards
• Afavoritetoy
7
Tips and Tools
• Install and maintain smoke
alarms. Adaptive alarms, such
as models with a vibrating pad
or flashing light for people
with sensory impairments,
are available.
• Consider smoke alarms with a
stobe light. Some of these alarms
can even be mounted outside
your house to catch the attention
of neighbors.
• Test your smoke alarms every
month. You can use a broom
handle to reach the alarm if you
use a wheelchair.
• Clean your smoke alarm to keep
it working. Use a vacuum cleaner
hose or a hair dryer to remove
dust and dirt that may have
settled in your alarm.
• Mount a fire extinguisher in
your kitchen, as most house fires
start in this room. If you have
limited hand dexterity, you can
replace the pull pin from the
trigger mechanism with a spring
device that locks the trigger.
• If you live in a multi-level
dwelling, sleep on the first floor
if possible. Being on the ground
floor will make it easier to get
out quickly.
• Know your exits. Practice how
you will leave using all available
accessible routes.
• Prepare written emergency
messages to give to first
responders or others who do not
know about your disability but
are helping you. For example, a
message could say, “I am deaf,
but I read lips.”
• If you are in a smoky room, try
getting as close to the floor as
possible. If you use a wheelchair,
lean over from the chest and
shoulders if you are able.
• If you use a wheelchair and your
clothing catches on fire, practice
the “stop, lock and cover to
smother” procedure. Stop, lock
your brakes, cover the fire using
a small blanket or towel, and
sweep your hand over the towel,
away from your face to smother.
8
Samp
Fire Ele
scape
Plan
Bedro
om
Bathro
om
Kitche
n
2
1
Bedro
Dining
Room
om
Bedro
om
FireD
epartm
ent55
Living
Room
5-555
Tree
5
Fire Safety Tips
Youcanincreaseyourchances
ofescapingafirebycreatingand
practicingyourfiresafetyplanuntil
youarecomfortablewithit,and
byusingfirewarningdevicesthat
matchyourabilities.Also,talkto
yourfamilymembers,caregivers,
neighborsandpersonalsupport
networkaboutyourfiresafetyplan.
Practiceyourplanwiththemifyou
willneedtheirhelpinafire.
Whenwethinkofemergencies,it
iseasytothinkofnaturaldisasters
oreventsoutsideofthehome.
However,ahousefireisoneofthe
mostcommonhomeemergencies.It
iscrucialthateveryoneknowhow
togetoutoftheirhouseincase
ofafire.But,afireescapeplanis
especiallyimportanttoindividuals
withdisabilitiessincetheymayface
agreaterriskofbeinginjuredin
afire.
9
includeisanaccessibleemergency
exitfromherbedroom.“Ishould
havethoughtaboutdesigningbetter
emergencyexitsbutwhostopsto
thinkaboutwhatmighthappen?
Thankfully,Ihaveneverhada
reasontoevacuate,”saidEva.
Independent Living Center
Consumers Begin Preparing
TheCapitalDistrictCenterfor
Independenceisanindependent
livingcenterservingresidentsof
thegreaterNewYorkStateCapital
District.LocatedinAlbany,the
Centeroffersassistancetopeople
withvariousdisabilities.Recently,
someconsumerssatdownwiththe
NewYorkStateDisabilityandHealth
Programstafftodiscusstheirown
emergencyplans.
Itisimportant
tokeepall
accessibleexits
clearandfree
fromobstacles.
DonWhiteconsideredemergency
evacuationswhenbuildinghis
deck.Don,whousesawheelchair,
designedarampattherearofhis
housethatprovidesanemergency
routefortwoexits;onefromhis
sleepingareaandonefromhisliving
roominthecentralpartofthehouse.
Therampleadstoapathawayfrom
hishouse.DontoldOnTarget,“It’s
importanttokeepallaccessibleexits
clear,especiallyinthewinter.”
