Shelter-in-Place - Maintaining Functional Independence

The 2005 American Community Survey reports that about 7.5 million people need another person to help them every day. They may need help for things like getting dressed, eating and bathing. In addition, about 11.3 million people cannot get outside their home due to a physical or medical condition. They may rely on like durable medical equipment, like wheelchairs and walkers, or the help of another person to meet their needs. In an emergency, people may lose the support they need to be able to function on their own. Therefore, it is vital to consider these needs and plan to support them in an emergency.

• Preparedness
• Response
• Recovery
• Mitigation
• Additional Resources

Preparedness

Many emergencies, like hazardous spills, will require individuals to shelter-in-place for a only short time. Others, like pandemic influenza, may require sheltering-in-place for weeks or months. Planners and individuals should prepare for a range of situations.

Learn the needs of the community. If someone needs assistance with daily activities, encourage them to report make their needs known. Needs might include (but are not limited to):

• Assistance with errands or personal care
• Personal care equipment
• Adaptive feeding devices
• Specially-equipped vehicles
• Mobility aids
• Service animals/pets and any ancillary needs they might have, such as food or medication
• Electricity-dependent equipment (suggest that they also register with their local utility company)

Mobilize local support. Community groups may be in a position to help set up support networks and mobilize volunteers. In some events, emergency workers may be able to reach those with disabilities by using PPE (Personal Protective Equipment). If so, volunteers could assist people with disabilities in their homes. Determine where the needs of a community are ahead of time. Knowing what is needed where will help prioritize limited resources.

Work with community organizations. The emergency planner has limited resources to provide for these needs. This is especially true when a community is sheltering-in-place. However, he or she may able to refer people to group that can provide support. These groups may help people learn ways to sustain themselves while sheltering-in-place.

• Planners should encourage everyone to learn what resources are available to them and from where. This may be especially important for people with disabilities. Local government service agencies and non-profits may provide this support.
• Service organizations will know the communities they serve. Planners can work with providers to communicate the need to be prepared. By tapping into this knowledge and expertise, planners can ensure that this message reaches the target audience and is understood.
• Planners can work with these support groups to learn where those with disabilities are and what they might need in an emergency.

Encourage people to prepare themselves to support their specific needs. Federal guidance recommends that people keep supplies on hand to support themselves for up to 72 hours. It also suggests that people with disabilities keep a First Aid kit and develop a support network. Having supplies and support ready ahead of time will be crucial for sheltering-in-place.

• For sheltering-in-place, individuals may have to support their needs on their own. Therefore it will be important for people to do the following:
  • Have supplies on hand to seal a shelter from hazardous materials
  • Store food that is simple to prepare and eat
  • Have a back-up generator or battery source for electricity-dependent equipment
  • Have supplies for animals in an easily accessible spot

Response

In a disaster, people may lose the supports they require for functional independence. This is especially true when sheltering-in-place. Those who need equipment or support to function may not be able to reach it. Nevertheless, there are several things a planner can do to help them maintain their supports in an emergency.

Ensure people are notified. Those with visual or hearing impairments may not receive warnings. Planners can help find ways in which these populations can make special arrangements to receive warnings. These arrangements will keep them advised of the situation and let them know when it is safe to go out. In some cases, volunteers may be able to go door-to-door to give these notices.

Help people protect their residences. In a hazardous materials situation, those with disabilities may need help sealing their home or shelter. Volunteers may be able to help if enough warning is available.

Encourage back-up power. Some support equipment may not work in an emergency. It may be destroyed in the disaster or require power. Planners should encourage those with disabilities to find alternate means of power. Back up generators can provide days of electricity.

Arrange to reach those who need help. If the emergency lasts for a long time, some individuals will need help. A registry of those with disabilities will help relief workers reach them by whatever means necessary. However, those with disabilities should not assume they will be contacted in every situation.

Recovery

Following an emergency, people will need to reconnect with their supports. Planners can assist in the following ways:

Refer people to service providers. A person with disabilities may not be able to depend on their caregiver or equipment in an emergency. They should plan for this in advance. Care facilities, churches, charitable organizations, and other community services may be able to give the needed support. Planners should know which resources will be available and refer services if possible.

Assist with financial support. After sheltering-in-place, people may need to refresh their supply of medicines, devices, or equipment. Planners can assist by working with care providers and funding agencies. These groups can help to speed payment for any equipment that helps people maintain their functional independence.

Mitigation

Draft an After Action Report. Following an emergency, planners may work to draft after action reports (AARs). The AAR may include information on what tasks or support equipment people required. It will also show if needs were sufficiently met during the emergency. The report may include lessons learned. These will help in revising and improving plans. If the plan did not allow individuals to maintain or regain functional independence, the report might consider ways in which it can be improved. It is very important to include feedback from individuals with functional needs (and caregivers) where possible.

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Additional Resources

• 2005 American Community Survey: Disability Characteristics, U.S. Census Bureau
  
  The U.S. Census Bureau provides 2005 data on estimates of demographic, social, and economic characteristics of people, households and housing units.
  
  Access this file at http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-qr_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_S1801&-geo_id=01000US&-ds_name=ACS_2005_EST_G00_&-_lang=en&-format=&-CONTEXT=st
  
  
• Basic Tips in Emergency Preparedness for Seniors and People with Disabilities, Bay Area Emergency Preparedness Coalition For Seniors and People with Disabilities
  
  This website lists tips for before, during, and after a disaster particularly related to what supplies to have on hand, how to prepare one's house for disaster, and evacuation needs.
  
  Access this file at http://www.preparenow.org/ba-eprep.html
  
  
• Disaster Mitigation and Persons with Disabilities, Independent Living Research Utilization
  
  This web cast emphasizes the need for individuals with disabilities to stockpile enough supplies to maintain independence for up to 72 hours, should shelter-in-place become necessary. Additionally, individuals should learn about support resources in neighboring communities.
  
  Access this file at http://www.ilru.org/html/training/webcasts/archive/2003/08-27-PB.html
  
  
• Emergency Planning for People with Hearing Loss, Help for Hearing Loss
  
  This collection of articles provided by Help for Hearing Loss includes topics such as emergency preparedness for people with hearing loss, as well as people with various disabilities.
  
  Access this file at http://www.hearinglossweb.com/Issues/EmergPlan/emerg_plan.htm#ok
  
  
• Emergency Tip sheets for People with Visual Disabilities, Independent Living Resource Center of San Francisco
  
  This tip sheet advised people with visual disabilities on what to do before, during and after disasters.
  
  Access this file at http://www.ilrcsf.org/resources/Visual.pdf (PDF - 41 KB)
  
  
• Guide for Including People with Disabilities in Disaster Preparedness Planning, Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network
  
  This guide has several questionnaires designed for people with disabilities. Completing these questionnaires will help people with disabilities prepare better for shelter-in-place emergencies.
  
  Access this file at http://www.ct.gov/ctcdd/lib/ctcdd/guide_final.pdf (PDF - 1,320 KB)
  
  
• Know When and How to Shelter-In-Place, California Department of Health Services
  
  This website lists the steps to take during an emergency requiring shelter-in-place. The website also provides additional tips for chemical, radiological and biological emergencies as well as in the workplace.
  
  Access this file at http://bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/EPO/BePrepared/IndividualsAndFamilies/Shelter-in-Place.htm
  
  
• Tips for Seniors and People with Disabilities: Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors, Rochester-Monroe County Chapter, American Red Cross
  
  This website is aimed at seniors and provides simple steps on sealing your home and keeping safe during a shelter-in-place emergency.
  
  Access this file at http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/seniors.html