Healthy peopleHealthy communities

1
Healthy people/Healthy communities
Disaster Planning and People with Disabilities
2
What Really Happens

• The concerns of people with disabilities and
  seniors are overlooked or swept aside.
• Traditional government response agencies arent
  equipped to respond to the needs of disability
  and aging populations during emergency response.
• Essential services not being provided.

3
Stop the Denial

• It wont happen here
• Even if it happens here, it wont happen to me.
• Even if it happens to me, it wont be that bad.
• Even if its that bad, theres nothing I could
  have done about it anyway.

4
Avoid Avoidance

• Avoidance has greater consequences for people
  with disabilities than for people without
  disabilities.
• People with disabilities must be assertive to
  ensure that safety needs are included in all
  emergency planning.

5
Know What To Do

• Prepare Now - your best protection in an
  emergency is to know what to do.
• Know what can happen types of disasters that
  can happen in your community.
• Preparation starts at home Emergency supply
  kits

6
Know What To Do

• Learn how and when to turn off utilities
• If there is damage to your home or you are
  instructed to turn off your utilities
• Locate the electric, gas and water shut-off
  valves.
• Keep necessary tools near gas and water shut-off
  valves.
• Teach family members how to turn off utilities.
• If you turn the gas off, a professional must turn
  it back on. Do not attempt to do this yourself.

7
Preparing Takes Time and Effort

• Do a little at a time the important thing is
  that you start preparing
• The more you do, the more confident you will be
  that you can protect yourself.

8
The First 72 Hours

• Prepare for the risks
• Stay informed?
• Implement your plan?
• Whats in your Emergency kit?
• Lessons Learned
• Be proactive, know your community resources
• Develop your network

9
What is an Emergency?

• An emergency is an unplanned event that can cause
  deaths or significant injuries
• Numerous events can be emergencies

10
Prepare for the Risks

• Flood
• Tornado
• Drought
• Hazardous materials and spills
• Storms
• Wildfires
• Fires
• Large scale power outages
• Explosions
• Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (204)
  945-3050
• or www.manitobaemo.ca

11
Stay Informed

• How would you be informed during an emergency?
  Can you access the information?
• Who will check in on you?
• Are you registered with EMS or local disability
  organizations?
• How have you been involved in disaster plans that
  impact your safety?

12
Implement Your Plan

• Create a safe home plan (water, gas, electrical,
  fire) with household escape routes and meeting
  places
• Identify your health needs Care attendant needs,
  personal network contacts, health/medical info,
  medications and equipment,
• Consider pets, specific disasters, neighborhood
  safety plans
• Take a first aid course

13
Whats in your Emergency Kit?

• ESSENTIALS
• Food and water
• Can opener and eating utensils
• Flashlight with batteries
• Candles and matches
• Canned foods and high energy foods
• Battery powered radio
• First Aid Kit
• Meds and equipment
• A copy of your emergency plan
• Whistle
• Blankets or sleeping bags

14
Neighborhoods and Apartments

• A community working together during an emergency
  makes sense.
• Talk to your neighbors about how you can work
  together during an emergency.
• Find out if anyone has specialized equipment like
  a power generator, or expertise such as medical
  knowledge, that might help in a crisis.
• Sharing plans and communicating in advance is a
  good strategy.

15
BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK

• A support network is a group of individuals who
  have agreed to be a part of your preparedness
  plan and assist you in the event of a disaster.
• Your support network will know your needs and
  capabilities and should be able to provide help
  within minutes.

16
BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORKAsk, Explain, Exchange,
and Arrange

• Ask roommates, relatives, neighbors, friends, and
  co-workers to be a part of your network there
  should be at least 3 people in each place you
  regularly spend time
• Explain why you need their help and how they can
  assist
• Exchange contact information with your support
  network and think of alternate ways to
  communicate if phones are not working
• Arrange for more than one person in your support
  network to check on you in an emergency

17
BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK

• Choose people who are dependable.
• Notify each other when you are going out of town
  and when you will return.
• Place a quarterly reminder on your calendar to
  check the status of your personal support
  network.

18
Develop Your Network

• Consider the resources you require to meet your
  diverse needs and identify people able to support
  those needs
• Train people in your network to respond to your
  needs
• Consider the method of evacuation, do you have
  access to transportation?
• Determine the facility you are likely to be
  evacuated to and educate them on what needs to be
  in place to adequately support you
• Have you planned for your communication needs?
  What resources exist?

19
Develop Your Network

• Does your network include supports outside of
  Winnipeg?
• Will your nutritional requirements be met through
  emergency housing?
• Have you educated others on the essential role of
  your service anima, adaptive equipment or care
  provider
• Is the evacuation location accessible to you
• Does your network plan include work, school,
  home, volunteer site etc.?