Preparedness Tools & Resources

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Functional Needs of People with Disabilities: A Guide for Emergency Managers, Planners & Responders

This guide is for emergency planners, managers and first responders to help them plan and prepare for emergency situations that address the needs of people with disabilities. It includes information on how to involve people with disabilities in planning, the need for accessible temporary housing, and how to evacuate persons with disabilities, including those with service animals and pets. The guide covers all phases of preparedness from planning to rescue to evacuation to recovery. The complete guide can be downloaded in PDF format.

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ADA Checklist for Emergency Shelters

Emergency planning should involve ensuring that shelters are accessible to people with disabilities. Making emergency sheltering programs accessible is generally required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). This checklist includes information about accessible shelters, health, and other basic services and accommodations.
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Administration on Aging (AoA) Emergency Preparedness & Response Information

Resources for individuals, families, caregivers and service providers, including Just in Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers and links to other federal departments and national relief agencies.

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Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness

This booklet provides information on specific hazards including what to do before, during and after each hazard type. Some of the hazards covered are: floods; tornadoes; hurricanes; thunderstorms and lightning; winter storms and extreme cold and extreme heat. This links opens a PDF document.
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Caring for Someone with Dementia in a Disaster

This FEMA fact sheet provides information on advance preparations and tips if you are relocated.
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Developing a Family Disaster Plan

Information for families from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention on developing a plan in the event of a disaster. Families should contact their American Red Cross (ARC) chapter or local emergency management office to find out what types of disasters are most likely to happen in their area, learn about animal care after a disaster and find out how to assist people with disabilities. Includes information on the ARC's Safe and Well Web site, which enables people in a disaster area to let their friends and loved ones know about their well-being.

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Disaster Alternate Care Facility Selection Tool

Information from the Department of Health and Human Services about two interactive computer tools that allow users to input information on their specific medical care needs, and receive feedback on which facilities can become alternate care sites or which patients can appropriately be moved to those sites. These tools are very important during a public health emergency which can strain the capacity of hospitals and other traditional places that deliver medical services.

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Easter Seals Safety First

Ten key things people with disabilities should consider in planning for an emergency. Includes information from the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International to help both tenants and property managers better understand how to respond to the needs of people with disabilities during emergencies.

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Emergency Preparedness Information in Accessible Formats

The Northeast Texas Public Health District has prepared a series of emergency preparedness presentations in several formats including videos in American Sign Language (ASL), audio and downloadable Braille and Word documents, as well as large print documents for people with low vision. Topics addressed include planning for emergencies, basic first aid, infectious diseases, family guides to home care and sheltering in place.

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Emergency Preparedness Training

FEMA's main site that covers training for emergency preparedness.
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Emergency Preparedness for Families & Children

This PowerPoint presentation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration on Developmental Disabilities, provides information for families about preparing for emergencies. The presentation includes information on state and local resources for family readiness, developmental disabilities networks and checklists for parents of children with special needs. The presentation is also available in Word format.

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Employers' Guide to Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Evacuation Plans

Guide for employers on how to include people with disabilities in their emergency evacuation planning. Includes a checklist for developing, maintaining and implementing an evacuation plan.
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Evacuation Preparedness Guide

Guide on basic evacuation preparedness, including an ability self-assessment, emergency health information and planning, and options on how to be evacuated from an emergency situation.
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FEMA: Accomodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster

This reference guide addresses disability-related legal requirements and standards for those serving individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
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FEMA: Maps

Determine your disaster risk by searching flood maps, hurricane maps, disaster maps and more.
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Fight Flu - A Flyer for First Responders

Flyer for first responders about H1N1 influenza. This link opens a PDF document.
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How to Shelter-in-Place

Learn what it means to "shelter-in-place" or take shelter right away, where ever you happen to be, when there is an emergency.

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Individuals with Special Needs - Preparing & Planning for Emergencies

Fact sheet from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding steps people with special needs can take to prepare for an emergency or natural disaster.

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Interim Emergency Management Planning Guide for Special Needs Populations

A guide for state, territorial, tribal and local emergency managers to use in the development of emergency operations plans (EOPs) that are inclusive of the entire population of a jurisdiction of any size. This guide specifically provides recommendations for planning for special needs populations. The entire document can be downloaded in text or .pdf formats.

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Just in Case: Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults & Caregivers

A fact sheet from the National Family Caregiver Support Program provides step-by-step information on how older adults should prepare for a disaster/emergency. It includes helpful checklists, contact lists and medication lists.
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MedicAlert + Alzheimer's Association Safe Return

This program helps individuals who wander or have a medical emergency. They provide 24-hour assistance no matter when or where the person is reported missing.
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Military Family Preparedness

Ready.gov lists tips on how to prepare military families for all types of emergencies.
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National Center on Emergency Planning for People with Disabilities

Site is focused on ensuring that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection in emergency planning.
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Online Family Emergency Planning Tool

An online tool created by the Ready Campaign and the Ad Council to help families prepare a personal, printable and comprehensive family emergency plan.
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Orientation Manual for First Responders on the Evacuation of People with Disabilities

Provides guidance to first responders on how best to perform a rescue using equipment and procedures for a safe evacuation of people with disabilities.

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Preparedness Planning for Home Health Care Providers

Information about the importance of reviewing emergency plans and procedures with patients and their families, including their health and medical needs; supplies that reflect changing patient needs; emergency contact information; and healthcare-related legal documents.
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Preparing Makes Sense for Older Americans

Brochure from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlights the steps older Americans, and their families and caretakers, should take to prepare for emergencies. This link opens a PDF document. The brochure is also available in this text version.
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Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities & Special Needs

Information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on how to prepare for an emergency and what to consider if you or a family member has a disability. Includes a list of recommended emergency supplies, how to make a plan and the importance of staying informed about the types of emergencies that are likely to affect your area. This link opens a PDF document and is also available in Spanish.

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Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities & Other Special Needs

A resource booklet designed to assist people with disabilities in preparing for natural and other disasters and their consequences. This link opens a PDF document.
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Recommendations for Responding to the Needs of Mental Health Consumers During a Disaster

Report on a meeting sponsored by SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). The meeting brought together mental health consumers, policymakers, providers, and others involved in the disaster response community to develop recommendations for improving disaster responses for people with mental illnesses. This link opens a PDF document.
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Shelter Intake & Assessment Form

This emergency shelter intake form can be be used to determine the medical and accommodations needs of individuals who have been admitted to a shelter due to an emergency or natural disaster. This link opens a PDF document.
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Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation & Certification Program (PS‑Prep)

This voluntary program provides a mechanism by which a businesses, not-for-profit corporations, hospitals, stadiums, universities and other entities may be certified using standards adopted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that promote private sector preparedness, including disaster and emergency management and business continuity programs. Participation in the PS-Prep program is completely voluntary. However, DHS encourages all private sector entities to seriously consider seeking certification on one or more standards that will be adopted by DHS.
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