Emergency Preparedness: Personal Responsibility Everybody Needs A Plan

1
Emergency PreparednessPersonal Responsibility
Everybody Needs A Plan

• Margot Imdieke Cross, Accessibility Specialist
• Minnesota State Council on Disability
• 121 East 7th Place, Suite 107
• Saint Paul, Minnesota 55101
• 651.361.7800 (v/tty) 1.800.945.8913 (v/tty)

2
Be Prepared for Disasters

• According to the National Organization on
  Disability (NOD), To be better prepared as a
  nation, we all must do our part to plan for
  disasters. Individuals with or without
  disabilities, can decrease the impact of a
  disaster by taking steps to prepare BEFORE an
  event occurs.

3
In addition,

• People with disabilities are in the best
  position to know their abilities and needs
  before, during, and after a disaster.

4
Take Responsibility

• According to the National Fire Protection
  Association (NFPA) Emergency Evacuation Planning
  Guide for People with Disabilities, All people,
  regardless of circumstances, have some obligation
  to be prepared to take action during an emergency
  and to assume responsibility for their own
  safety.

5
for example,

• Practice and planning do make a difference.
  During the 1993 bombing of the World Trade
  Center, a man with a mobility impairment was
  working on the 69th floor. With no plan in
  place, it took over six hours for him to evacuate
  the building.

6

• In the 2001 attack on the World Trade, the
  same man had prepared himself to leave the
  building using assistance from others and an
  evacuation chair he had acquired and had under
  his desk. It took less than 90 minutes for him
  to evacuate the building the second time.

7
Helping Syndrome

• If you tell someone often enough that they need
  assistance in completing a task he or she will
  begin to believe you.
• Many people with disabilities have been lead to
  believe that in an emergency situation, they will
  play little if any role in their own survival.

8
Be Prepared!

• Being prepared can have life saving benefits
  planning and practice do make a difference!

9
Everybody Needs A Plan

• VOLUNTEER
• EMPLOYMENT LOCATIONS

10
The General Categories of Disabilities include

• Mobility
• Low Vision/Blind
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing
• Speech
• Cognitive
• Mental Illness

11
The Four Elements of Evacuation Information That
People Need

• Notification (What is the emergency?)
• Way finding (Where is the way out?)
• Use of the way (Can I get out by myself, or do I
  need help?)
• Self
• Self with device
• Self with assistance
• Assistance (What kind of assistance might I
  need?)
• Who
• What
• Where
• When
• How

12
Create a Plan

• Apply the four elements of evacuation information
  to each person with a disability within the
  office, classroom or volunteer setting.
• How will I be notified?
• Is there a usable evacuation path?
• Can I get out by myself or will I need help?
• If I need assistance, what kind?
• Who, what, where, when and how?

13
The Great Controversy

• Defend in place Person goes to a designated
  area of refuge and waits for the first
  responders.
• Evacuate Person is immediately evacuated with
  everyone else. Either a direct, accessible route
  is identified or assistance is provided by other
  individuals.
• Communicate!

14
Important Other Elements of An Evacuation Plan

• Train Others train others in the office or
  classroom on how to assist you and then engage
  them, closest - first.
• Adaptive Equipment research and secure
  emergency evacuation equipment that would be
  needed during an emergency.

15
What Other Devices Are Available?

• Some evacuation devices and methods, including
  stair-descent devices and the wheelchair carry,
  require the assistance of others.

16
Options
17
Plan and Practice!

• How will you be notified?
• How will you get out of the building?
• Will you need assistance? If so,
• What type of assistance will you need?
• Are others available to assist you, if needed?
• Are they trained?
• Do you have any needed equipment?

18
PLAN AND PRACTICE!
19
Create a Plan In Your Home

• Youre on your own (YOYO)
• Meet with household members, neighbors or
  personal care assistant to discuss what would
  happen in an emergency.
• Remember, when creating a plan in an emergency,
  close proximity is important.

20
Create a Plan

• Discuss different types of emergencies
• Tornado
• Pandemic
• Flood
• Chemical spill
• Determine what you will need to do to respond to
  each type of emergency.

