Emergency preparedness is critical for everyone, but it is especially important for people with disabilities because of their access and functional needs. The Minnesota Council on Disability recommends that every person with a disability make an individual emergency plan.
You are the expert on your own disability. No two plans will look the same, because everyone has different needs and resources.
To start creating your emergency plan, think about some of the following scenarios. What would you do if:
- Your power goes out?
- You need to evacuate your home?
- Your personal care assistant (PCA) is snowed in and can’t get to you?
- The roads to your pharmacy are blocked?
Ways to find out about an emergency:
- Local TV news
- Local news app
- Weather app
- A battery-operated radio
Develop an Emergency Plan
Minnesotans have several resources available to help develop an emergency plan. Be sure to create, share, and practice your emergency plan with family, friends, neighbors, and caregivers so it works in a real emergency.
Save the Emergency Plan Checklist and Emergency Contact and Medical Information forms on your phone or tablet, or print them. You can also email or text copies of your emergency plan to your support network.
If printing your plan, put a copy:
- On your fridge
- In your caregiving binder
- With your emergency kits
Emergency Kits
There are two types of emergency kits: one for sheltering in place and one for evacuations. If you have children, a service animal, or pets, they will need their own supplies and food in the kits as well.
An evacuation emergency kit can be kept in your vehicle or stored in an easily accessible place for you or your caregiver to reach.
A shelter-in-place emergency kit should include:
- Nonperishable food
- Water
- Medications for at least two weeks, if possible
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- A battery-operated radio
The best time to get ready is before an emergency. Make your plan today so you are prepared.