Disabilites
For Orange County citizens with physical, medical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities, any emergency from floods to wildfires can prove a significant challenge.
If you or someone close to you has a disability and other access and functional needs, you may need to take additional steps to protect yourself and your family in an emergency. Discuss these ideas with your family, friends, caregiver, or anyone else in your support network.
Planning for Disabilities
-
Wear medical alert tags or bracelets to help identify your disability, especially if you have a communication disability.
-
Make a list of prescription medicines including dosage, treatment and allergy information. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you need to prepare.
-
Add disability-specific items to your emergency supply kits such as extra medication, food, water, batteries and battery chargers for assistive technology devices. Carry emergency health information at all times including details about your disability, medications, allergies, assistive technology devices, durable medical equipment.
-
If you have a service animal or pet, make sure that it has an identification tag or has been microchipped.
-
Create an emergency preparedness buddy plan (include attendants, readers, interpreters, family, friends, neighbors) with people who know about your medications, how to operate assistive technology devices and the location of your emergency supply kits.
-
Know where all of your medical, insurance, and other emergency documents are located, and make sure they can be accessed quickly.
Download the American Red Cross’ Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs