This is a great article in theDisability Connection Newsletterabout things that people with disabilities should know about emergency preparedness. Obviously, some of them don't pertain to people in Wisconsin, but there are a lot of great tips and resources in this.

10 Things You Should Know about Emergency Preparedness

1. Americas PrepareAthon. More than 21 million people across the U.S. are participating in preparedness activities are you one of them? Its not too late to sign up forhttp://community.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Americas PrepareAthon, which takes place on September 30th and marks the end ofhttp://www.ready.gov/september" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Preparedness Month. This nation-wide event includes activities in every state to make sure citizens know how to get ready for an emergency. Leading up to Americas PrepareAthon, learn about common hazards andhttp://community.fema.gov/take-action/hazards" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">download resourcesthat can help you prepare forhttp://community.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">earthquakes,http://community.fema.gov/hazard/flood/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">floods,http://community.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hurricanes,http://community.fema.gov/hazard/tornado/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tornadoes,http://community.fema.gov/hazard/wildfire/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfiresandhttp://community.fema.gov/hazard/winter-storm/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">winter storms.http://community.fema.gov/stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read storiesabout individuals, organizations and communities participating in this important initiative. Findhttp://community.fema.gov/take-action/activities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PrepareAthon activitiesor add your own and helphttp://community.fema.gov/spread-the-word" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spread the word.http://www.community.fema.gov/connect.ti/AmericasPrepareathon/register" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Registeronline and be empowered to get prepared.
2. Inclusion in Emergency Planning. Since one in five people in the U.S. has a disability, this population must be considered whenhttp://nod.org/disability_resources/emergency_preparedness_for_persons_with_disabilities/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planning for emergencies. Thehttp://www.acl.gov/NewsRoom/blog/2015/2015_09_04.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Administration for Community Livingrecently called for the inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency preparedness planning. If you havent seen it already, watch the Federal Emergency Management Agencys (FEMA) http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/videos/107805" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">We Prepare Every Day public service announcement (PSA) and learn about emergency preparedness for people with disabilities. https://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/2015/09/18/the-importance-of-preparing-every-day-for-the-unexpected/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Importance of Preparing Every Day for the Unexpected, a recent Disability.Blog post by guest blogger Marcie Roth, director of the Office of Disability Integration and Coordination at FEMA, further drives this point home. Thehttp://nod.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Organization on Disabilityhas also developed ahttp://nod.org/assets/downloads/Guide-Emergency-Planners.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guide for emergency managers, planners and respondersabout planning for people with disabilities in a disaster.http://www.ready.gov/individuals-access-functional-needs" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Preparing in advance and creating a support networkallows people with disabilities to be included from the start in emergency planning. Disability.govshttps://www.disability.gov/resource/disability-govs-guide-emergency-preparedness-disaster-recovery/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guide to Emergency Preparednessprovides additional resources.
3. What to Have on Hand.Stocking up onhttp://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1392389843033-75460345a2f4adcc5418a1da7cb25eef/2014_PrinterFriendly_DisabilitesSpecialNeeds.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">essential itemsthat may not be readily available during a disaster is a central part of emergency preparedness. Make sure to have at least a three-day supply ofhttp://www.ready.gov/food" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">food, water and medicine for each person in your household. Choose non-perishable items such as canned and dry goods and have a gallon of bottledhttp://www.ready.gov/water" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">waterper day available for each person in your household. Wheelchair users are advised to keep a manual wheelchair or cushion available. Store extrahttp://www.ready.gov/faq-details/Medications-in-an-emergency-kit-1370032125843" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medication and medical suppliesin your emergency kit. Your medications may be affected by things that happen during an emergency, such as exposure to high heat or contaminated water, so always check tohttp://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/ucm085200.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">make sure its safe to take the stored medications. Special precautions may be required forhttp://www.fda.gov/Drugs/EmergencyPreparedness/ucm085213.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">insulin. If you have ahttps://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/prescriptions-in-disaster-or-emergency.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (Part D)and you live in a place where a state of emergency has been declared, Medicare can help with getting the medications you need. To avoid any confusion, keep copies of your prescriptions in your emergency kit for reference.
