Surviving Winter: Seniors and People with Disabilities

Emergencies can present additional challenges for seniors and people with disabilities. Being prepared for any emergency takes planning. While the your city or town responds to disasters, only you can take steps to identify the risks you may face and ensure your safety. Plan to be self-sufficient for several days without help or emergency services. When a disaster occurs, your personal needs, such as replacing medications and equipment, may not be met right away. Work out a plan that fits your needs and is simple to put into action. By planning ahead, you will feel more confident about protecting yourself following any emergency, whether it is a house fire, power outage, or hurricane.

It's important to know how a disaster may affect you. Determine what resources and supplies you may need, and share this information with caregivers or emergency contacts. The steps outlined in this guide will help you better identify and assess your needs, and take control of your actions during disasters.

Develop a disaster plan for each place you spend time -- home, work, school, and in the community. Consider the following recommendations to ensure your plan best meets your needs:

• Establish a personal support network with family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and determine how you will help each other in any emergency. Do not depend on one person only.
• Ask those who form your support network to:
• Know how to contact you anytime critical information becomes available.
• Check on you immediately after an emergency.
• Keep a spare set of important keys.
• Know where your Emergency Supply Kit is kept.
• Have copies of important documents, such as information about medication and dosage, equipment, and other needs.
• Learn about your personal needs and how to help you in an emergency.
• If you receive home-based care (e.g. home care attendant, home health aide, visiting nurse service), include caregivers in developing your plan and familiarize yourself with your home care agency's emergency plan.
• If you have a pet or service animal, also plan for his or her needs (i.e. temporary relocation, transportation, etc.).
• If you rely on home-delivered meals, always stock nonperishable food at home in case meal deliveries are suspended during an emergency.
• Have a plan with your doctor that addresses emergency prescription refills, if possible.
• If you receive dialysis or other medical treatments, find out your provider's emergency plan, including where your backup site is located.
• If you rely on medical supply company for information regarding a backup power source such as a battery, follow the manufacturer's directions for safe operation, and check with local fire and building officials for regulations governing generator and fuel use. Ask your utility company if medical equipment qualifies you to be listed as a life-sustaining equipment customer.
• If you rely on oxygen, talk to your vendor about emergency replacements.

Get involved in emergency planning for all places you spend time, such as school, work, or senior centers. If there is no plan, encourage managers or administrators to develop one. Make sure they are aware of any needs you or those you care for may have. Also make sure you are included in decisions regarding equipment and procedures that might affect you.

Keep enough supplies in your home to survive on your own for at least three days. You may also consider additional supplies and equipment when compiling your kit, based on your special needs. These items may include:

• Backup medical equipment (oxygen, medication, scooter battery, hearing aids, mobility aids, glasses, etc.)
• Style and serial numbers of medical devices (such as pacemakers) and usage instructions
• Supplies for pets and service animals (food, extra water, bowl, leash, plastic bags)
• Contact information for your doctors and pharmacist

Assemble a Go Bag -- a collection of items you may need in the event of an evacuation. Consider additional items such as:

• Instructions for any device you may use
• Emergency health information card (in PDF)
• Medication and other essential personal items. Be sure to refill medications before they expire. Include a list of the medications you take, why you take them, and their dosages.
• Aerosol tire repair kits to repair flat wheelchair or scooter tires and/or tire inflator.
• Supplies for pets and service animals (food, extra water, bowl, leash, plastic bags).
• Backup medical equipment.

Evacuation should be addressed as part of your emergency planning efforts, both for your home and all places you spend time. Seniors and people with disabilities should take the following considerations into account when making evacuation plans:

• Determine if you will need assistance in an emergency evacuation, including how you will get to a safe place or shelter.
• Determine all usable exits from each room and your building. Make a habit of identifying exits whenever you are in a new location (i.e. shopping mall, restaurant, movie theater, etc.).
• Know evacuation plans for all places you spend time. Often buildings have floor marshals who are responsible for evacuation plans. Be sure to let floor marshals know what special assistance you or those you care for may need in an emergency.
• Practice dealing with different circumstances and unforeseen situations, such as blocked paths or exits.
• Teach members of your support network how to operate your equipment in an emergency (e.g. how to disengage gears of a power wheelchair and how to best lift or transfer you).
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, practice having members of your support network -- both at home and at work -- communicate important information to you through pre-designated gestures, flashcards, or other means.
• If you are blind or have low vision, have members of your support network practice guiding and directing you.
• Include service animals in all drills so they become familiar with exit routes.

When evacuation to shelters is either inappropriate or impossible, you may be instructed to stay where you are.