Emergency Plan Considerations for People with Special Needs or Disabilities

• Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Assistance & City Services
• Weather Warnings
• If you need to evacuate

Regardless of your age or physical limitations, you still need to prepare yourself and your home for a potential emergency situation. Be sure to review the other areas of the Before The Storm section for general preparedness advice, and then note the information below which is geared to people with disabilities.

• Disability Preparedness Resource Center
  www.disabilitiespreparedness.gov

Plan Ahead & Prepare

Assemble your Emergency Supply Kit and also consider including:

• A few days supply of any medications you take, along with a copy of the dosage instructions
  • Stored medications need to be handled correctly and refreshed regularly
  • It is not necessary to store an entire refill of medicines; a one-week supply should be adequate in the event you are not able to reach a pharmacy
• Extra eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries (since charging may not be an option; but keep in mind that your outside mobility may also be limited), oxygen (if you use it), other items you use which are "consumable" and which you would need a supply of should you be cut off from support for a few days.

One Storm ™ is an excellent site that allows you to create your emergency kit online, and then builds a shopping list for you. It also keeps track of personal info, medications, pet descriptions and needs, and much more. Very user friendly.

Prepare your personal resources

• Post a list of relatives and medical professionals who should be contacted if someone comes to your aid. Place this near the telephone, on the refrigerator door, or in another conspicuous location.
• If you have an in-home health care service, talk with your provider about the agency's procedures for support immediately before and after an emergency situation.
• Plan to have any specialized equipment or assistive devices which you use (or may need in the absence of professional assistance) available and handy.
• Consider any special transportation needs you may have, should you need to evacuate your home.
• Work with your neighbors to arrange for someone to check on you (when safe) during an emergency situation. But DON'T depend upon this as your only line of support - you must be able to be self-sufficient if you intend to remain at home during a disaster.
• Teach those who may come to your aid (family, friends, neighbors) how to operate any necessary equipment and how to render any specialized help you may need.

Weather Warnings

• Emergency warnings for people who are deaf or hard of hearing

Assistance & City Services

SPECIAL NEEDS SURVEY

Do you, or someone living in your home, take medications or require special medical care in the event of an emergency?

• By providing the following information, Chesapeake emergency workers will know about the special health care, emergency sheltering, and other needs in your community. Vital information will be available should the city experience an emergency. All information submitted is confidential. If more than one person in your home has special physical or mental impairments, please fill out a separate form for each person. Please renew this person’s information yearly.
• If this person's medical status changes, please inform the Chesapeake Fire Department/ Emergency Management Division by calling or just complete a new form.
• For more information contact EMOffice@cityofchesapeake.net
• Special Needs Survey

• Residents within the City of Chesapeake have a unique program available to assist them during an emergency. The Special Cares And Needs (S.C.A.N.) program is available free of charge and is provided through our City's computer-aided dispatch system.
• Do you, or someone living in your home, take medications or require special medical care in the event of an emergency?
• If your answer is YES, then SCAN was designed for you!
• Click here to fill-in and print the SCAN application

FILE FOR LIFE Program

The Chesapeake Fire Department adopted the File of Life program designed to expedite medical care in our communities. This is a program that has been tested in some of our neighboring cities. The program is designed to provide needed medical information to responding medical personnel.

This information is supplied by the resident on a card that fits into a red magnetic pouch that is placed on the resident's refridgerator. The reason it is designed to be affixed to the refridgerator is that most everyone has one and it is easily located by the responders.

• Download a File of Life form that you can fill-in and print.

If You Need to Evacuate

The decision to evacuate is one that you must make as early as possible. Local officials may order either Voluntary or Mandatory evacuations.

If your home is in a Mandatory evacuation area, then you need to leave immediately, according to the instructions of local officials.

If your home is in the Voluntary evacuation area, then you need to decide if it is safe for you to remain. If you have any doubts about your ability to care for yourself for a period of several days without outside assistance, then evacuate early.

• Coordinate with your home care provider for evacuation procedures.
• Try to car pool if possible. Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy shoes.
• Take your Emergency Supplies Kit.
• Lock your home.
• Use the travel routes specified or special assistance provided by local officials. Don't take any short cuts, they may be unsafe.
• Notify shelter authorities of any need you may have. They will do their best to accommodate you and make you comfortable.
• Remember that shelters are designed to be a temporary, safe haven and are not known for "plush" accommodations. You will need to bring with you whatever personal supplies you might need.
• See also Quick Safety Tips - Leaving Home/Evacutation

If You Are Sure You Have Enough Time . . .

• Shut off water, gas and electricity if instructed to do so and if you know how. Gas must be turned back on by a professional.
• Let others know when you left and where you are going.
• Make arrangements for pets. Animals other than service animals may not be allowed in public shelters.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Make sure you have a written list with the phone numbers for the following:

• Local emergency services number
• Ambulance   9-1-1
• Nearest relative
• Local contact
• Out of state contact
• Doctors
• Local Red Cross Chapter
• Insurance Agent

One Storm ™ is an excellent site that allows you to create your emergency kit online, and then builds a shopping list for you. It also keeps track of personal info, medications, pet descriptions and needs, and much more. Very user friendly.