Mostoftheconsumersadmitted
theyhadnottakenthestepstobe
preparedforemergencies.When
askedwhy,theysaidthattheywere
toocaughtupindealingwithevery
dayroutinestothinkaboutthe“what
ifs.”But,somepeoplewhohadmade
initialstepstowardspreparation
explainedwhattheyhavedone.
EvaGalvinpracticesevacuating
withherdog,Chuckie,fromher
kitchenexit.
10
ForTonyDiGiovannantonio,
livingwithaseizuredisorderhas
madehimrealizetheimportanceof
thinkingahead.Tonyhasbecomea
memberofMedicAlert,acompany
thatprovidesinformationtohealth
careprovidersineventofemergency.
TonywearsaMedicAlertbracelet
thathasaphonenumberonit.If
Tonyisunconscious,anemergency
workercancallthe800numberand
receivehishealthinformation.
EvaGalvin,ahomeowner
fromNiskayuna,NY,whousesa
wheelchair,workedwithabuilder
todesignheraccessiblehouse.
Sheexplainedthatwhenshewas
planningherhome,shestressed
theimportanceofmakingeveryexit
wheelchairaccessible.Evaadmitted
thattheonethingsheforgotto
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RENAME THE NEWSLETTER!
Doyouhaveauniquewaywith
words?Areyouartistically
inclined?TheNewYorkState
DisabilityandHealthProgram
islookingforyou!
TheDisabilityandHealth
Programhasproducedthe“On
Target”newsletterfocusingon
healthandwellnessforadults
withdisabilitiesforeightyears.
Thisnewsletterisdistributed
throughoutNewYorkStateto
adultswithdisabilities,their
families,caregivers,medical
careprovidersandservice
organizations.Pastnewsletters
havecoveredavarietyoftopics,
suchasnutrition,physicalactivityandassistivetechnologyfor
personswithdisabilities.
Nowweneedyourhelp!The
“OnTarget”newsletterisgoing
tobegivenamakeover,includinganewnameandanewlogo.
Thisisyourchancetoexercise
yourcreativitybyenteringthe
DisabilityandHealthProgram
RenametheNewslettercontest.
Suggestionsforthenewsletter
nameand/orlogomaybe
submittedviae-mailto
[email protected];or
bymailto:
NYSDOH Disability and Health
Program Newsletter Contest
150 Broadway
Riverview 3W
Albany, NY 12204
isnotthecase.”Bobhasstarted
planningaheadbygettinghis
carreadyforwinter.Hehasextra
blanketsandglovesincasehe
isstuckinasnowstorm.Healso
includedextrawindshieldwasher
fluid.Bobagreedthatifhetakes
preparingonestepatatime,itisnot
sooverwhelming.
SometownsandcountiesinNew
Yorkhavevoluntaryregistriesfor
peoplewithdisabilities.Maxcine
Johnson,whousesawheelchairdue
tomultiplesclerosis,hasregistered
withtheAlbanyCountyOfficeof
CommunityandEmergencyServices.
Maxcinesaidthatthisfreeservice
offersher“reassuranceshould
somethinggowrong.”Thisregistryis
updatedonayearlybasissoAlbany
Countyemergencypersonnelhave
recentinformationincaseofan
evacuationoremergency.
Theseindividualshaveall
startedtheprocessofpreparingfor
emergencies.Theyrecognizethatthe
stepsofpreparingareon-goingand
needtobemaintained,particularly
forpeoplewithdisabilities.As MaxcineJohnsonstated,“It’sup
tometotakeresponsibilityformy
ownsafety.IfIdon’tcareaboutit,
whowill?!”
BobWilliams,anAlbanyCounty
residentwithadepressivedisorder,
said,“Ialwaysthoughtthatpeople
withdisabilitiesweretakencareof
inemergencysituations.But,that
Submissionsmustbereceived
byNovember 15, 2007. Sorev
upyourcreativeengines,puton
yourthinkingcaps,andhelpus
renovateourlook.Ifyouridea
isselected,youwillreceive
recognitioninthenextissue
whenwerevealthenewname
andlogo.
13
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Emergency Information List
Pleasecompletethisformanddistributecopiestoyouremergency
contactpeopleaswellastoeachmemberinyournetwork.