21
Communicate

• Develop a network of people and communicate
  with them on what you would need in an emergency.
  Again remember - rely most on those closest to
  you!
• Developing a network is a two-way street.

22
Plan Checklist

• Arrange for a relative, friend or neighbor to
  check on you in an emergency.
• Teach those who may need to assist you in an
  emergency on what to do
• the best way to notify you of an emergency,
• how to assist with a transfer,
• how to do a blood pressure check,
• how to assist with an insulin injection,
• how to operate necessary equipment, etc.

23
Plan Checklist

• Will you shelter in place or will you evacuate?
• Shelter in place do you have enough water,
  food, medical supplies, pca support?
• Evacuation do you have a transportation source,
  is the evacuation site accessible, do you have
  enough medical supplies, pca support?

24
Plan Checklist

• Post emergency telephone numbers where you can
  find them, near the telephone or programmed into
  your cell phone.
• Teach children and others in the household what
  to do, who to call and when.
• Listen to a battery or crank-operated radio for
  emergency information.
• Know where the flashlights are located.
• Know where the First-Aid kit is located.

25
Plan Checklist

• If you take medication or use supplies, make sure
  you have a weeks worth, if not more, available
  and travel ready.
• Keep family records, medical records or other
  important documents in watertight, fireproof
  containers.

26
Plan Checklist

• Consider getting a medical alert system that will
  allow you to call for help if you are immobilized
  in an emergency.
• Consider getting a medical ID bracelet or medical
  dog tags that state your disability.

27
Plan Checklist

• Consider your transportation options do you have
  access to a vehicle.
• Do you have a network of friends, family or
  neighbors that would be able to provide
  transportation in an emergency.
• Does your transportation provider have resources
  available during an emergency.

28
Plan Checklist

• Pick one out-of-state and one local friend or
  relative for family members to call if separated
  by disaster.
• Pick two meeting places
• A place near your home in case of a fire.
• A place outside your neighborhood in case you
  cannot return home after a disaster.

29
Plan Checklist

• Learn your communitys evacuation plan
• Are the shelters accessible?
• How will you secure a sign language interpreter?
• Will guides or assistants be available?

30
Plan Checklist

• PLAN AND PRACTICE HOW TO ESCAPE FROM YOUR HOME
  IN AN EMERGENCY.

31
Prepare a Go Plan Emergency Kit

• Assemble supplies you might need in an
  evacuation. Store them in an easy-to-carry
  container such as a backpack or duffel bag.
• This checklist is included in your handout,
  along with ICE and a Car Emergency Checklist.

32
Pandemic Influenza

• Stay healthy Keep yourself in shape. Eat
  nutritious foods, dont smoke. Exercise
  regularly, and get enough sleep. And get a flu
  shot every fall, so youre protected against
  ordinary seasonal flu.

33
Respiratory Etiquette

• Practice respiratory etiquette. Start
  developing habits that will help you avoid
  getting or spreading infectious diseases.
  Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or the
  upper part of your sleeve when you cough or
  sneeze. Dispose of the tissue afterwards. Wash
  your hands thoroughly and frequently. If you
  dont have access to soap and water, use an
  alcohol-based, waterless hand cleaner.
• Minnesota Dept of Health

34
Stay Plan

• Contact the agencies that provide services, such
  as direct support professional, skilled nurses,
  medical supplies, oxygen or food delivery service
  and make sure they have a plan for continuation
  of services during a pandemic.

35
Stay Plan Emergency Supplies

• Find a space in your home to store your
  emergency supplies. There is a checklist in your
  handout.
• Be sure to contact your local public health
  department, common entry point at the county,
  center for independent living or MSCOD for
  additional information or assistance.

36
Resources

• www.health.state.mn.us
• www.disability.state.mn.us
• www.DisasterHelp.gov
• www.cdc.gov
• www.hsem.state.mn.us
• www.pandemicflu.gov
• www.fema.org
• www.codeready.org
• www.noaa.gov
• www.nod.org
• www.PrepareNow.Org
• www.ready.gov
• www.redcross.org

37
Thank You

• Much of the information was provided by
• American Red Cross
• Federal Emergency Management Agency
• National Organization on Disability
• National Fire Protection Association