Special Needs and Caregivers
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Many people with disabilities or other access and functional needs can face additional challenges when preparing for emergencies. For example, traditional emergency plan resources may not always account for things like caring for service animals or ensuring escape routes from a home for those with limited mobility.
If you or a family member has a disability, be sure that your preparedness plan does consider everything they need to be safe and ready. If you know that a friend or neighbor has a disability, be sure to check on them before and after a disaster event, like a severe storm, to make sure that they're accounted and cared for.
We've included some resources below to help you be as prepared as possible, both for yourself and those you care about.
Be sure to check out our new section on Digital Emergency Health Profiles!
Resources
New! Create a Digital Emergency Health Profile
Did you know that, if you choose, you can register your health information so that first responders will already have it if you ever need to call 9-1-1? You can!
To do so, you can create what's called an
"Emergency Health Profile," either online or saved on your phone. It can include any medical conditions you may have, medications you may take, emergency contact preferences, or special notes like "non-verbal" or "uses mobility device," so that responders are better prepared to get you the help you need.
There's no cost to create a profile, and the information is only ever shared with first responders if you call 9-1-1. Otherwise, it remains securely stored.
You can create an Emergency Health Profile online, by visiting EmergencyProfile.org, or on an iPhone or Android device via their built-in settings menu. And if you create a profile in one of those places, that's all you need! The systems work together.
The Maryland Department of Disabilities has created special instructional videos to walk you through the steps of creating a profile in any location. Find the one that works best for you below:
Creating a Profile Online
Creating a Profile on Android
Creating a Profile on iOS
If you ever need help setting up your profile, you can ask a friend, caregiver, or family member to help! Or, you can contact your local Center for Independent Living, or reach out to the
Maryland Department of Disabilities or your local emergency management office. They'll each know how to help get you set up.
FEMA Resources & Tips
FEMA's emergency preparedness website, "Ready.gov," has an entire section devoted to preparedness tips & resources for those with disabilities and/or access & functional needs.
Some examples include guidance for making a customized emergency plan, instructions for accessing benefits & programs digital in the event of an emergency, and specialized preparedness advice.
Maryland Department of Disabilities Resources
The Maryland Department of Disabilities (MDOD) also maintains an Emergency Preparedness web page. It contains preparedness tips & resources, as well as practical tools like family emergency planning cards & readiness videos.
As part of the MDOD website, it's also connected to the wide variety of other resources for those with disabilities or access & functional needs, which can be useful on a normal day, as well as when planning for disasters and emergencies.