Continuing our Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness Workshop (P-CEP), Part Three starts by exploring one of the critical phases of preparedness: planning to manage your support needs during an emergency.

Step 3 prompts you to consider what you need to manage your emergency support.

To begin with, think about the following:

1. Your identified support needs from Step 1 of the planning process.
2. Insights gained in Step 2 regarding how emergencies may impact you.

It’s important to note that your plan may differ for various emergencies.

Before you explore the rest of the text, we strongly encourage you to watch the accompanying video. In this video, our team engages in insightful conversations and discussions with our esteemed guests, providing valuable information that complements the content you’re about to read.

When developing your emergency plan, you should consider two distinct scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Stay

Imagine having to shelter in place for up to seven days or longer without access to the services and supports you rely on.

• Scenario 2: Go

Consider what you would do if you had to evacuate to a safe location. Where would you go, and how would you manage your health and well-being?

To create an effective emergency plan, follow these three steps:

• Be Aware

Familiarise yourself with emergency numbers, local services, and organisations. Keep this information readily accessible.

• Get Organised

Write down your emergency information, including Medicare and Centrelink numbers. Identify key contacts and their contact details, such as advocates and medical professionals.

• Make It Fit

Revisit Step 1 to consider your identified capabilities and how you’ll address your support needs during an emergency. Review Step 2 and think about specific plans for different types of emergencies and assess how your shelter-in-place plan might differ from your evacuation plan.

Since everyone’s capabilities, needs, and support systems vary, it’s crucial to customise your plan. However, there are some fundamental aspects to consider for a comprehensive emergency plan.

Communication:

• Create a health passport and prepare assistive devices and technologies used for communication.
• Personal Support: List your service providers and the assistance you require.

Personal support

• Include a list of the service providers supporting your emergency plan with their phone number and email.
• Make notes about the help you need (bathing, dressing, etc).
• Ask your service provider about continuity plans during and after emergencies.
• Include in your emergency plan a record of your support needs and the support you receive.
• Share your emergency plan and information with others who support you.

Management of Health

• Keep copies of your emergency plan of health insurance, Medicare, concession cards and prescriptions.
• Make a note of where you keep your medication in case you need to evacuate quickly and someone needs to get it for you.
• Discuss with your doctor how to access controlled medications during/ after emergencies.
• List in your emergency plan everything you need to manage your health, including medical devices (insulin, hearing aids, extra glasses, etc.)
• Add supplies you need for your health in your emergency kit (feeding supplies, catheters, bags, etc.)
• Think about the power sources needed to operate your medical equipment (battery, electricity, etc).

Assistive Technology

• Identify your priority assistive technology and include it in your emergency plan, and how you will transport them in case of evacuation.
• PRE-PLAN is essential for people who require a power supply to operate life-sustaining equipment.

Assistive animals, pets and companion animals

Include everything that your assistance animal/ pet/ companion animal needs:

• Water and food (5/7 days) with a can opener and bowl
• Collar with ID tag and leash.
• Pet carrier
• Blankets, bedding, nesting, toys
• Litter, tray, waste cleaning products
• Medications
• Immunisation records, insurance, registration, medical records
• Contact details for Vet.

Transportation

• Include in your emergency plan any independent travel and travel you make with others.
• Also, include alternative transportation you can call in case of evacuation.
• Consider a backup transportation plan.
• Plan how you will leave (personal car, taxi, others’ car, bus, etc).
• Plan evacuation routes out of your home and consider alternatives if roads are blocked.
• Think about what will trigger your decision to leave early in case of evacuation.
• If you rely on a service provider for transportation, write in the emergency plan their name and contact.

Living situation

• Prepare your home: install smoke alarms that use lights, use a vibrating pillow if you have hearing impairments, and keep an extinguisher. Test the smoke alarm regularly.
• Include in your emergency plan how you will exit your house.
• Keep your mobility device by your bed if you need to evacuate quickly.
• Keep your phone nearby in case you need to call emergency services.
• Contact Fire & Rescue Services in your state to see if you are eligible for a home safety visit.
• Inform your power company that you/ someone in your household relies on power for life-sustaining equipment.
• If you are staying in a hotel, always check fire safety and evacuation plans and where are the emergency exits.
• Talk with your local Council and Emergency Services about any programs or volunteers who can assist with cleaning around your home.

Social connectedness

• Stay in contact with your neighbours and share with them your emergency plan.

Utilise the insights gained from these workshops to assess your support needs and identify gaps in your current emergency plan. Consider the following questions:

• What are your priority areas on the Capability Wheel?
• What are the local hazards and risks in your area?
• Who can assist you during an emergency?
• How can you prepare your home for an emergency?
• Are there any gaps in your emergency plan, and how can you address them?
• Emergency and evacuation kits?
• Would staying and sheltering or evacuation be the best action regarding my disaster risks/ hazards?

While having an emergency plan in your mind is possible, sharing it with your support network is vital. Communication with family, friends, neighbours, service providers, health professionals, and other important individuals is crucial. It’s essential because P-CEP is a dynamic document, and everyone should be aware of any changes.

Moreover, by sharing your plan, you can collaborate with your network to find solutions for any gaps or barriers you’ve identified.

Creating an emergency plan is a comprehensive process, particularly when individual health conditions come into play. Person-centred emergency preparedness is pivotal in tailoring an emergency plan that caters to specific requirements.

We hope that all three Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness Workshops enhance your emergency planning process. If you have any questions or need further support, please do not hesitate to contact us at representative@scia.org.au or contact our Policy & Advocacy team. Additionally, if you’d like to watch all the workshops and stay updated with informative videos about SCI and people with disabilities, we encourage you to subscribe to our YouTube channel.