4. Planning for Your Service Animal.People with disabilities who rely onhttp://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">service animalsmust also consider the animals needs whenhttp://nod.org/assets/downloads/Readiness-Tips-Owners-Pets.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">planning for an emergency. Youll want to includehttp://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1392389819026-75460345a2f4adcc5418a1da7cb25eef/2014_PrinterFriendly_PetOwners.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency supplies, such as food and water, a first aid kit, medications and important documents, among other items. If you must evacuate to an emergency shelter,http://www.iaadp.org/disaster.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">know your rightsas a person with a service animal service animals must be allowed in shelters, but you are responsible for its behavior. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), emergency shelter workers can only ask if the service animal is required because of a disability and what tasks it has been trained to perform. They cant ask for documentation or certification for the service animal. Although geared towards pet owners, tips from thehttp://www.humanesociety.org/issues/animal_rescue/tips/pets-disaster.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humane Societyand thehttps://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ASPCAcan also benefit people who use a service animal. For information about service animals and accommodating the needs of people with disabilities read http://www.ada.gov/emergencyprepguide.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities.
5. Workplace Preparedness.Having anhttp://www.ready.gov/workplace-plans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency preparedness plan at your place of workis just as important as having one at home. Under the ADA, an emergency plan at work may be considered ahttps://askjan.org/media/emergency.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">reasonable accommodation. Together with your employer, you can create a plan that accommodates your specific disability. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission hashttp://www.eeoc.gov/facts/evacuation.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guidelines for employersabout how to talk with their employees in a non-discriminatory way about accommodations that may be needed in an emergency. Once an emergency plan is in place, employers and employees should holdhttp://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/fact/effective.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency drillsas practice to determine if any changes should be made to the plan in order to ensure safety.
6. Shelters and Accommodations.When an emergency strikes, your local emergency shelter may be the best option to stay safe.http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7shelterprog.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The ADA generally requires sheltersto provide equal access to the many benefits that shelters provide: safety, food, services, information and a place to sleep. All parts of a shelter, from its parking and entrances to restrooms, sleeping and dining areas, medical units and beyond, must be accessible to people with disabilities. Shelters should use thishttp://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap7shelterchk.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">checklist of ADArequirements in order to understand how to best serve people with disabilities. When preparing to go to a shelter, complete thishttp://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/sites/default/files/ux/green-form-fill.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shelter checklist, which will help you communicate about your accommodations and medical or other needs you may have once you arrive. You can find open shelters through thehttp://www.redcross.org/find-help/shelter" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">American Red Cross.
7. Communicating during an Emergency.Emergency situations require quick, clear andhttps://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-communications" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">accessible communications. One critical part of our emergency communications system is the 911 network. You can call 911 from a home or mobile phone; if you have a hearing impairment, you may use the TTY service. Inhttps://transition.fcc.gov/pshs/911/Text911PSAP/Text_911_Master_PSAP_Registry.xlsx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some areas, you can also send a text message to 911. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has developed ahttps://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/text-to-911-consumer-guide.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">guide about text-to-911 communicationsfrom landlines using TTY, as well as mobile phones, and how you can expect that to work. Another form of disaster communications, thehttps://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/emergency-alert-system-eas" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emergency Alert System (EAS), gives national, state and local governments the ability to share emergency information with the public via broadcast, cable and wireless cable systems. All EAS broadcasts and emergency information from broadcast television and radio are required to be accessible by audio and visual means. Thehttps://www.fcc.gov/guides/emergency-video-programming-accessibility-persons-hearing-and-visual-disabilities" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FCC has specific requirementsfor the accessibility of disaster information and what must be provided to be people with disabilities.
8. First Responders.Emergency responders and law enforcement officers must understand the needs of people with disabilities when responding to a disaster. When communicating with someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, when an interpreter is not available, there are other ways tohttp://www.ada.gov/lawenfcomm.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">communicate effectively. The Autism Society offershttp://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/how-the-autism-society-can-help/safe-and-sound/tips-for-first-responders/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tips for communicating with children and adults with Autismor other sensory disabilities. You may also want to check out thesehttp://cdd.unm.edu/dhpd/pdfs/FifthEditionTipsSheet.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">tips for first respondersthat focus on many other types of disabilities.http://www.fr-dat.com/assets/ListPage/Promising-Practices-final-1-21-2011.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">This guidefrom thehttp://www.inclusionresearch.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Inclusion Research Institutedetails ways that emergency personnel can best serve people with disabilities during a disaster. Watch a clip from a video called http://videos.disabled-world.com/video/460/disability-awareness-training-law-enforcement" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disability Awareness Training for Law Enforcement that can help you communicate with and support people with a range of disabilities. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations (SAMHSA)http://store.samhsa.gov/apps/disaster/?WT.mc_id=EB_20140311_DISASTERAPP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Behavioral Health Disaster Response Mobile Apphelps behavioral health responders organize and share disaster preparation, response and recovery resources. It includes a directory of behavioral health service providers in affected areas.