Name:
Birthdate:
Address:
Telephonenumber:
SocialSecuritynumber:
Localemergencycontactperson
Name
Phone home:
Networkmembers
Name
Phone home:
Name
Phone home:
Name
Phone home:
Name
Phone home:
Name
Phone home:
Out-of-townemergencycontact
Name
Phone home:
Howbesttocommunicatewithme
work:
work:
MedicalInformationList
Pleasecompletethisformanddistributecopiestoyouremergencycontact
peopleaswellastoeachmemberinyournetwork.
Primaryphysician:
Telephonenumber:
Address:
Hospitalaffiliation:
Address:
Typeofhealthinsurance:
Policynumber:
Bloodtype:
Allergiesandsensitivities:
Medicationsanddosagesbeingtaken:
work:
work:
work:
Specificmedicalconditionsand/orphysicallimitations:
Adaptiveequipmentandvendors’phonenumbers:
work:
CommunicationdifficultiesImayhaveinclude:
work:
CognitivedifficultiesImayhaveinclude:
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17
Disability-RelatedSuppliesandSpecialEquipmentList
Checkitemsyouuse,anddescribeitemtypeandlocation.Distributecopiesto
youremergencycontactpeopleaswellastoeachmemberinyournetwork.
Type
Location
Glasses:
Wheelchair:
Wheelchairrepairkit:
Motorized:
Manual:
Walker:
Crutches:
Cane(s):
Dentures:
Monitors:
Ostomysupplies:
Type Location
Eatingutensils:
Groomingutensils:
Dressingdevices:
Writingdevices:
Hearingdevices:
Oxygen:
Flowrate:
Suctionequipment:
Dialysisequipment:
Sanitarysupplies:
Other:
Emergency Preparedness Resources
AmericanRedCross
www.redcross.org
NewYorkStateDepartmentofHealth
www.nyhealth.gov
CenterforDisabilityand
SpecialNeedsPreparedness
1010WisconsinAvenueNW,Suite340
Washington,DC20007
(202)338-7158
www.disabilitypreparedness.org
PublicHealthEmergency
PreparednessandResponse
www.bt.cdc.gov
UnitedStatesDepartment
ofHomelandSecurity
www.dhs.gov
www.ready.gov
DBTAC-NortheastADACenter
201ILRExtensionBuilding
CornellUniversity
Ithaca,NY14853-3901
1-800-949-4232
www.ilr.cornell.edu/ped/northeastada/
FEMA’s“AGuidetoCitizen
Preparedness”
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
CenteronDiseaseControl’sEmergency
PreparednessforBusinesses
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/
prepared/
FederalEmergencyManagement
Agency
www.fema.gov
TheNationalOrganizationonDisability
910SixteenthStreet,NW
Washington,DC20006
(202)293-5960
www.nod.org
NewYorkCityOfficeofEmergency
Management–SeniorCitizensand
PeoplewithDisabilities
http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/oem/
html/readynewyork/info_seniors.html
NewYorkStateEmergency
ManagementOffice
www.semo.state.ny.us
18
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Kailes,JuneIsaacson.Emergency
EvacuationPreparedness:Taking
ResponsibilityforYourSafety:AGuide
forPeoplewithDisabilitiesandOther
ActivityLimitations,2002.Published
anddistributedbyCenterforDisability
IssuesandtheHealthProfessions,
WesternUniversityofHealthSciences,
309E.SecondStreet,Pomona,CA
91766-1854,
Voice:(909)469-5380,
TTY:(909)469-5220,
Fax:(909)469-5407,
E-mail:[email protected],
www.cdihp.org
NEWYORKSTATEDEPARTMENTOFHEALTH
DisabilityandHealthProgram
RiverviewCenter
150Broadway,3West
Albany,NewYork12204
“OnTarget”isalsoavailableon
audiocassetteorinlargeprint.
Foracopy,contacttheDisability
andHealthProgramat
(518)474-2018orwww.nyhealth.gov