Health and Wellness

Emergency Preparedness

The path of destruction Hurricane Katrina imposed upon Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, causes me to wonder how individuals with multiple sclerosis, or any disability, could survive. I have MS, and watching people pushed through filthy water in wheelchairs, places the responsibility squarely on my shoulders to get serious.

My thinking is not fatalistic but realistic. I don't live in a potential hurricane path, but in Washington State we have volcanoes which have erupted, earthquakes, forest fires, and flooding. Other states live with the reality of tornadoes and hail storms, to name a few. We all must consider what resources we rely on regularly and determine how they might be impacted by a disaster.

My heart aches for those affected by Katrina and it awakens my need to prepare. My experience with the Girl Scouts, whose motto is "Be Prepared," and my Red Cross training, along with my limited mobility, should all compel me to plan, yet I have not. If you are like me, are dependent on medications, have children and/or pets how would you respond if you were told to evacuate?

Moving Past Fear to Take Control

"The act of planning for an emergency or disaster can 'paralyze with fear' even those without unique planning needs," says Elizabeth Davis, managing director of EAD & Associates, LLC in New York City. This company provides expertise in emergency management and special-needs planning, to ensure that people with disabilities are prepared for disasters and their consequences.

"It is assumed to be an uncomfortable process and, therefore, one often avoided. It is our obligation, however, to plan for our own survival to the best of our ability," Davis adds. According to the National Organization on Disability, America's community with disabilities includes 54 million people, so special needs are widespread. The sheer numbers should compel us all to plan, based on our needs.

Davis encourages us by saying, "When a person with a disability faces certain realities, such as requiring a greater level of reliance during extraordinary times, we also find that we have survival solutions that we use every day, which can be transformed into planning tools. Planning can empower us to get past fear and find ways to take control of our circumstances." In addition to her professional experience, on a personal level, Davis is well aware of some of the challenges faced by individuals with MS. Davis has a strong bond with a close relative, who has MS and continues in an active career.

Unimaginable Disasters are Signs of the Times

No one expected the tragedy seen on September 11, 2001, as high-jacked planes flew into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in Pennsylvania. And amongst other natural disasters within our country, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and mudslides, the tsunami that hit Indonesia and surrounding countries in December 2004 — killing more than a quarter-million people — was beyond anything we ever imagined. Despite such disasters, many were not prepared, had no way to evacuate, or did not seriously heed warnings when the powerful Hurricane Katrina hit.

Ed, 47, is the battalion chief of a fire station in Florida. Residing in Vero Beach, Florida, Ed has 25 years experience in fire service. He was diagnosed with MS in 1996.

Ed says that he takes care of people at their worst possible time and having MS gives him added sensitivity. "You can live with this disease and contribute to society. I am very fortunate because MS does not limit what I can do."

Last year, Ed was on duty during hurricane season. Not being home for two weeks after each storm, along with the stress, takes its toll. "I am asked how I dealt with the stress... I didn't have time for stress. I was constantly on the go," Ed recalls. At one point, his crew finally put him to bed after going for three days with no sleep.

Margaret, 59, has MS and has lived in Masaryktown, Florida for 20 years. "Last year there were four hurricanes. When the authorities say to get out of here, I'm out of here," states Margaret. "I have had my fill of hurricanes. I plan to move to my Indiana hometown within the year."

Margaret's advice for others with MS is to register with his or her Emergency Management Division of the Department of Public Defense and Homeland Security — if this service is available in your area. (For contact information, please refer to the resource section at the end of this article.)

"If you have medical needs, as soon as things are looking bad, someone will come to take you to a place of safety, where doctors, nurses, and medical equipment are available," Margaret says. "Don't be a hero. Get out of there and live."

Residents should check with their local community government to see where a designated shelter is in the event of an emergency. Should a nearby shelter not be available, residents may become part of the solution by working with local officials to ensure that a program is in place.

All Agree: Evacuate When Advised

When Ed visited special-needs shelters after the storms, many said they would never stay for another storm. "Anyone who has MS needs to prepare and hope such preparation is never needed. Listen to the experts and leave. Make sure you take all your meds," Ed urgently advises.

Will, 54, of Jackson, Mississippi, agrees with Ed and Margaret, stating, "When civil authorities say, 'take refuge,' you should take refuge. We know that some people who have MS have limited resources, but most of us have a card list to use when we need help." Will is referring to a holiday card list that many of us have and could access for our personal support system of friends, neighbors, and relatives.

The center of Hurricane Katrina came within 60 miles of Will's home before changing course. "We were hit with the sidewall of the storm," Will explains. "We saw the worst of a category one's 65-90 mph winds for six-to-eight hours."

Will's family was without electricity for four days. Will lost his ability to walk as a result of heat and stress. His decision to stay home surprised him since he was formerly the regional director of health and safety for a communications company. "The idea to 'wait and see' is not always the way to do it," Will concludes.

