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Safety Matters:

This project by the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research provides guidance and resources for individuals with physical, mental, or medical care needs to safely evacuate their homes during a disaster or emergency. The project focuses on mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery stages, and offers specific considerations for different impairments.

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Safety Matters:

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  1. How to Safely Evacuate from your Home Safety Matters: National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research Project Safe EV-AC http://evac.icdi.wvu.edu

  2. International Center for Disability Information West Virginia University College of Human Resources & Education Project Safe EV-AC http://evac.icdi.wvu.edu

  3. Target Population • Individuals in the community with physical, mental, or medical care needs who may require assistance before, during, and/or after a disaster or emergency. • Limitations • Motor • Sensory • Cognitive • Psychological • Temporary

  4. Phases of Emergency Management Mitigation Preparedness Recovery Response

  5. Mitigation • Occurs before the emergency or disaster. • Eliminates or reduces probability of occurrence. • Lessens the effects of the disaster: • Inspect windows, doors, and roofs. • Secure emergency back-up records. • Install visual alarms and Braille signage. • Install/elevate the generator. • Create areas of refuge.

  6. Mitigation • Lowering the cost of a disaster involves: • Developing a plan for contingencies. • Communicating the plan. • Training people about the plan. • Practicing the plan. • Maintaining the plan.

  7. Preparedness External Considerations • Plan, train, and exercise with local emergency response agencies: • Offer information to responder’s registry. • Create an emergency health information and contact card for rescuers. • Work to identify the steps that reduce their vulnerability to high-risk activities. • Discuss your questions with emergency responders, doctors, and relevant agencies. • Offer to be a part of training new staff.

  8. Preparedness Internal Considerations • Plan • Prioritize • Establish Relationships • Identify Resources • Understand Your Community: • Know the emergency management structure. • Take responsibility to be pro-active. • Establish Sheltering in Place, Shelters for the General Public, and Special Needs Shelters.

  9. Preparedness • Prepare an emergency kit (hearing aids, eye glasses, keys). • Use emergency window stickers. • Make a list of medications. • Determine two usable exits. • Pick a location to reunite.

  10. Preparedness • Equipment Access • Prepare battery/generator backups. • Keep equipment secured and accessible when not in use. • Store extra mobility aids as backups. • Review how to operate equipment (turn off utilities, operate fire extinguisher).

  11. Preparedness • Make a plan with personal care attendant: • Discuss the plan with the home health agency. • Establish a buddy network - Pick one out-of-state and one local friend/relative to call if separated.

  12. Preparedness • Prioritize: • Most important things you need to have. • Other things you may need. • Other good-to-have things.

  13. Preparedness • Review typical events at each stage and prepare accordingly: • Earthquake: If you are in a wheelchair, stay in it and go into a doorway. • Flood: If you have hypertension and need to take medication, have bottled water available. • Snowstorm: If you use a C-PAP for sleep apnea, have a backup battery.

  14. Response • Respiratory Impairment: • Evacuation hood • Respirator/mask

  15. Response • Speech Impairment: • Speech amplification device • Speech enhancer • Alpha-numeric pager • Two way instant messaging • Pre-written notes

  16. Response • Vision Loss: • One-on-one mobility instruction & training with emergency responders • Tape recorded drills for practice with a buddy • Guide dog/mobility aid considerations • Braille signage • Tactile maps

  17. Response • Hearing Loss: • Vibrating pager • Flashlight to read lips • Lighted fire strobes and other visual or vibrating alerting devices • Wireless communication

  18. Response • Mobility Impairment: • Wheelchair evacuation • Evacuation devices • Area of rescue assistance • Barrier free route of travel • Wheelchair supplies

  19. Response • Cognitive Impairment: • Use a picture book of evacuation procedures • Encourage social interaction with emergency responders • Color code exit ways • Implement buddy system • Use a coach for training

  20. Response • Psychiatric Impairment: • Practice with a buddy or counselor • Clarify emergency process in writing • Implement backup exit procedures

  21. Voluntary Organizations Respond Locality Responds Federal Government Responds State Responds Recovery

  22. Recovery • Goals: • Meet the disaster-related needs of disaster victims, including special needs populations. • Return systems and people to normal, if possible. • Find improvements for both short term and long term needs.

  23. Effective Process • Goals: • Reduce loss of life. • Reduce property damages. • Ensure effective, efficient response. • Lay the groundwork for improvements.

  24. International Center for Disability Information West Virginia University College of Human Resources & Education Project Safe EV-AC http://evac.icdi.wvu.edu Beth.Loy@mail.wvu.edu

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