Healthy people/Healthy communities

1. Healthy people/Healthy communities Disaster Planning and People with Disabilities

2. What Really Happens • The concerns of people with disabilities and seniors are overlooked or swept aside. • Traditional government response agencies aren’t equipped to respond to the needs of disability and aging populations during emergency response. • Essential services not being provided.

3. Stop the Denial • It won’t happen here • Even if it happens here, it won’t happen to me. • Even if it happens to me, it won’t be that bad. • Even if it’s that bad, there’s nothing I could have done about it anyway.

4. Avoid Avoidance • Avoidance has greater consequences for people with disabilities than for people without disabilities. • People with disabilities must be assertive to ensure that safety needs are included in all emergency planning.

5. Know What To Do • Prepare Now - your best protection in an emergency is to know what to do. • Know what can happen – types of disasters that can happen in your community. • Preparation starts at home – Emergency supply kits

6. Know What To Do Learn how and when to turn off utilities: • If there is damage to your home or you are instructed to turn off your utilities: • Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off valves. • Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off valves. • Teach family members how to turn off utilities. • If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself.

7. Preparing Takes Time and Effort • Do a little at a time; the important thing is that you start preparing • The more you do, the more confident you will be that you can protect yourself.

8. The First 72 Hours: • Prepare for the risks • Stay informed? • Implement your plan? • What’s in your Emergency kit? • Lessons Learned • Be proactive, know your community resources • Develop your network

9. What is an Emergency? • An emergency is an unplanned event that can cause deaths or significant injuries • Numerous events can be emergencies

10. Prepare for the Risks • Flood • Tornado • Drought • Hazardous materials and spills • Storms • Wildfires • Fires • Large scale power outages • Explosions Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (204) 945-3050 or www.manitobaemo.ca

11. Stay Informed • How would you be informed during an emergency? Can you access the information? • Who will check in on you? • Are you registered with EMS or local disability organizations? • How have you been involved in disaster plans that impact your safety?

12. Implement Your Plan • Create a safe home plan (water, gas, electrical, fire) with household escape routes and meeting places • Identify your health needs: Care attendant needs, personal network contacts, health/medical info, medications and equipment, • Consider pets, specific disasters, neighborhood safety plans • Take a first aid course

13. What’s in your Emergency Kit? ESSENTIALS • Food and water • Can opener and eating utensils • Flashlight with batteries • Candles and matches • Canned foods and high energy foods • Battery powered radio • First Aid Kit • Meds and equipment • A copy of your emergency plan • Whistle • Blankets or sleeping bags

14. Neighborhoods and Apartments A community working together during an emergency makes sense. • Talk to your neighbors about how you can work together during an emergency. • Find out if anyone has specialized equipment like a power generator, or expertise such as medical knowledge, that might help in a crisis. • Sharing plans and communicating in advance is a good strategy.

15. BUILD A SUPPORTNETWORK • A support network is a group of individuals who have agreed to be a part of your preparedness plan and assist you in the event of a disaster. • Your support network will know your needs and capabilities and should be able to provide help within minutes.

16. BUILD A SUPPORTNETWORKAsk, Explain, Exchange, and Arrange • Ask roommates, relatives, neighbors, friends, and co-workers to be a part of your network; there should be at least 3 people in each place you regularly spend time • Explain why you need their help and how they can assist • Exchange contact information with your support network and think of alternate ways to communicate if phones are not working • Arrange for more than one person in your support network to check on you in an emergency

17. BUILD A SUPPORTNETWORK • Choose people who are dependable. • Notify each other when you are going out of town and when you will return. • Place a quarterly reminder on your calendar to check the status of your personal support network.

18. Develop Your Network • Consider the resources you require to meet your diverse needs and identify people able to support those needs • Train people in your network to respond to your needs • Consider the method of evacuation, do you have access to transportation? • Determine the facility you are likely to be evacuated to and educate them on what needs to be in place to adequately support you • Have you planned for your communication needs? What resources exist?

19. Develop Your Network • Does your network include supports outside of Winnipeg? • Will your nutritional requirements be met through emergency housing? • Have you educated others on the essential role of your service anima, adaptive equipment or care provider • Is the evacuation location accessible to you • Does your network plan include: work, school, home, volunteer site etc.?