Emergency Preparedness
Given the important nature of involving people with disabilities in emergency planning, MTDH works to ensure that the interests of people with disabilities and people with disabilities themselves will be included in State emergency planning and preparedness activities. Below is a list of resources for planning for emergency situations.
Montana Public Health and Emergency Preparedness
American Association of the Deaf-Blind: Disaster Preparedness for Persons Who are Deaf and Blind
American Red Cross: People with Disabilities: Information designed to assist people with disabilities and medical concerns to prepare for disasters.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Emergency Preparedness and Response
Disability.gov: Emergency Preparedness Resources
Disaster Resources for People with Disabilities and Emergency Managers: Published by June Isaacson Kailes, Disability Policy Consultant
Emergency 2.0 Wiki Accessibility Toolkit offers a crowd-sourcing site that pools resources on helping emergency managers and homeland security professionals learn how to make their information/resources accessible to everyone.
Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Guide: Focuses on developing emergency evacuation preparedness plans that take into account the needs of people with disabilities and activity limitations.
Emergency Preparedness Packet for Home Health Agencies: From the National Association for Home Care and Hospice
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing and Human Services FEMA Reference Guide for use by those who serve individuals with disabilities in emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
Guide for Emergency Managers, Planners and Responders: The Special Needs of People with Disabilities: Published by the National Organization on Disability’s Emergency Preparedness Initiative.
Inclusive Preparedness Center: Focuses on helping ensure that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection from both natural and man-made emergencies.
Independent Living Research Utilization: Web cast on Disaster Relief Strategies for Individuals with Disabilities
inMotion:When Disaster Strikes — A Pocket Survival Guide: Compiled by the Amputee Coalition
Montana State Disaster and Emergency Services
National Association of Emergency Medical Services Educators
National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians
National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials
National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Provides information on the psychological effects of natural disasters.
National Council on Disability: Saving Lives: Including People with Disabilities in Emergency Planning
National Fire Protection Association: Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities
National Organization on Disability: Emergency Preparedness Initiative
National Weather Service: Provides information on radio receivers that, in conjunction with alerting devices, can alert people who are deaf, hard of hearing or vision impaired about severe weather and other emergencies. Messages may be converted to large print or braille.
National Native American Emergency Medical Services Association for first responders, emergency medical technicians, emergency nurses, and emergency physicians.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies: published an education tearsheet in the February 2013 issue of Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities Guide and Checklist.
Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Communication Enhancement
- Disaster Preparedness and People with Complex Communication Needs: Provides information on emergency preparedness for persons with complex communication needs that is applicable for families, schools, and professionals.
Tips for First Responders: 11-page, color-coded, laminated field guide offers information on how to assist persons with a wide range of disabilities, including: Seniors, People with Service Animals, People with Mobility Challenges, People with Mental Illness, Blind or Visually Impaired People, Deaf or Hard of Hearing People, People with Cognitive Disabilities, People with Autism, and People with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters
U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Disability Preparedness Resource Center web site provides practical information on how people with and without disabilities can prepare for an emergency. It also provides disability-related information for family members, service providers, emergency planners and first responders.
- Ready America has tips and a video on emergency preparations for people with disabilities and special needs. Videos are also available for elderly adults and for pet owners.
U.S. Department of Labor: Effective Emergency Preparedness Planning: Addressing the Needs of Employees with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Transportation: Website has information to help ensure safe and secure transportation for people with disabilities in the event of a disaster or emergency. Includes advice on emergency preparedness, transportation accessibility, and evacuation methods for certain modes of transportation, such as rail and transit systems. Individuals with disabilities can learn how to react and respond in situations ranging from evacuations of mass transit systems to being trapped in a car during a blizzard or hurricane.
Westchester Institute for Human Development: Provides a Training Program on Emergency Preparedness
Last update: 3/18/13