Emergencies : General Preparedness Tips for People with Disabilities

If you have a disability, be prepared for an emergency. You are the best person to know your abilities and needs before, during and after a disaster.

Remember these five steps:

	Be informed about the disasters that can happen in your area and understand the impact they can have on your community.
	Create a personal support network. Every person needs support to prepare for and cope with a disaster.
	Complete a personal evaluation so you know what you will be able to do and what help you might need in an emergency.
	Make a plan. Know what to do when the emergency happens. You don’t want to leave to the last minute, it could be too late.
	Make an Emergency Supply Kit and Go Bag in case you need to shelter in place or evacuate.

After you have learned about these five steps, check what else you need to do for your specific disability. Get tips for:

• people with mobility disabilities

• people with sensory disabilities

• people with developmental or cognitive disabilities

• children with disabilities