Emergency Plans / Special Needs Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness for People With Disabilities

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Quick answer

Plan around your daily needs, not a generic checklist:

  1. Build a support network of people who check on you and know your plan.
  2. Keep at least a 7-day supply of medicines and medical supplies, more if your doctor allows.
  3. Make a backup power plan for any medical device, and ask your utility about priority restoration.
  4. Plan how you will communicate, get alerts and evacuate, including accessible transportation.
  5. Pack supplies for your service animal and sign up for any local disability registry.

Disasters hit harder when you depend on power, medicine, transport or other people to get through the day. FEMA’s advice is simple: everyone has unique needs that require personal planning before a disaster.

This guide follows Ready.gov, FEMA, the CDC and the American Red Cross. It works for you, or for a family member you help care for.

Step 1: List your daily needs

Start with an honest list of what you need to get through one normal day. Then ask what happens to each item if the power, phones, roads or pharmacy stop working.

Write down:

Then mark each item: “I can manage alone for 3 days,” “I need help,” or “I need a backup plan.”

Step 2: Build a personal support network

Ready.gov and FEMA both put this first. A support network is a small group of people who will check on you and help you act on your plan.

Who to include

The Red Cross suggests family members, neighbors, friends, health care providers, coworkers and an out-of-town contact. FEMA advises including someone in another area who would not be hit by the same disaster.

Good choices are people who:

  • Live or work close by
  • Know how to use your equipment
  • Have a key to your home, or know how to get in
  • Can drive or arrange accessible transport

What to agree on

Give each person a copy of your written plan. Keep your contact list in a watertight container or sealable bag in your kit, and on your phone. Practice the plan together at least once.

For a full family template, see creating a family emergency plan.

Step 3: Plan for medicines and medical supplies

How much to keep

FEMA’s guide for people with disabilities recommends at least a week’s supply of any medicine or medical supplies you use regularly. The Red Cross suggests asking your doctor for a backup supply of at least one month, if possible.

Questions to ask your doctor and pharmacist

FEMA suggests asking:

  • Can I refill my prescription at a different pharmacy if mine is closed?
  • Can a caregiver pick up my medicines in my name?
  • Can I get an emergency supply in case I must evacuate quickly?
  • What should I do if my refrigerated medicine gets warm?

The FDA says that if refrigeration is lost, check the label or ask a pharmacist. Life-sustaining medicines such as insulin may be used until you can get a new supply. Replace them as soon as possible.

Keep a medical information sheet

Put this in your kit and give a copy to your support network:

FEMA also suggests wearing a medical alert tag or bracelet.

Step 4: Plan for power outages

A power outage can be life-threatening if you rely on powered medical equipment. It can also spoil insulin and other refrigerated medicine, and stop elevators.

Backup power plan

The CDC recommends an emergency power plan for each medical device.

  1. Read the manual or call the manufacturer. Ask if the device runs on batteries or a generator, and for how long.
  2. Keep spare batteries charged. FEMA also suggests portable or solar chargers.
  3. Ask your doctor how to keep the device running during an outage.
  4. Buy manual versions of electric equipment where possible, such as a manual wheelchair.
  5. Know more than one place that can help, such as another dialysis center or a facility with backup power.

Never run a generator inside your home or garage. Generator exhaust contains carbon monoxide. The CDC says to keep generators outside, at least 20 feet from doors, windows and vents.

Tell your utility and local responders

  • Utility company: Ready.gov advises asking your power provider to put you on a list for priority power restoration. FEMA notes many utilities offer this to eligible households. Keep your own backup plan either way.
  • Fire department: The CDC suggests telling your local utility and fire department if you use electric medical equipment.

Step 5: Plan how you will communicate

Phones and power can fail when you need them most. Plan more than one way to send and receive messages.

Getting alerts

Ready.gov recommends:

  • A NOAA Weather Radio tuned to local alerts
  • Local TV and radio
  • The FEMA App, which can send National Weather Service alerts for up to 5 locations

Sign up for your county or city alert system too. Choose text or email alerts if you are deaf or hard of hearing.

Reaching help

  • Text-to-911 works only in some areas, the FCC says. Where it is not available, you get an automatic “bounce-back” message. The FCC advises a voice, TTY or relay call to 911 if you can.
  • The Red Cross notes texting may work when calls don’t get through. Practice group texts with your support network.
  • Keep a fully charged portable phone charger in your kit, as Ready.gov advises.

Help responders understand you

FEMA suggests carrying printed communication cards or storing the information on your phone. A card can say things like:

  • “I am deaf. Please write or text.”
  • “I use sign language. I need an interpreter.”
  • “I have a brain injury. Please speak slowly and use simple words.”
  • “I have autism. Loud noise is hard for me.”

Step 6: Plan your evacuation

Know when to leave

The Red Cross says to evacuate if your home won’t be safe, or if you won’t be able to get the services you need. Leave well before the disaster arrives. Accessible transport can take time to arrange.

Arrange accessible transportation

FEMA notes that some accessible transport services need at least 24 hours’ notice. Ask now:

Pick more than one destination

FEMA advises picking several destinations in different directions. One might be a relative’s home, one a hotel, one a public shelter. The Red Cross lists open shelters at redcross.org/shelter.

Plan for buildings

If you live or work above the ground floor, ask about the evacuation plan. FEMA advises a backup plan if you rely on elevators, since they may not work in an emergency.

For more on routes and timing, read how to create an effective evacuation plan.

Step 7: Plan for your service animal

Your rights in a shelter

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a dog trained to do a task directly related to a person’s disability. Emotional support animals do not count.

FEMA notes that public shelters must allow service animals. Pets are a different matter, so plan a separate place for them. Shelter staff may ask only two questions:

  1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
  2. What work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

What to pack

The CDC advises packing everything your service animal needs, such as food, water and medicine. A full list:

The CDC also suggests microchipping your animal and registering the chip, so you can be reunited if separated.

Step 8: Build two kits

The Red Cross guide for people with access and functional needs suggests two kits.

Kit Purpose Supply length
Go-kit Take with you if you evacuate At least 3 days
Stay-at-home kit Use if you shelter in place At least 2 weeks

Store items in airtight plastic bags, in one or two easy-to-carry containers, as FEMA advises. Make sure you can lift and carry the go-kit yourself, or that it fits on your wheelchair or walker.

Add these to a standard kit:

For the general items, see our first aid kit checklist and basic survival kit list.

Step 9: Sign up for local registries

Many local emergency management offices keep a voluntary registry of people with disabilities. Responders may use it for welfare checks and deliveries. Call your county emergency management office and ask if one exists.

Two examples:

  • Texas STEAR: The State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry is free and voluntary. Register online at stear.texas.gov or by calling 2-1-1. Registering does not guarantee a specific service.
  • Smart911: Some 911 centers use Smart911. You can create a safety profile with medical conditions, medicines, equipment and service animal details. It only helps where your local 911 center takes part.

FEMA’s guide is clear: a registry is never a substitute for personal preparedness. Help may take hours or days to reach you.

Step 10: Protect your income

FEMA warns that mail can be disrupted for days or weeks after a disaster. If you get federal benefit checks, switch to electronic payment.

  • Direct deposit: 800-333-1795 (U.S. Treasury)
  • Direct Express prepaid debit card: 877-212-9991

Keep the plan current

If a disaster leaves you stressed or overwhelmed, the Disaster Distress Helpline is available by call or text at 1-800-985-5990.

Sources

Surviving Disasters
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