Emergency Preparedness: Personal Responsibility – Everybody Needs A Plan

Emergency Preparedness:Personal Responsibility – Everybody Needs A Plan Margot Imdieke Cross, Accessibility Specialist Minnesota State Council on Disability 121 East 7th Place, Suite 107 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101 651.361.7800 (v/tty) 1.800.945.8913 (v/tty)

Be Prepared for Disasters According to the National Organization on Disability (NOD), “To be better prepared as a nation, we all must do our part to plan for disasters. Individuals with or without disabilities, can decrease the impact of a disaster by taking steps to prepare BEFORE an event occurs.”

Take Responsibility According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities, “All people, regardless of circumstances, have some obligation to be prepared to take action during an emergency and to assume responsibility for their own safety.”

for example, Practice and planning do make a difference. During the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, a man with a mobility impairment was working on the 69th floor. With no plan in place, it took over six hours for him to evacuate the building.

In the 2001 attack on the World Trade, the same man had prepared himself to leave the building using assistance from others and an evacuation chair he had acquired and had under his desk. It took less than 90 minutes for him to evacuate the building the second time.

Helping Syndrome • If you tell someone often enough that they need assistance in completing a task – he or she will begin to believe you. • Many people with disabilities have been lead to believe that in an emergency situation, they will play little if any role in their own survival.

Be Prepared! Being prepared can have life saving benefits – planning and practice do make a difference!

Everybody Needs A Plan VOLUNTEER & EMPLOYMENT LOCATIONS

The Four Elements of Evacuation Information That People Need • Notification (How will I be notified of the emergency?) • Way finding (Where is the way out?) • Use of the way (Can I get out by myself, or do I need help?) • Self • Self with device • Self with assistance • Assistance (What kind of assistance might I need?) • Who • What • Where • When • How

Create a Plan Apply the four elements of evacuation information to each person with a disability within the office, classroom or volunteer setting. • How will I be notified? • Is there a usable evacuation path? • Can I get out by myself or will I need help? • If I need assistance, what kind? • Who, what, where, when and how?

The Great Controversy • Defend in place: Person goes to a designated area of refuge and waits for the first responders. • Evacuate: Person is immediately evacuated with everyone else. Either a direct, accessible route is identified or assistance is provided by other individuals. Communicate!

Important “Other” Elements of An Evacuation Plan • Train Others – train others in the office or classroom on how to assist you and then engage them, closest - first. • Adaptive Equipment – research and secure emergency evacuation equipment that would be needed during an emergency.

What Other Devices Are Available? • Some evacuation devices and methods, including stair-descent devices and the wheelchair carry, require the assistance of others.

Options

Plan and Practice! • How will you be notified? • How will you get out of the building? • Will you need assistance? If so, • What type of assistance will you need? • Are others available to assist you, if needed? • Are they trained? • Do you have any needed equipment?

PLAN AND PRACTICE!

Create a Plan In Your Home • You’re on your own (YOYO) • Meet with household members, neighbors or personal care assistant to discuss what would happen in an emergency. • Remember, when creating a plan in an emergency, close proximity is important.

Create a Plan • Discuss different types of emergencies: • Tornado • Pandemic • Flood • Chemical spill • Determine what you will need to do to respond to each type of emergency.

Communicate Develop a network of people and communicate with them on what you would need in an emergency. Again remember - rely most on those closest to you! Developing a network is a two-way street.

Plan - Checklist • Arrange for a relative, friend or neighbor to check on you in an emergency. • Teach those who may need to assist you in an emergency on what to do: • the best way to notify you of an emergency, • how to assist with a transfer, • how to assist with an insulin injection, • how to operate necessary equipment, etc.

Plan - Checklist Will you shelter in place or will you evacuate? • Shelter in place – do you have enough water, food, medical supplies, pca support? • Evacuation – do you have a transportation source, is the evacuation site accessible, do you have enough medical supplies, pca support?

Plan - Checklist • Post emergency telephone numbers where you can find them, near the telephone or programmed into your cell phone. • Teach children and others in the household what to do, who to call and when. • Listen to a battery or crank-operated radio for emergency information. • Know where the flashlights are located. • Know where the First-Aid kit is located.

Plan - Checklist • If you take medication or use supplies, make sure you have a week’s worth, if not more, available and travel ready. • Keep family records, medical records or other important documents in watertight, fireproof containers.

Plan - Checklist • Consider your transportation options; do you have access to a vehicle. • Do you have a network of friends, family or neighbors that would be able to provide transportation in an emergency. • Does your transportation provider have resources available during an emergency.

Plan - Checklist • Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated by disaster. • Pick two meeting places: • A place near your home in case of a fire. • A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home after a disaster.

Plan Checklist • Learn your community’s evacuation plan: • Are the shelters accessible? • How will you secure a sign language interpreter? • Will guides or assistants be available?

Plan Checklist PLAN AND PRACTICE HOW TO ESCAPE FROM YOUR HOME IN AN EMERGENCY.

Prepare a Go Plan Emergency Kit Assemble supplies you might need in an evacuation. Store them in an easy-to-carry container such as a backpack or duffel bag. This checklist is included in your handout, along with ICE and a Car Emergency Checklist.

Stay Plan – Emergency Supplies Find a space in your home to store your emergency supplies. There is a checklist in your handout. Be sure to contact your local public health department, common entry point at the county, center for independent living or MSCOD for additional information or assistance.

Stay Plan Contact the agencies that provide services, such as direct support professional, skilled nurses, medical supplies, oxygen or food delivery service and make sure they have a plan for continuation of services during a pandemic.

Resources • www.health.state.mn.us • www.disability.state.mn.us • www.DisasterHelp.gov • www.cdc.gov • www.hsem.state.mn.us • www.pandemicflu.gov • www.fema.org • www.noaa.gov • www.nod.org • www.PrepareNow.Org • www.ready.gov • www.redcross.org

Thank You Much of the information was provided by: • American Red Cross • Federal Emergency Management Agency • National Organization on Disability • National Fire Protection Association

Emergency Preparedness: Personal Responsibility – Everybody Needs A Plan