Citizens with disabilities and special needs should be especially vigilant as they plan for emergencies and evacuations. Planning ahead is the key. Early evacuation can lessen the stress on the individual and their support network and ensure safety.
Talk to neighbors, family or caregivers about how to protect your home and belongings from wind and water damage. Buy flood insurance, if appropriate. If you have a serious medical condition, talk to your doctor about your plans for dealing with an emergency and seek medical advice on a recommended course of action.
Review the Hurricane Preparation Checklists in this guide and consider any additional needs you may have ( i.e., batteries for hearing aides and similar devices, extra oxygen tanks, electrical backups for medical equipment and special dietary requirements.) In addition to gathering your medications, make a complete list of all the medicines you take and the doctor prescribing them. Include all these items in your kit that you will take with you if you must evacuate. You should be prepared to survive for at least three days if an emergency occurs. Plan for the care and housing of your pets.
Plan your evacuation. Know where you are going and how you will get there. Make your plans known to those in your support network. Have a point to contact outside your area that you can contact with your evacuation information. Implement your plan immediately upon notification. Allow adequate time to ensure you reach safety well ahead of the storm.
Stay informed about what is happening and what public officials are asking citizens to do. Be prepared to follow their instructions.If you know of friends, neighbors or family with disabilities or special needs, talk to them about their plans and ensure that they are safe in case of a natural or man-made disaster.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Contact your local emergency management office.
Some offices maintain a registry of people who need assistance so they can be located or assisted quickly in a disaster. If this type of assistance is not available in your area, this information will help you in knowing what you need to do to be prepared.
Additional information on preparedness is available at www.scemd.org or www.fema.gov.
Whether you decide to shelter-in-place or evacuate, having a plan and being ready are the keys to safety. Start planning today. Stay alert. Stay alive.
