Assisting People with Disabilities in Disaster
From the Federal Emergency Management Agency Website and the Disabled People and Disaster Planning Website
Honolulu CC's emergency evacuation plan may be found at http://www.honolulu.hawaii.edu/node/107. People with disabilities who are self-sufficient under normal circumstances may have to rely on the help of others in a disaster.
Things To Know
Things To Do
- Prepare an emergency plan. Work with neighbors who are disabled to prepare an emergency response plan. Identify how you will contact each other and what action will be taken.
- If a disaster warning is issued, check with neighbors or coworkers who are disabled. Offer assistance whenever possible.
- Be a source of emergency information as it comes over the radio or TV for people who cannot hear the information. Communication can be accomplished by writing brief notes on a piece of paper explaining the situation and plan of action.
- Regard a person with a disability as the best expert in his or her disability and ask for advice before lifting or moving the person.
- Never separate a person with a disability from his or her assistive aids: wheelchairs, canes, hearing aids, medications, special diet food, urinary supplies, service animal, etc.
Self-Help Networks
Self-help networks are arrangements of people who agree to assist an individual with a disability in an emergency. Discuss with the relative, friend or co-worker who has a disability what assistance he or she may need. Urge the person to keep a disaster supplies kit and suggest that you keep an extra copy of the list of special items such as medicines or special equipment that the person has prepared. Talk with the person about how to inform him or her of an oncoming disaster.
Honolulu CC High Rise Building Evacuation of Persons with Mobility Problems
Two helpers should be assigned for each student with mobility problems. Procedures are as follows:
- Assist the person to the nearest fire escape.
- Do not attempt to carry the person down the fire escape. The Honolulu Fire Department (HFD) will be responsible for evacuating the person.
- Place the person in a safe area on the landing inside the fire escape.
- Make certain that the person is not obstructing evacuating traffic.
- Keep the fire door closed.
- Make note of the exact location of the person waiting for assistance.
- One helper stays with the person while the other helper seeks assistance from HFD officials.
- Prior to leaving, both helpers should agree to meet to verify that they and the person they are assisting have safely evacuated.
- The helper who leaves to inform HFD officials, needs to relay the exact location of the person requiring assistance:
- Location of the fire escape: Ewa, Mauka, Makai, or Diamond Head
- Building and floor landing numbers
- After successful evacuation of the building, both helpers report to the instructor at the designated assembly area.