Have you thought about creating a disaster kit? The DAFN (Disability, Accessibility, and Functional Needs) Team at Humanity Road would like to invite you to join us in making a Disaster Kit to fit your needs. During a disaster, people who identify as having disabilities and/or functional needs, along with the very young and the elderly, are especially vulnerable. Our goal is that “No One Is Left Behind” in being prepared for both Natural or Man-made Disasters, and the first step in doing this is to build your own personalized disaster kit.
Items will be for specific health groups such as the visually impaired, seniors, diabetics and others. We hope that by separating the items by post you will be encouraged to build your kit until it is specific to your needs and your resolution is complete. Please remember these will just be suggestions as to what you may need either when you shelter at home or to fill an emergency bag, which is compact enough to be carried to an evacuation center. Your emergency supplies should last up to 14 days.
Containers on wheels are helpful for moving; a suitcase on wheels is an option or your disaster kit could be put in a little wagon. Creating a disaster kit does not have to be expensive. Remember to check in your pantries, closets, or garage at home, you may find that you have some of the items already on hand.
Also family and friends may have items they can donate. You may even like to invite a friend to build their kit along with you, when working with someone else it can be fun but also you may learn of things you both hadn’t considered.
Below are listed some item suggestions for different Health needs.
Foundation Items
We begin with these items which are essential in making any disaster kit:
___ Backpack (depending on needs you may need more than one)
___ Container (tote with a locking lid)
___ Post-A-Note pads
___ Indelible Ink Pen
___ Index Cards
___ Roll of Clear Packing Tape
Hearing Special Needs Items
___ On Index Cards make list of key phrases for emergency personnel (e.g. “I need an interpreter,” or “I need announcements written or “I speak American Sign Language (ASL)”. Be sure and put these cards in a waterproof zip-lock bag. To protect from moisture.
___ Extra hearing aids, implants and batteries.
___ Extra batteries for visual or sensory alarms, pagers and TTY.
___ Car charger for cell phone and other communication devices.
___ Note pads and pens
___ Alarm clock
___ Hearing aid cleaner
___ Hearing aid drying system
___ Acoustic seal cream
___ Weather Alert Transmitter/Radio, PC Alert device
Mobility Special Needs Items
___ A pair of heavy gloves to use while wheeling or navigating over glass or other debris.
___ Extra battery for motorized wheelchair/scooter, Lightweight manual wheelchair, if possible.
___ Spare cane, crutches, walker, braces
___ Patch kit or can of “seal-in-air product” to repair flat tires and/or extra supply of inner tubes.
___ Catheters and Incontinence Supplies, and other personal items.
Seniors Special Needs Items
___ Three-day supply of prescription medication and/or a copy of your prescriptions and dosages, including any allergies, Extra eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.
___ List of the style and serial number of medical devices, such as Pacemakers and or Stents, Walker, Wheelchair, Canes, Hearing Aids.
___ Extra Wheelchair battery, Oxygen, Hearing Aids and Batteries, Denture Cup and Denture Cleaner.
___ Incontinence supplies and other personal items, Deck of cards, Pad of Paper and Pencil, Snacks, Drinks like Ensure.
Visually Impaired Special Needs Items
___ List of medications if needed. If helpful, mark emergency supplies with large print, fluorescent tape or Braille.
___ Extra folding white cane, in case your dog is injured and can’t work. Tape Recorder and extra batteries.
___ An extra pair of dark glasses (if medically required) or you use them normally. Extra contacts, contact lens solution, spare eye glasses in case you can’t wear your contacts. If you wear Soft Contact Lenses, plan to have an alternative available because you will not be able to operate the cleaning unit without power.