Severe Weather Season Poses Challenges for People with Disabilities
Belleville, Ill. – April 16, 2008 – According to the National Weather Service, April marks the deadliest month for tornadoes and severe storms in the United States. Allsup (
www.allsup.com) is urging people with disabilities to take steps to get better prepared for a variety of disasters.
Spring’s severe weather can create significant challenges for people whose lives already are complicated by disease, injury or illness.
“We’ve worked with a number of individuals whose homes were wiped out and lifestyles drastically worsened when severe weather hit, including coastal storms, hurricanes and tornadoes,” said
Edward Swierczek, senior claimant representative for Allsup.
“While no one can predict when a catastrophe might hit, preparedness can prove invaluable to people with disabilities, many of whom are going to have an additional burden to ensure their health and well-being in the wake of a disaster,” Mr. Swierczek said.
The following preparedness tips are offered from the American Red Cross:
- Establish a personal support network made up of a minimum of three individuals who will check with you in an emergency to provide assistance if needed. This network can consist of friends, roommates, relatives or neighbors. Establish how you will communicate with your network in an emergency and share copies of your relevant emergency documents, evacuation plans, the location of your emergency supplies and your personal health information with your network. Identify an out-of-area emergency contact.
- Conduct an “ability self-assessment” that evaluates your capabilities, limitations and needs to determine what type of help you will need in an emergency. Share this with your personal support network.
- Create an emergency health information card that contains information about medications, equipment you use, allergies, communication difficulties you may have and contact information for your medical providers.
- Practice giving instructions to rescue personnel for how to move you, or what equipment you need to bring with you. Create flash cards with these messages on them to store in your disaster supplies kit.
- Prepare a disaster supplies kit with the materials you need to survive on your own for at least three days. These items should include food, water, clothing, medication, a flash light, batteries, first aid kit and special items or equipment that is needed to accommodate your disability. Examples include hearing aid batteries, portable oxygen tank, syringes, diabetes or other testing kits, and special eating utensils. It will help to create a list of your prescription medications and other drugs. Create a smaller disaster supplies kit in a fanny pack or drawstring bag that you can keep with you on your wheelchair, scooter or other assistive device.
- Make copies of important documents such as health insurance policies, deeds, medical documents and Social Security cards, and store them in your disaster supplies kit. One benefit for customers of Allsup is the company maintains digital medical records pertaining to each individual customer.
- Consider your methods of communication. If you require assistive devices that operate on batteries to communicate, then be sure to have backup batteries on hand. Backup power supplies may be limited in a disaster, so consider keeping paper and pens or pencils in your disaster kit; obtain a whistle or alarm for summoning help or signaling your network; or prepare flash cards with important messages to anyone who might assist you (i.e. “I am paralyzed from the neck down”; “I can see you but I cannot hear you”, “My dog is a service animal and must come with me,” etc.).
For emergencies and other situations in which you need help, you could consider the American Red Cross Lifeline service. Through this telephone-based medical alert service, you can receive 24-hour help at the push of a button or depression of a device modified for your disability. This service is offered nationwide. For more information, call American Red Cross Lifeline at (800) 959-6989 or visit their
Web site.
Contact your local Red Cross Chapter or visit
www.redcross.org for additional information on how you can prepare for emergencies. You also can download disaster preparedness brochures from the American Red Cross for people with special needs: