November 2007
Just after I submitted my column for last month, a small earthquake hit on the junction between the Calaveras and Hayward faults near the Bay area. We definitely felt it in Salinas. As my apartment moved beneath my feet, I remember thinking, Hmm…maybe I should write another column on emergency and disaster preparedness. I think someone up there is trying to tell me there is more information to cover.
Earthquakes have been especially frightening for me since the Loma Prieta Quake in 1989. Our house shook from its foundation and was severely damaged. My sister went into premature labor. We had to find a new place to live and were essentially “couch-surfing” for months afterward. Your entire life can change in a moment. Mine did.
We have no warning system for earthquakes like we do for weather related emergencies. People with disabilities can take more time and energy to plan then people without disabilities. There are some additional steps that you can take to be as prepared as possible.
These steps were taken from the article, Emergency Preparedness: Taking Responsibility for Your Safety, Tips for People with Disabilities and Activity Limitations prepared by the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management.
- Create Emergency Plans- You may need multiple plans for your home, work, school or volunteer sites. Identify all the ways that you can exit these sites and where you will go if an evacuation is ordered. Establish an emergency contact list as a part of this plan. The emergency contact list should include the contact information for out-of-town and even out-of state friends and relatives that you can call if you are separated in an emergency or disaster. It can be easier to call out of an affected area because local phones are damaged or jammed. The first person on your list should call the others to let them know that you are ok. The American Red Cross has great resources to assist you in the planning process. Check out www.redcross.org
- Practice Your Plans- Practicing will increase your ability to cope during an emergency. My last column talked about the importance of establishing support teams. Support teams are people who are willing to help you in an emergency at every place where you spend a large part of your day. You will need to discuss and practice your emergency plan with members of your support team.
- Plan for Powering Assistive Devices- Contact your local electric company about your power needs for life-support devices, (breathing machines, home dialysis, suction equipment) before a disaster or emergency. Talk to your device suppliers about your power options (backup batteries or generators). Make plans for how you will recharge batteries if the power goes out. Are there alternative ways to charge batteries like with jumper cables to a vehicle battery or with a converter that can be plugged into cigarette lighter. Always tag your assistive devices with your name, address and phone number in case you have to leave them behind.
Please log on to www.espfocus.org to view the entire article and invaluable checklists.