HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND ACCESS AND
FUNCTIONAL NEEDS
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210318/hurricane-preparedness-persons-disabilities-and-access-and-functional-needs]


Release Date: 
May 16, 2018 

ST. CROIX, VIRGIN ISLANDS– Disaster preparedness takes on added
dimensions for people with disabilities and access and functional
needs. The keys to effective disaster preparedness of building a kit,
making a plan and staying informed, applies to all of us. But people
with special needs and their families should approach preparedness
planning with additional considerations.

Additional considerations should include the following:

	* Create a support network and maintain contact with those who can
assist you. Keep a contact list in a watertight container in your
emergency kit. Learn more at www.ready.gov/kit
[http://www.ready.gov/kit].
	* Inform your support network where your emergency supplies are kept.
You may want to give someone in your support network a key to your
house or apartment.
	* Plan ahead for accessible transportation to evacuate or get to a
medical clinic. Work with local services, public transportation or
paratransit to identify local or private accessible transportation
options.
	* Know the location and availability of more than one facility for
dialysis. If dialysis is part of a health maintenance plan or other
life-sustaining treatment, know where multiple facilities are located.
	* Determine how to use medical equipment if a power outage occurs.
	* Wear medical alert tags or bracelets.
	* Make note of the best way to communicate with you in an emergency.
If you have a communications disability, determine the best way others
can communicate with you and let them know.
	* Plan how to evacuate with assistive devices or how to replace
equipment if it gets lost or destroyed. Keep model information secure
and note who provided it such as Medicaid, Medicare or private
insurance.

 

If you have a service animal, be sure to include food, water,
identification tags and supplies. It is also important to have cash or
travelers checks in your kit in case you need to purchase supplies.

 

TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING INCLUDE HAVING:

	* A weather radio with text display and a flashing alert along with
extra batteries
	* Extra hearing-aid batteries
	* A TTY device
	* Pen and paper in case you must communicate with someone who does
not know sign language
 

TIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR HAVE LOW VISION INCLUDE:

	* Marking emergency supplies with Braille labels or large print. Keep
a list of your emergency supplies on a portable flash drive or make an
audio file that is kept in a safe and is accessible.
	* Keep a Braille, or Deaf-Blind communications device in an emergency
supply kit.

 

TIPS FOR PEOPLE WITH A MOBILITY DISABILITY INCLUDE:

	* If you are using a power wheelchair, have a lightweight manual
chair available as a backup. Show your support network how to operate
your wheelchair.
	* Know the size and weight of your wheelchair and if it is
collapsible for transportation.
	* Keep an extra mobility device such as a cane or walker, if you use
one.
	* If you use a seat cushion to protect your skin or maintain your
balance, remember to take your cushion with you if you must evacuate
without your wheelchair.

 

 

# # #

 

_FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after a
disaster._

 

_For official information on the recovery effort following the
hurricanes, please visit __www.usviupdate.com_
[http://www.usviupdate.com/]_. _

 

_Follow us on social media at_ _twitter.com/femaregion2_
[https://twitter.com/femaregion2]_ and
__www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands_
[http://www.facebook.com/FEMAUSVirginIslands]_._