Conversations around town have turned to winter storms —ice, snow and wind are common at this time of year, and it can be hard to know how to be prepared. For those in our community who have disabilities, special needs, or who need electricity to function, the threat of power-outs and winter weather can be more than just a little scary. It can be life-threatening.
Luckily, there are a number of things that can help people with disabilities. Because so many winter health problems are related to extended power outages, let’s start with getting ready for them.
If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity, talk to your doctor, health care provider, or equipment provider about how you can prepare for its use during a power outage.
Remember that if you purchase a generator, consult a professional to help install, and never ever run a generator inside your home or garage. There are also very specific steps you can take to protect yourself during a power outage. Learn more at https://www.ready.gov/power-outages. For people who are disabled and reliant on electricity, plan to have alternative charging methods available for devices. Visit https://www.ready.gov/get-tech-ready to learn more.
For people who require medical devices, the FDA offers a printable booklet that you can keep with your kit to collect and share important information in an emergency. Download the booklet at https://www.fda.gov.
One of the most comprehensive sources of preparedness information for people with disabilities is at https://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs. Some of the key tips offered there include:
Plan for children with disabilities and people who may have difficulty in unfamiliar or chaotic environments. Communication is important, and talking about your plan for emergencies can help it become more familiar.
Practice your plan. Going through the steps of a plan will help people visualize what to do, reduce anxiety, and can also help identify unanticipated problems.
Build an emergency kit. Making sure you have food, water, extra medications, clothing, glasses, shoes, and blankets, as well as copies of your most important papers, can bring peace of mind, as well as providing needed care in an emergency.
Create a support network. Keep a contact list in a watertight container in your emergency kit.
Inform your support network where you keep your emergency supplies; you may want to consider giving one member a key to your house or apartment. Contact your city or county government’s emergency management agency or office. Many local offices keep lists of people with disabilities so they can be helped quickly in a sudden emergency.
Be ready to explain to first responders that you need to evacuate and choose to go to a shelter with your family, service animal, caregiver, personal assistant, and your assistive technology devices and supplies. Wear medical alert tags or bracelets.
The American Association of Diabetes Educators offers emergency preparedness information for people with diabetes at https://www.diabeteseducator.org/living-with-diabetes/disaster-preparedness.
If you’re dependent on dialysis or other life-sustaining treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility. Call and ask about their emergency preparedness plan.
If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, consider switching to electronic payments to ensure your benefits reach your bank without having to come to your house first.
It’s also a good idea to keep a NOAA weather radio turned to a local emergency station. FEMA also provides a weather alert app through which you can receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service for up to five different locations.
All of us need to think ahead and prepare ourselves, and our families, for the possibility of an emergency. For those in the community who have additional needs, disabilities, or reliance on electricity, it’s especially important to be as ready as possible for the unexpected.
