Healthy people/Healthy communities Disaster Planning and People with Disabilities

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

Stop the Denial It won’t happen here Even if it happens here, it won’t happen to me. Even if it happens to me, it won’t be that bad. Even if it’s that bad, there’s nothing I could have done about it anyway.

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.

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

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.

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.

The First 72 Hours: Prepare for the risks Stay informed? Implement your plan? What’s in your Emergency kit? Lessons Learned Be proactive, know your community resources Develop your network

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

Prepare for the Risks Flood Tornado Drought Hazardous materials and spills Storms Wildfires Fires Large scale power outages Explosions Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization (204) or

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?

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 Implement Your Plan

What’s 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

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. Neighborhoods and Apartments

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. BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK

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 BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK Ask, Explain, Exchange, and Arrange

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. BUILD A SUPPORT 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? 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.? Develop Your Network