General Disability Emergency Preparedness Guides

• Emergency Preparedness Trainings and Resources for People with Disabilities: The Research & Training Center on Independent Living produces a variety of educational materials to help people prepare for all hazards, and has investigated the results of disasters to lay a groundwork for more effective responses to new crises. Please visit the linked pages to learn more about these resources.
• Emergency Preparedness Publications & Resources: The Pacific ADA Center produces webinars, tip sheets, and podcasts to clarify disability and ADA issues in emergency preparedness and management. In addition, listed below are national, regional, and local resources and publications related to disability and emergency preparedness. Select the section below for more information.
• A Disaster Justice Guidebook for People of Color with Disabilities: This disaster justice guidebook for People of Color with disabilities provides essential strategies, resources, and advocacy tools to address systemic inequities and improve disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.
• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs: Red Cross and FEMA downloadable guide for people with disabilities for protecting yourself and your family against disaster strikes.
• Prepare for Emergencies Now: Information for People with Disabilities: This guide provides tips which individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, and the people who assist and support them, can take to prepare for emergencies before they happen.
• Ready New York: My Emergency Plan: A downloadable workbook designed to assist New Yorkers with disabilities to create an emergency plan.
• Ready Campaign for Individuals with Disabilities: Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters. The goal of the campaign is to promote preparedness through public involvement.

Emergency Planning for Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries

• Emergency Preparedness for People with Paralysis: Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation guide provides essential information for individuals with spinal cord injuries to ensure they are prepared for emergencies. It includes practical tips on creating a personalized emergency plan, organizing essential supplies, and understanding specific needs in case of evacuation or medical emergencies. The guide aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources to stay safe and respond effectively in urgent situations.
• Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home: United Spinal’s PDF guide on the evacuation protocol for wheelchair users.
• Ready to Roll: Emergency Preparedness Guide: United Spinal’s comprehensive guide to creating a personalized emergency plan specific to wheelchair users. This guide offers clear and concise steps for assessing individual needs, exploring local resources, building a support network, and gathering essential information. It emphasizes the importance of considering the unique needs of wheelchair users, including accessible transportation, evacuation routes, and shelter options.

Climate Change and Disability Preparedness

• Climate Change and the Health of People with Disabilities: This document from the EPA, highlights the increased vulnerability of people with disabilities to the health impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events like heatwaves, flooding, and storms. It emphasizes the challenges they face in accessing healthcare, receiving emergency information, and evacuating during emergencies, underscoring the need for tailored solutions in public health and disaster preparedness.
• Sustain Your Abilities: Sustain Our Abilities is a non-profit organization focused on the intersection of climate change, health & disability. As extreme weather, the climate crisis, artificial intelligence, migration and social distress change our world, SOA works to ensure we remain healthy & sustain our abilities throughout our lives.

Other Resources

• emPOWER Map: The emPOWER Map is an interactive tool by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that helps identify electricity-dependent individuals at the state, county, and zip code level to support emergency preparedness and response efforts.
• Prescription Prep Tips: The NYC Department of Health’s “Prescription Prep Tips” page offers practical advice for individuals preparing to manage prescription medications. It provides tips on organizing prescriptions, understanding medication instructions, and the importance of maintaining proper medication storage. The guide aims to help individuals ensure safe and effective medication use for better health management.

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Disclaimer:
Linking to publications, materials or websites of other organizations or entities does not constitute endorsement by Mount Sinai of such publications, materials or websites. Mount Sinai provides these references and links because they may be of value to persons interested in SCI.