Plan Now: Emergency Preparedness Can Help Save Lives

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Plan Now Emergency Preparedness Can Help Save
Lives

• Sponsored by The Spina Bifida
  Association of the Tri-State Region
• Presenters Mary Goepfert, NJ Office of
• Emergency Management
• Scott Elliot, Executive Director,
  Progressive Center for Independent Living

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Why Emergency Preparedness is Important

• 1. People with disabilities must be viewed as
  active participants in the community emergency
  preparedness process, not just passive receivers
  of assistance they bring skills, knowledge and
  determination to this process.

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Why Emergency Preparedness is Important

• When large-scale disasters strike, most
  assistance is provided by one citizen to another.
  
• 9-1-1, police, fire, EMS resources will be taxed
  to the absolute limit and beyond. They will not
  be able to reach everyone right away.

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Why Emergency Preparedness is Important

• Emergencies and disasters can strike without
  warning
• There will likely be problems with drinking
  water, electricity and other utilities

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Why Emergency Preparedness is Important

• Each individual with a disability has unique
  circumstances and needs
• The physical environment may change dramatically
• There are basic steps to emergency preparedness
  which can be adapted to meet your own situation.

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Be Informed

• Find out what can happen in your own community
• Disasters fall into 3 major categories
• Natural
• Civil
• Technological
• Flood disasters cost more than all other hazards
  combined

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Be Informed

• New Jersey
• Hurricanes
• Noreasters
• Winter Storms
• Hazardous Materials
• Terrorism
• Flooding
• Pandemic Flu
• and much, much, more

• Densely Populated
• Emergency Management Coordinator in each
  municipality, county and State OEM (State Police)

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Be Informed

• Ways to stay informed
• TV, radio, internet media outlets
• NOAA All-Hazards Radio
• Local Emergency Management offices
• Specific warning systems for your community (e.g.
  reverse 9-1-1, local cable TV or AgtM radio
  station, etc.)
• Assistance Programs

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What you need to do

• Create a personal support network a self-help
  team
• Where do you spend time - home, school, work
• People you trust who can check to see if you need
  assistance let them know your capabilities and
  your needs

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Complete a Personal Assessment

• Daily Living
• Personal Care
• Water Service
• Personal Care Equipment
• Adaptive Feeding Devices
• Electricity Dependent Equipment

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Complete a Personal Assessment

• Getting Around
• Disaster Debris
• Transportation
• Errands

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Complete a Personal Assessment

• Evacuating
• Building Evacuation
• Building Exits
• Getting Help
• Mobility Aids/Ramp Access
• Service Animals vs. Pets

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Make A Plan

• Meeting with Your Family/Personal Care
  Attendants/Building Manger
• Choose an Out-Of-Town contact
• Complete a Communications Plan
• Escape Routes and Safe Places
• Plan for Pets
• Prepare for Different Hazards

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Pre-Disaster Action Checklist

• Learn about back-up power supplies
• Consider a medical alert system needs working
  phone, plus back up
• Manual wheelchair for backup
• Teach others how to help you
• Store back-up equipment outside your home
• Arrange for back-up personal support

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Pre-Disaster Action Checklist

• Check on agency emergency provisions if your use
  PCA from an agency
• Apartment living check with management for
  emergency procedures
• Cell phones extra battery, program with numbers
  you need to call
• PDAs are useful

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Pre-Disaster Action Checklist

• Practice giving instructions about your situation
  concise, clear
• Consider that there will be emotional reactions
  to the event
• Consider being a community advocate for other
  persons with disabilities

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Pre-Disaster Action Checklist

• Utilities
• Fire Extinguisher (call 9-1-1 first !!!)
• Smoke Alarms
• Insurance Coverage
• First Aid/CPR
• Inventory Home Possessions
• Vital records

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Pre-Disaster Action Checklist

• Reduce Home Hazards

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Pre-Disaster Action Checklist

• 3-5 day supply of food, water
• Battery-powered radio and TV with extra batteries
• Flashlight
• First Aid Kit
• Consider Climate
• Vehicle Supplies
• Maintain your plan quiz, drill, restock, test

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If Disaster Strikes

• Follow evacuation and shelter instructions
• If ordered to evacuate
• Use media for shelter information
• Follow instructions re utilities
• Wear appropriate clothing
• Take disaster supplies kit
• Use travel routes recommended by authorities
• Be prepared for potential triage if you go to a
  public shelter
• Contact your support network regarding your
  location