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Prepare Yourself - Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities

A disaster is coming and no one is prepared for it. No, it's not the typical disaster. It is the lack of emergency planning that cities, states, and the national government have done when it comes to people with disabilities.

Talk to a survivor of Hurricane Katrina and you'll hear that the local shelter told them to go to the already overcrowded hospital even though they did not have any injuries or was not sick. Another could not take their guide dog into the shelter because "pets are not allowed in the shelter." At the Capital in Washington D.C. people with disabilities still are left without adequate routes for evacuation in the event of an emergency.

While all these governmental committees run around trying to find solutions, it's springtime again and tornado season is already stirring with the hurricane season right behind it and other natural disasters happening all the time. There are many things that can be done on an individual basis to prepare for a disaster. Let me share a few tips with you and I will also give you some other resources with even more tips and information.

A whopping 40% of all Americans take at least one prescription drug. In a disaster it is vitally important to remember your prescription drugs. Make sure you have your insurance cards with you. Take the actual bottles your prescriptions came in, because they have the prescription labels right on them, including how many refills are available, and in an emergency situation it might be possible to get a short supply.

After Hurricane Katrina many people struggled to find pharmacies that would fill their prescriptions, even for a short time. Pharmacies, even though they want to help in a crisis, cannot fill certain prescriptions without proper verification. In some instances the actual bottle with the prescription on it was enough to get a few until the person was able to get a new prescription from a doctor.

While we all want to live independent lives, in a disaster we need all the support we can get. Before disaster strikes get a support network together. Friends, family, and colleagues you can trust. While some in your network may be dealing with the disaster themselves, it is good to know someone can be counted on.

In a blizzard, sidewalks and roads become snow-covered and may crack making them impassible. Or downed power lines during a tornado or hurricane can become dangerous. Earthquakes definitely can make traveling difficult. Without a support network you may get stranded for days or weeks before help could arrive.

Know all the possible escape routes in your home, at work, and at places you frequent. Make a checklist and stock supplies. If you wait until just before an emergency grocery stores and pharmacies may run out because of the demand. Spare batteries and drinking water are a must. The better you prepare the better your chance of survival.

These tips are far from complete, but yet vitally important. The National Organization On Disability has more tips and some great information on how to prepare for a disaster for people with disabilities. The American Red Cross also has some information and check-lists that are helpful.

Firemen saved a woman in a wheelchair from the 68th floor of the World Trade Center. She was in a designated spot for people with disabilities. As cities and governments improve their emergency preparedness plans to include people with disabilities, it will increase the number of survivors. With a little planning, you can reduce the stress caused by a disaster and survive to share your life with others.