What are special needs when it comes
to preparing an Emergency Action Plan?
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If you need a label to categorize these groups you may come
up with concepts such as… Elderly, Visually Challenged, Auditory Challenged, and
Mobility Challenged, Mentally Challenged, Medically Challenged, Pets and
Service Animals, Children, Diabetics…
These individuals may have long tern/permanent needs. Or they
might be short term/temporary needs.
Either way, you will need to plan for them.
Disability doesn't make you exceptional, but questioning what you think you know about it does. - Stella Young
The best way to start Special Needs planning is to identify the individuals’ functional abilities and absolute needs well before an emergency or disaster. Be aware of the during and after needs, as they will become crucial during the immediate response to the event. And after the event when resources may not be readily available.
A hypothetical scenario could be that the electricity is out. It will be out for a week, maybe two, and Aunt Janice needs regular dialysis.
Some of the categories of needs
will fall into… Medicine, Diet, Oxygen, Transportation, Medical Services, Electrical
Devices, Personal Care Equipment, Pet friendly Shelters/Hotels – Motels. Care and feeding of your pets or
Service Animals. Diapers for the baby.
Please keep
in mind that I am not a Doctor, Nurse, Clinician, Veterinarian or Health Care Professional.
The labels and lists provided are not all inclusive. These are simply my
thoughts based on personal research.
During the Emergency
Action Planning process consult with medical professionals and your County
Office of Emergency Management to identify the resources that may be needed and
available for your specific situation. If you discover something that is not
going to be available, you need to fix it now.
A starting resource:
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/897
Till Next
time
“Be Safe”
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