Special Needs

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Elderly or disabled individuals often have special needs that must be accommodated during a disaster. If you have an elderly or disabled family member, include them in your family emergency plan — whether or not they live with you, on their own or in an assisted living facility or nursing home. Do not assume others will care for your loved one if disaster strikes.

Elders

• Learn the facility’s emergency procedures if your loved one lives in an assisted living facility or nursing home.
• Talk to local emergency service providers to learn what help might be available to your elder during and after a disaster.
• Plan and practice emergency procedures, including evacuation plans, with home health-care agencies, nurses or other caregivers.
• Designate an emergency contact for your elder. If possible, make sure your elder knows how and when to call this individual.
• Provide your elder with a completed Family Emergency Information form.
• Keep a completed Emergency Health Information form in your elder’s emergency supply kit.
• Label essential medical equipment and attach laminated instructions for use.
• Make sure your emergency supply kit includes items for your elder's health and personal needs, such as:
  • Prescription medications (1-week supply), dosage information and copies of prescriptions.
  • Prescribed medical supplies, such as blood pressure monitoring devices or portable oxygen supply.
  • Special equipment, such as extra wheelchair batteries.
  • Copies of medical insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cards.
  • Extra eyeglasses.
  • Hearing aid and extra batteries.
  • Personal hygiene items.
  • Personal items for comfort, such as family photos.

Disabled Individuals

• Make sure local emergency service providers and rescue workers know your loved one’s address. Many city and county government emergency management offices keep lists of disabled individuals so they can be located quickly.
• Teach family members and neighbors how to help in a disaster. Show them where emergency supplies are kept and how to operate necessary equipment.
• Label essential medical equipment and attach laminated instructions for use.
• Make sure your loved one wears medical alert tags or bracelets as appropriate.
• Learn what to do during power outages, including how to connect essential medical equipment to backup power. Know the locations and availability of several medical facilities if your loved one requires life-sustaining treatment.
• Provide the disabled individual with a completed Family Emergency Information form, as appropriate.
• Keep a completed Emergency Health Information form in your loved one’s emergency supply kit.
• Make sure the emergency supply kit includes items for the disabled individual’s health and personal needs, such as:
  • Prescription medications (1-week supply), dosage information and copies of prescriptions.
  • Prescribed medical supplies, such as blood pressure monitoring devices or portable oxygen supply.
  • Special equipment, such as extra wheelchair batteries and other forms of backup power.
  • A list of the style and serial number of essential medical devices and instructions for use.
  • Copies of medical insurance, Medicare and Medicaid cards.

Children

• Calmly and firmly present children with a realistic picture of the situation.
• Offer words of reassurance.
• Encourage children to talk about their concerns.
• Control your own emotions when children are present.
• Make arrangements for children in case parents cannot get home.
• Teach children warning signals such as smoke detectors, fire alarms and community horns and sirens.
• Show children how to dial 9-1-1 and explain when to call.
• Teach children to memorize important information such as their family name, address and phone number.
• Keep the family together as much as possible. Children may worry that their parents will not return.
• Allow children to assist in packing the emergency kit. They may want to include books or games.

To prepare children for emergency situations, visit www.ready.gov/kids.

Pets

• Keep vaccinations updated.
• Make sure your pets wear a collar with their name, your phone number, address, current license and rabies tags.
• Keep leashes, pet carriers or wire cages on hand.
• Ask a local animal shelter, FEMA office or your veterinarian about emergency pet shelters. They will not accept pets without proof of vaccinations.
• Try to take pets with you if evacuation is necessary. Pets are not allowed in public emergency shelters. Many hotels waive pet restrictions in emergency situations.
• If you must leave your pets behind, bring them inside to keep them from running away. Never leave your pets outside during a disaster.
• Keep a current photo of your pets in case they become lost.
• Make sure your emergency kit includes items for your pet, such as:
  • Extra food and large-capacity self-feeder and water dispenser.
  • Extra medications, if needed.
  • Kitty litter and litter box.