9. Current Events. You should have anhttp://www.ready.gov/build-a-kit" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency preparedness kitandhttp://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Family_Emegency_Plan.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emergency planready for a wide variety of hazards and emergency situations. Learn about emergency situations affecting the U.S. right now and how you canhttp://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/FEMA-ReadySpNeeds_web.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prepare forand handle them.http://community.fema.gov/hazard/hurricane/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hurricane seasonin the Atlantic lasts through November; in the Pacific, it lasts until December. Keep track of approaching hurricanes with the American Red Crosshttp://www.redcross.org/mobile-apps/hurricane-app" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hurricane app. In addition to your emergency kit,http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409003345844-0e142725ea3984938c8c6748dd1598cb/How_To_Prepare_Guide_Hurricane.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">prepare yourself and your home: clean up your yard, store outdoor items that could be blown away by high winds and board your windows. Always evacuate your home if instructed to do so. California in particular has experienced manyhttp://community.fema.gov/hazard/wildfire/be-smart" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wildfiresthis year. Although the area is known for these occurrences, wildfires can happen anywhere at any time andhttp://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/drought" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dry conditionsincrease their likeliness. As with all emergencies, its important tohttp://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1409003859391-0e8ad1ed42c129f11fbc23d008d1ee85/how_to_prepare_wildfire_033014_508.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">be prepared. If you live where wildfires occur, you must behttp://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ready to leaveat a moments notice. Make sure youhttp://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">respond appropriately have two ways out, a place to stay once you leave and take needed supplies with you.http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/power-outage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Power outagescan happen at any time, too. Turn off or unplug lights that arent being used anymore. Limit how many times you open your refrigerator so food stays cool longer. When its time to cook, use perishable foods from the fridge and foods from the freezer first then use your non-perishables. If you want to use a generator, never use it in an enclosed space, like a garage, and follow thesehttp://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/power-outage/safe-generator-use" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">safety tips. Learn about what to do duringhttps://beta.ready.gov/power-outage" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">power outragesif you usehttp://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/HomeHealthandConsumer/UCM252812.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">medical devices that require electricity.
10. Recovering from a Disaster.Disasters can take a toll on yourhttp://emergency.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mental and emotional wellbeing; your personal recovery is an important part of the process of overcoming a disaster.http://www.redcross.org/find-help/disaster-recovery/recovering-emotionally" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Emotional and mental health recoverytakes time. A key resource for support is SAMHSAshttp://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disaster Distress Helpline. Call1-800-985-5990(TTY:1-800-846-8517) or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak with a trained crisis counselor. Remember, everyonehttp://www.apa.org/helpcenter/recovering-disasters.aspx" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">responds to a disasterdifferently, so it is important to understandhttp://media.samhsa.gov/MentalHealth/TraumaticEvent.aspx?from=carousel&position=1&date=3112011" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">how to copeandhttp://emergency.cdc.gov/preparedness/mind/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">help others copeduring difficult times. Parents can read http://www.fema.gov/pdf/library/children.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Helping Children Cope with Disaster for information about how to help young children who are experiencing emotional issues related to a disaster. Situations such ashttps://www.usa.gov/after-disaster#item-37172" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">missing family members,http://www.ready.gov/returning-home" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">returning homeorhttps://www.usa.gov/after-disaster#item-35967" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">finding a place to staymay also contribute to post-disaster stresses. Financial assistance is also available. Visithttp://www.disasterassistance.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">DisasterAssistance.govor use FEMAshttp://asd.fema.gov/inter/locator/home.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Disaster Recovery Center Locatorto find help. You can alsohttp://www.fema.gov/do-i-qualify-assistance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">apply for FEMA disaster assistanceonline or by calling1-800-621-3362. The Small Business Administrationshttps://www.sba.gov/content/home-and-personal-property-loans" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Home and Property Loansare low-interest loans that help homeowners and renters inhttps://www.sba.gov/content/current-disaster-declarations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">declared disaster areaswhose home or personal property has been damaged by a disaster. Even ifyoure not asmall business owner, you can apply for up to $200,000 to replace or repairyour primary residence. And remember,http://www.fema.gov/emergency-management-agencies" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">your states emergency management agencycan help you prepare for, and recover from, an emergency or disaster.