Each person's needs and abilities are unique, but with careful planning anyone can prepare for an emergency.
A disaster can occur anytime, anywhere, and without warning. Think about how a disaster might affect your individual needs.
Have a Plan
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Plan to make it on your own for at least seven days. You may not have access to a medical facility, pharmacy, or grocery store.
- Think about the resources you use daily and what you would do if they were not available.
- Create your emergency supplies kit.
- Identify local shelters or consider friends and family outside your immediate area with whom you could stay.
- If you have a pet, find out if local shelters or family are willing to accept the pet. If not, plan what you would do with the pet if you need to evacuate.
Create a Support Network
- Talk to family, friends, and others who may be able to help.
- Neighbours helping neighbours is important in an emergency. Make sure you know your neighbours. Introduce yourself and let them know any specific needs you may have.
- Share your emergency plan with everyone in your support network.
- Make sure everyone knows your evacuation plan and where you will go during a disaster.
- Practice your plan with those who have agreed to help you.
- Give an extra key to your home to someone in your support network.
Medications and Medical Supplies
Make sure medical equipment, such as a cane or wheelchair, is clearly labeled with your name and contact informat- ion.
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- Be sure to include your eyeglasses, hearing aid and batteries, wheelchair batteries, and oxygen in your emergency supplies kit.
- If you use a battery-powered wheelchair, consider keeping your old un-powered chair for emergency use.
Keep Important Documents Together
- Include copies of important documents in your emergency supplies kit, such as medical records, wills, deeds, social security number, charge and bank account information, and tax records.
- Keep this information in a place that is secure, yet readily accessible if you need to get it in a hurry.
- Have copies of your medical insurance and Medicare cards available. Include a list of emergency contact numbers.
- If you have any disabilities, especially communication issues, be sure to include a list of them in your emergency information.
- Keep the important documents in a waterproof container.
Developed by NFPA. Funding provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Domestic Preparedness.