Emergency Preparedness: Including People with Disabilities

Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without warning, forcing people to quickly leave or be confined in their home unexpectedly. For the millions of Americans who have disabilities, emergencies, such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism, present a real challenge.

Resources from State Disability and Health Programs

The following resources were developed by CDC funded State Disability and Health Programs. Public health professionals, emergency personnel and communities can use them to create emergency preparedness and response plans that are inclusive of people with disabilities.

Resources from Federal Agencies

The following are some of the resources developed by federal organizations that can be used to develop disability inclusive emergency preparedness and response plans.

Nobody Left Behind is the result of a three-year study to investigate 30 county level or equivalent emergency management sites across the United States that had experienced a recent disaster. The researchers aimed to determine the readiness of these sites to assist persons with mobility limitations during disasters.

Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs is a booklet from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross that helps people with disabilities prepare for all kinds of emergencies.

Guide to Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Recovery at Disability.gov helps people with disabilities and their families and caregivers prepare for emergencies. It also includes information about the importance of including people with disabilities in preparing for emergencies. Disability.gov offers a list of resources that people with disabilities, caregivers and emergency personnel can use to prepare for emergencies and disasters.

Effective Emergency Preparedness Planning for Employers is a website that includes resources related to workplace emergency preparedness and the needs of employees with disabilities.

emPOWER Map is a tool to find electricity-dependent equipment claims at the U.S. state, territory, county, and zip code level. Over 2.5 million people rely upon electricity-dependent medical and assistive equipment.