Knowledge is Power

The Center for Disability Issues and the Health Professions' 44-page guide for people with disabilities, Emergency Evacuation Preparedness: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety, can be found at the following link: www.cdihp.org/ products.html#eeguide and selecting one of the four versions to download and view or print. Individuals without internet access may contact MSAA's Helpline at (800) 532-7667 for more information. This guide is extremely thorough and addresses virtually every aspect of emergency planning for individuals with disabilities and other activity limitations. Through questions, explanations, and true stories of individuals with disabilities who needed to evacuate, this guide specifically instructs readers about the importance of preparation; how to evaluate their own needs; and exactly what they need to do to prepare. It also includes evacuation options, references, and resources, as well as directions for establishing a personal support network and compiling one's complete emergency health information.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers free, online, independent-study courses. According to Davis, a course devoted to special-needs planning will be available soon. (For contact information, please refer to the resource section at the end of this article.)

According to Web MD, a disaster kit should include the following:

• A battery-powered radio
• Flashlights with extra batteries
• Three-days worth of non-perishable food and water for each household member, plus a manual can opener
• One change of clothing and footwear for each household member
• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Sanitary supplies, such as toilet paper, soap, disinfectant, bleach, personal hygiene items, and garbage bags
• Plastic sheeting and tape
• Personal identification, cash (including coins), traveler's checks, and/or a credit card
• Emergency contact information and family documents in waterproof containers

The American Red Cross offers the following tips for individuals who use mobility aids:

• Store emergency supplies in a backpack attached to your walker, wheelchair, or scooter.
• Store mobility aids close to you.
• Keep heavy gloves in your supply kit for wheeling or making your way over glass and debris.
• For a motorized wheelchair or scooter, have an extra battery. Check with your vendor to learn if you can charge your battery by either connecting jumper cables to a vehicle battery or connecting batteries to a converter that plugs into a vehicle's cigarette lighter. Caution: Charge only one battery at a time.
• Keep a patch kit to repair flat tires and/or keep an extra supply of inner tubes.
• Store a lightweight, manual wheelchair if available.
• If you spend time above the first floor of a building, plan and practice using alternate methods of evacuation.
• Wheelchairs may need to be left behind during an evacuation. If you cannot use stairs, familiarize yourself with lifting and carrying techniques that work for you. Be prepared to give brief instructions on how others can move you.
• Create a list of your personal support network of friends, neighbors, relatives, and disability contacts/services; store this information in a safe place (and keep a copy in your "disaster kit," mentioned previously).

Other helpful tips:

• Particularly for individuals who may have communication or cognitive problems, wearing a medical ID bracelet or necklace can be crucial should they become separated from family or friends. For more information, readers may visit www.americanmedical-id.com/home/ or call (800) 363-5985.
• Laminate a card listing your full name, medications, allergies, special needs, a contact person, and physician names and numbers; keep this in a place where friends, family, or emergency personnel could easily spot it in an emergency.
• Keep extra sets of important documents, i.e., insurance papers, birth certificates, financial information, etc., and possibly copies of a few irreplaceable photographs, in a fireproof box at home, as well as in a different, secured location (such as a safety-deposit box at the bank).
• Arrange for a contact person who lives at a different location for family members to call if separated during an emergency.
• Make arrangements for your pets (see accompanying story on page 50).

Resources

• For a state-by-state listing of links with the Department of Public Defense and Homeland Security, Emergency Management Division, visit www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=14&content=3283 or call (202) 282-8000.
• For the National Organization on Disability's links and information about disaster information and people with disabilities, visit www.nod.org/emergency or call (202) 293-5960; TTY users may call (202) 293-5968.
• The Department of Homeland Security's emergency preparedness information website may be found at www.ready.gov or by calling (800) 237-3239 (800-BE-READY); TTY users may call (800) 464-6161.
• To find your local Red Cross chapter, go to www.redcross.org. For animal safety, visit www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/animalsafety.html.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross' family links website helps to connect those separated by conflict or disaster to find information about their loved ones in order to restore contact. To reach this committee, visit www.familylinks.icrc.org/home.nsf/home/webfamilylinks or call (877) 568-3317 (877-LOVED-1S).
• For information about planning for your service animal, visit www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center or call (202) 452-1100.
• For information regarding telecommunications for the deaf, readers may go to www.tdi-online.org, or call (301) 589-3786 for voice service; TTY users may call (301) 589-3006.
• The American Foundation for the Blind may be found at www.afb.org or by calling (800) 232-5463 (800-AFB-LINE).
• For Easter Seals' s.a.f.e.t.y. first program, please visit www.easterseals.com/site/ PageServer?pagename=ntl_safety_first or call (866) 237-2335 (866-BE-SAFE-5).
• For the ADA Guide for Local Governments' document titled, Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities, readers may visit www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/emergencyprep.htm or call (800) 514-0301; TTY users may call (800) 514-0383.
• FEMA may be reached by visiting www.fema.gov. To apply for assistance during a crisis, call (800) 621-3362 (FEMA); TTY users may call (800) 462-7585.
• The website for EAD & Associates, LLC may be found by visiting www.eadassociates.com or by calling (718) 330-0034 (both voice and TTY).
• Davis adds, "We are in the best position to know our own abilities and limitations. This is why we must take responsibility and plan. But this also means planning with a strong support network both in and out of our region. Review the plan regularly, including any time it has to be activated and if any condition changes. With practice, we increase our ability to survive exponentially. And a plan is only as good as the last time it was practiced."

Elizabeth Thompson is a freelance writer and a volunteer staff member on msworld.org. She was diagnosed with MS in December 1987 after being symptomatic since 1970. A resident of Monroe, Washington, she can be reached at writeop@msworld.org.

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