It is important that people with
disabilities and their family members make
plans to protect themselves in the event of
natural or man-made disasters. First
responders need to know how to work with
people with disabilities to evacuate them
safely and efficiently. Emergency planners
must ensure that shelters are accessible to
people with a variety of disabilities.
Emergency Responders
Q: I am an emergency responder. Where
can I find information about how to work with
people with disabilities and assist them with
an evacuation?
A tip sheet for first responders on
interacting with people with disabilities
developed by the University of New Mexico.
This is intended to be laminated:
http://cdd.unm.edu/products/tips_web020205.pdf
Emergency Preparation
Q: Where can I find information about
how to better prepare myself or my family
members or friends with disabilities?
American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/disability.html
Shelters
Q: I have a disability and I am staying
at a shelter that does not accommodate me very
well. How can I find temporary housing that is
accessible to people with disabilities?
An organization named The Arc of the
United States has developed a website to
provide information about housing to victims
of Hurricane Katrina:
http://classifieds.thearclink.org/
Receiving Government Benefits
Q: I am not staying at my normal
residence. How can I receive my government
benefits or health coverage while I am, or my
family member is, staying away from home?
Information about continuation of monthly
benefits from Social Security can be found at
http://www.ssa.gov/emergency/.
Information about the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services can be found at:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/katrina/
Alabama Residents
Alabama Medicaid Agency, 334-215-0111
Louisiana Residents
Louisiana Medicaid Provider Support Center,
800-473-2783 or 225-237-3370
Emergency Provide Enrollment Packet (PDF)
Mississippi Residents
Mississippi Envision Medicaid Page,
800-884-3222 or 601-206-3000
Medicines
Q: How can I get more medicine?
If you are in Texas, you can find
information on emergency refills at:
http://www.tsbp.state.tx.us/hurricaneinfo.htm\
In Mississippi, some area pharmacies
are providing Hurricane Katrina victims
medications free of charge:
http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/23,3001,247.html
BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana has
information on people affected by Hurricane
Katrina at
http://www.bcbsla.com/web/default.asp
Q: Will it further hurt my
disability to stop taking my medicine?
You should make every effort to continue
taking your medication exactly as prescribed
by your doctor.
