Disaster Preparedness

Preparedness for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Older adults and people with disabilities often have specific needs and challenges when it comes to preparing for and recovering from a disaster. Though these needs are unique to the individual, many of the general safety tips and suggestions listed on this page can be adapted and applied to everyone across the older adults and people with disabilities spectrum.

Disaster Preparedness for Older Adults and People with Disabilities, FEMA

Emergency Planning

Emergency Kit for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Preparedness Resources for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Emergency Planning

When planning for a disaster, your top priority should be your health and safety. For older adults and people with disabilities, that means making sure that you have all necessary medication and medical devices, as well as a medication and care continuity plan, which you can create with your medical provider(s) and caregiver(s). Care continuity plans are especially essential for those who rely on medical devices that must be electronically powered to use. If you use a medical device such as a dialysis machine, infusion pump, medication nebulizer, or anything else that relies on power, make sure you have access to a generator, and consider purchasing one if able. If you are not able to purchase one, speak with your neighbors and see if someone else has one that they’d be willing to let you lose in the event of a power outage. Its important that you continue taking care of your basic health and are prepared to get creative in order to do so if a disaster were to strike.

Creating a thorough evacuation plan is also essential to your disaster preparedness. You should have a go-bag that you are capable of carrying to your designated evacuation site (either a public assembly area or a friend/relative’s house outside of the path of the disaster). You may require assistance evacuating on foot, especially if you will be evacuating with a medical device. Create a plan with other members of your household or your neighbors so that they can assist you if evacuation becomes necessary. You should also keep emergency supplies in your car, so you can quickly evacuate by car if possible.

If you need additional help creating an emergency plan, contact Lane County Public Health Services’ Preparedness and Response Coordinator at (541) 556 – 3472 or selene.jaramillo@lanecountyor.gov

Emergency Kit for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

Make sure you have an emergency kit (to support you through a shelter-in-place scenario) and a go-bag (to take with you if you need to evacuate) prepared and ready to use in a moment’s notice. Your emergency kit and go bag should be tailored to your needs and include everything essential for your health and safety. Like all emergency kits, you should make sure you have at least 2 weeks’ worth of water, food, medicine, and other essential supplies. Your emergency kit should also include:

  • Copies of essential medical documents and contact information for your medical care team.
  • Any vitamins or dietary supplements that you require for daily functioning.
  • Back up contacts, glasses, contact solution.
  • Cooler and ice packs, if medicine needs to be kept cold.
  • First aid kit.
  • Extra medical supplies (syringes, batteries, etc.).
  • Respirator mask

These are just some suggested items. Keep track of the items you rely on for your daily function and make sure all are accounted for in your personal emergency kit.

The University of Colorado’s Center for Inclusive Design and Engineering has created a document that details disability-specific emergency kits, for various conditions such as mobility limitations, vision limitations, food sensitivities, etc. You can view that document here.

FEMA’s ready.gov has similar disability-specific preparedness information on their webpage here.

Essential for your emergency kit, National Institute on Aging

Resources for Further Learning

For older adults and people with disabilities, disaster preparedness and planning should be incredibly individualized to suit you and your specific needs. You should consult with your doctor and care team for support in creating a thorough emergency plan as they will likely be able to provide additional insight and resources.

For more information about disaster preparedness for older adults, visit the links below

For more information about disaster preparedness for people with disabilities, visit the links below