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Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Sensory Disabilities National Organization on Disabilities Page 2 of 2

 

Conditions in a general shelter (usually a school building or an auditorium) are crowded, noisy, and boring. But these facilities, operated by the local American Red Cross chapter or faith-based agencies, can save your life. Persons with hearing or vision impairments or who are blind or deaf have a right under the ADA to use general public shelters. A person who is blind or visually impaired will need assistance finding a place to sit and the location of the restroom and food line. A person who is deaf or hearing impaired can get oriented relatively easily, but may need to communicate with others without an interpreter.

Tip: Be prepared to tell shelter operators what your needs are.

Service Animals
Federal law also allows your guide dog or service animal into the shelter. Be prepared to explain this to the staff, some of whom may be unfamiliar with this fact. You also have the responsibility to care for your companion animal while the two of you are in the shelter.

Ready Kit and Go Bag

A Ready Kit is a supply of items that you will need if you should have to shelter in place, or rely on your own resources for a few days. A Go Bag has fewer items, but they are the most essential items to take with you in case you must evacuate quickly.

See the N.O.D. guide, “Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities,” for a list of suggested supplies. The American Red Cross also has a comprehensive checklist of supplies.

Here are a few items of particular interest to people with sensory disabilities:

  • Pad of paper with pens or pencils for writing notes
  • Extra batteries for tape recorders, portable TTYs, etc.
  • Extra pair of dark glasses, if medically required
  • Folding mobility cane
  • Food, medicine, and favorite toy for your service animal
  • Plastic bags, disposable gloves, and other items for the animal’s care

Where to find more information

Many of these agencies provide materials in large font, audio or video cassette formats, and different languages.

American Foundation for the Blind
www.afb.org • (800)232-5463 (voice)

American Red Cross
www.redcross.org • call your local chapter

Easter Seals (s.a.f.e.t.y. First program)
www.easter-seals.org • (800)221-6827 (voice) • (312)726-4258 (TTY)

Federal Emergency Management Agency
http://www.fema.gov/plan/ • (800)480-2520 (voice)

Gallaudet University, Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
www.clerccenter.gallaudet.edu • (202)651-5031 (voice/TTY)

Humane Society of the U.S. (Disaster Center)
www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/ • (202)452-1100 (voice)

National Association of the Deaf
www.nad.org • (301)587-1788 (voice) • (301)587-1789 (TTY)

NOAA Weather Radio
www.weather.gov/nwer/special_needs.htm

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
www.ready.gov • (800)BE READY (voice) • (800)464-6161 (TTY)

The National Organization on Disability gratefully acknowledges support from Bush Clinton Katrina Fund for NOD's Emergency Preparedness Initiative and for this publication. NOD also thanks Alcoa Foundation, American International Group, JCPenney Company Fund, the UPS Foundation, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for making this publication possible.


 

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From the National Organization on Disabilities. Used with permission. www.nod.org.

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