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Emergency Preparedness

As part of the USDA TARGET Discovery Series, watch this Webcast to learn how to develop emergency evacuation and shelter-in-place plans that take into account the needs of all individuals. Anyone may develop a new disability during an emergency, so find ways to create and improve plans and procedures that truly fit everyone.

Reference guide from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides information on disability related guidelines for use by those who serve individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.

Summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities as they relate to disaster care, housing and human services. This guide explains how applicable Federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector and religious organizations. Read the complete guide by clicking here.

Resources for individuals, families, caregivers and service providers, including Just in Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers and links to other federal departments and national relief agencies.

Instructional video from Ready.gov provides information for people with a disabilities and their family members on planning for a natural disaster or emergency. A Flasher Player is required to view the video.

Guide from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials contains evidence-based guidance on the protection of at-risk populations during an influenza pandemic. Public health, emergency management, universities and community organizations participated in developing these tools and practices. This link opens a PDF document.

Information from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding emergency preparedness for people with disabilities.

A program that educates emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing consumer leaders on how to communicate in emergency situations to better prevent loss of life and property.

Information from Ready.gov on how to create an evacuation plan in case of an emergency of natural disaster.

Tips from Ready.gov on what to do if an emergency occurs while you are in a moving vehicle.

Information from Ready.gov on how to prepare your family in case of an emergency or natural disaster.

Focused on helping ensure that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection from both natural and man-made emergencies.

Provides practical information on how people with and without disabilities can prepare for an emergency.

Information on communicating during emergencies with people with limited speech. For more resources visit the Web site of the Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers.

Tips from the American Red Cross on getting informed, making a plan, assembling a kit, and maintaining these plans for people with mobility problems or who have hearing, learning, or seeing disabilities.

This Web site is the result of Executive Order 13411, which requires the government to simplify the process of identifying and applying for disaster assistance. The site includes information about more than 40 kinds of disaster assistance. You can apply for assistance with a single, online application.

Provides information and services relating to the four pillars of all-hazards disaster management: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.

Learn how to develop emergency evacuation and shelter in place plans that take into account the needs of all individuals. Anyone may develop a new disability during an emergency, so find out ways to create and improve plans and procedures that truly fit everyone.

Part of the TARGET Discovery Series

The guide provides a listing and description of research projects funded by the federal government and nonfederal entities and research recommendations that have come out of conferences on emergency management and disability.

Temple University is offering online classes to help the public health workforce and emergency managers to address the needs of special populations, including people with disabilities and older Americans.

Information from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on coping with the aftermath of a disaster.

Emergency preparedness is a critical topic for people with disabilities to live independently. This includes people who are older and may not consider themselves to have a disability. Learn more about emergency notification methods, accessible shelters and recovering after an emergency.

Executive summary, conference report and other materials from the Conference on Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities, held in September 2004. The conference was sponsored by the by The National Capital Region, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Organization on Disability.

Guide developed by the National Organization on Disability highlights key disability concerns for officials and experts responsible for emergency planning in their communities.

Information from Ready.gov regarding preparing for the needs of older Americans in an emergency situation.

Tips from Ready.gov regarding people with disabilities and other special needs in an emergency situation.

Information from Ready.gov on how to evacuate a high rise building during an emergency.

This fact sheet addresses whether employers may request information to help identify individuals who might need assistance because of a medical condition, and whether they can share this information with others in the workplace.

Fact sheet from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding steps people with special needs can take to prepare for an emergency or natural disaster.

Site is focused on ensuring that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection in emergency planning.

Information on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. Includes links to reports and articles on the subject.

Brochure from the National Organization on Disability provides tips for pet owners on how they can help ensure the safety of their animals during emergencies.

Brochure from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlights the steps older Americans, and their families and caretakers, should take to prepare for emergencies. This link opens a PDF document. The brochure is also available in this text version.

Brochure from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) highlights the steps Americans with disabilities and other special needs, and their families and caretakers, should take to prepare for emergencies. This link opens a PDF document. The brochure can be viewed in this text version.

A resource booklet from the American Red Cross designed to assist people with disabilities in preparing for natural and other disasters and their consequences. This link opens a PDF document.

A three-year development project to improve evacuation from buildings, vehicles, and other settings during emergencies by providing free information and training materials on the EVacuation and ACcommodation of people with disabilities. Visit the Project Safe EV-AC Library.

Publications on mental health and disaster issues from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on how to be prepared in case of a national emergency, including a possible terrorist attack. Includes information relevant to businesses, employees, families, individuals with disabilities and others.

Report from the National Council on Disability regarding emergency planning and people with disabilities.

Information from Ready.gov on what to do during an emergency or natural disaster if it is safer to stay where you are, rather than evacuate.

American Sign Language (ASL) manual for use during emergency situations. This link opens a PDF document.

Promotes equal access to telecommunications, media and information technology for individuals who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, late deafened, or deaf-blind. TDI also addresses the issues of high-quality captioning of television programs and equal access to 9-1-1 centers and other public safety answering points, including the innovative course, Emergency Responders and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community: Taking the First Steps to Disaster Preparedness.

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DisabilityPreparedness.gov
Provides practical information on how people with and without disabilities can prepare for an emergency.
Accommodating People With Disabilities In Disasters: A Reference Guide To Federal Law
Summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities as they relate to disaster care, housing and human services. This guide explains how applicable Federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector and religious organizations. Read the complete guide by clicking here.
DisasterHelp.gov
Provides information and services relating to the four pillars of all-hazards disaster management: preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
Ready.gov
Information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on how to be prepared in case of a national emergency, including a possible terrorist attack. Includes information relevant to businesses, employees, families, individuals with disabilities and others.
Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network (CEPIN) Project
A program that educates emergency responders and deaf and hard of hearing consumer leaders on how to communicate in emergency situations to better prevent loss of life and property.