Imagine for a moment that you are a wheelchair user who lives independently with the help of Personal Care Assistants (PCAs). Your PCA has left for the evening, leaving you alone, and suddenly you hear the distinct wailing of Tornado sirens outside. What would you do?
The scenario described above is all too real for many wheelchair users. Sadly, when it comes to disaster emergency preparedness people with disabilities and their needs are often not thought about or accounted for. With that in mind, this month’s Community Corner is dedicated to emergency preparedness to ensure our consumers are ready for Spring and the weather that may come with it.
Preparation is the key to being ready for any natural disaster. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the first step in emergency preparedness is knowing the risk of a disaster in the area you reside. Tornadoes are the type of natural disaster Ohioans should think about when preparing for emergencies. In fact, as confirmed by the National Weather Service, eight tornadoes touched down in Ohio between March 13 and 15th. Thunderstorms and tornadoes, which are defined by weather.gov as violently rotating columns of air usually attached at the base of a storm, occur most often when air coming from different directions of contrasting temperatures collide causing a change in the atmosphere. Tornadoes have occurred in all 50 states but happen most often in Midwestern states because the flat land in the Midwest allows air to travel easily from various directions.
When it comes to thunderstorms and tornadoes, the CDC emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between a watch and a warning. A watch means weather conditions are probable or possible for a thunderstorm or tornado. A warning means that weather conditions, more specifically a funnel cloud that could lead to a thunderstorm or tornado is developing or happening within your area. Please also be advised that a thunderstorm or tornado watch can turn into a thunderstorm or tornado warning at any time. The CDC also implores people to not wait until an emergency happens to find shelter. Identify a safe shelter for everyone in your family or support network including any pets and practice going there.
A support network is a group of individuals who can and have agreed to help during an emergency. Support networks can consist of family members, friends, neighbors, PCAs, or anyone else you trust. If you are an individual with a significant disability living independently like in the scenario described above, it is recommended that you include a neighbor or someone else who can get to you quickly in your support network. Additionally, if possible, when there is severe weather expected or predicted in the forecast, it is suggested that you ask the person living nearest you in your support network to come over prior to when the weather is expected to ensure that your support person avoids traveling in potentially dangerous conditions to get to you.
According to WCMH News, the eight tornadoes that touched down in Ohio earlier this month prompted Governor Mike DeWine to declare a state of emergency in 11 different counties. Two impacted counties, Miami and Logan, fall within ACIL’s service area. Logan county was so heavily impacted that Governor DeWine chose to call in the National Guard to help clean up the damage. Given the extent of the damage, ACIL would like to give some suggestions specifically to consumers in Logan County. Firstly, current shelters in Logan County include Indian Lake High School, Indian Lake Rollearena, Indian Lake Community Church in Russells Point, Church of God in Russells Point, and several others that can be at found https://www.loganhealthohio.gov/2024-tornado-disaster-response. Additionally, anyone in need of clothes, food, transportation or another tornado-related relief can visit the local United Way website at https://www.uwlogan.org/indian-lake-tornado-community-response to find out where to access help. If you are looking to donate items or volunteer to assist in community relief efforts, United Way can also direct you. The status of the community relief effort and the type of assistance available to those impacted via the aforementioned website but Logan County United Way recommends that anyone interested in more frequent updates follow its Facebook account at https://www.facebook.com/uwlogan
Ready.gov was launched in 2003 as part of a National Public Service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies and disasters. Fortunately, the website has a section dedicated to how people with disabilities can prepare for natural disasters. It is important for people with disabilities, and/or their PCAs or families, to create an emergency survival kit including water, nonperishable food, a first aid kit, batteries, OTC meds, clothes, copies of any important documents, food and other supplies needed for any pets, and anything else you use regularly.
The CDC recommends that people plan to shelter in place for at least three days during a natural disaster. Furthermore, if you take any prescription medications the CDC advises that you talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how you can create an emergency supply of medicines. It is also recommended that you keep a list of your prescription medicines, information about your diagnosis, dosage, frequency, medical supply needs, and allergies in an emergency kit. Remember that you will also need to have a cooler or ice on hand for any medication that needs to be refrigerated.
Ready.gov also has a few recommendations for people with specific disabilities. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing should have extra hearing aid batteries, a pen and paper as well as a battery-operated lantern and a weather radio with flashing alert in their emergency kits in case they encounter communication difficulties. Those who have low vision are advised to use braille or large print labels when packing supplies and to have a spare of any communication devices they use to put in their emergency kits. Wheelchair users should consider keeping spare or extra equipment on hand along with an air pump and patch kit for wheelchair tires.
Does building an emergency preparedness kit seem overwhelming to you? Don’t fret. ACIL has a limited supply of emergency preparedness kits with everything from first aid supplies to fuses for your car available to consumers at no cost.
In the event of a tornado, immediately contact your support network, grab your emergency kit, and go to your previously identified shelter. Both the CDC and Ready.gov say that the best place to seek shelter during a tornado is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building. It is also advised that you pay attention to weather reports and any emergency alerts that might come through your phone. Protect yourself by covering or having someone cover your head or neck with your arms or a blanket. Ready.gov also implores people to not attempt to outrun a tornado in a vehicle. If you are in a vehicle in a tornado, cover yourself in whatever way possible.
In the aftermath of a tornado, as suggested on Ready.gov, you should continue to pay attention to emergency alerts, contact your medical provider if you need medical attention, only use social media or texts to communicate with others and save phone calls for any subsequent or related emergencies. A related emergency may be a power outage which can sometimes be caused by the impact of a thunderstorm or tornado. If you use a medical device that requires electricity, it is recommended that extra batteries, a portable charger, and/or a portable generator be a part of your emergency kit. Please be advised that you can call AES or your local power company and ask for priority restoration in the event of an outage due to your medical needs.
ACIL staff realizes how overwhelming it can be to prepare for emergencies. Please know that we will do what we can to be there for consumers and the entire Dayton community in the event of a tornado or another natural disaster. If you interested in one of the free emergency preparedness kits that our center has for people with disabilities, please contact Jeff Allen at 937-341-5202 Ext 104 or [email protected].
