Emergency Preparedness Planning for Individuals With Access and Functional Needs

Two people with assistance dogs stand in front of a table. A woman sits behind the table and gives them papers. There is a sign on that wall that says "RESCUE."

Various symbols for access such as a person in a wheelchair, a phone over a keyboard, closed captioning, and more.

Georgia Emergency Preparedness Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities & Older Adults

Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

A flooded parking lot with only the top of a signpost and a tree showing above the water line.

If Disaster Strikes, Are You Ready?

Go to www.ready.ga.gov

Use the Ready Georgia interactive tool to create

a custom Ready plan and checklist.

There you can:

• Find a checklist of general emergency supplies

• Develop your Family Emergency Plan

• Get contact information for the emergency management agencies in your community, including their websites

Visit the Georgia ADA Coordinator's website to look at publications from the Georgia Emergency Preparedness Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities & Older Adults, including:

Emergency Preparedness Planning for Individuals Who Use Assistive Technology

Get Ready Toolkit with Household Emergency Plan and Emergency Plan Checklist

TIPS Guide for First Responders

Go to http://www.ada.georgia.gov/publications-videos-photos

Green checkmark and the words "Ready Georgia."

Georgia Emergency Preparedness Coalition for Individuals with Disabilities & Older Adults

Prepare. Plan. Stay Informed.

American Red Cross-Atlanta Atlanta Area School for the Deaf (AASD) Center for Advanced Communications Policy -Georgia Institute of Technology Dekalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) Georgia Department of Human Services,

Division of Aging Service (DAS) Georgia Department of Human Services, Office of Facilities and Support Services (OFSS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Friends of Disabled Adults & Children (FODAC) GACHI - Serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Georgia Advocacy Office (GAO) Georgia Association of the Deaf, Inc. (GAD) Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Georgia Department of Public Health, Division of Health Prevention, Emergency Preparedness and Response Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) Global Emergency Management Interpreting Initiative (GEMINI)

Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS) Georgia State Financing & Investment Commission-State ADA Coordinator's Office Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Service, Emergency Preparedness Committee Gwinnett, Newton, Rockdale County Health Departments Shepherd Center Southeast ADA Center Tools for Life - AMAC Georgia Institute of Technology Enterprise Innovation Institute

State ADA Coordinator's Office Phone (404) 657-7313 TTY (404) 657-9993 http://www.ada.georgia.gov


Various emergency supplies such as a lantern, rope, a compass, a jug of water, a radio, duct tape, and more.

Prepare

A Ready toolkit is designed to help you get organized for any emergency. It is a supply of items that you will need in case you have to evacuate to a shelter or cannot leave your home for a few days.

Plan

Everyone needs help sometimes. If you will need extra help during a disaster to evacuate or remain at home safely, act now to develop a strong Personal Support Network. This network can include family, friends, neighbors, roommates and co-workers.

Three men standing together. Two of the men are speaking sign language.

Stay Informed

Monitor news and weather, identify the potential threats to your community. Learn about the types of hazards that may impact your community (including winter weather, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods).You can get information from

your local emergency management office.

Find out what emergency plans are in place in

your community, workplace, service agencies,

etc. Determine whether those plans have

considered your needs.

Identify the method used for notifying people

when a disaster may be on its way or actually

occurring.

Consider how a disaster might affect your daily routines. Make a list of your specific needs before, during, and after a disaster.

A weather radio.

Follow these steps for preparing your network:

• Work with your support network to develop an emergency plan.

• Learn what type of disasters may happen where you live.

• Determine who can help you plan for a disaster.

• Identify who will help you during a disaster.

• Determine how will you contact your helpers if the phone doesn't work.

• Talk to the police, fire department and doctor or nurse about your plan.

• Decide where will you stay if you have to leave your home.

• Determine what will you do if there is no electricity.

Common items to Include in Your Ready Kit:

• Medical equipment and batteries

• Medicine

• Emergency Contact List

• Flashlight, radio, batteries

• Your ID, money, credit cards and checkbook

• Pet supplies

• First aid kit

• Supplies for staying at home for a few days

• 3-day supply of canned food and can opener

• 3-day supply of water for each person

A flooded neighborhood. Water is up to the second floor of a home. People are getting into small boats.