Disability and Disaster

If you are disabled, you fear any natural catastrophe, whether weather related or unnatural one like fire or a bomb. Hell, everybody fears them. We just have some extra obstacles to overcome. I have read newspaper articles about cars jumping a curb and landing in a living room or bedroom. These things happen rarely, but they do happen. I should know. Hurricane Katrina happened to us.

So what do we do when we are affected by something we cannot control?  What if we have to evacuate our houses or towns? Even something as simple as losing electricity can end the lives of some disabled people. 

Most of us are not rich and can’t afford back up generators at our houses. In a flood, they would be of no help anyway unless they were on the roof, and I have never seen one installed like that.

Obviously we have to rely on others in case of any emergency when things do not go according to our carefully laid out plans.  

Do you have a ‘getoutofhere’ plan? I can still drive, so this is less of an emergency for me than others. Really, as important as some ‘things’ are in my life, nothing is as important as getting the hell out of the way of danger.

You are probably going to need help evacuating unless  you are independent enough to drive yourself away.  If you value your things so much, you just can’t leave them behind, you need a strong backed person to load your stuff in your vehicle. 

Do you have one of those ‘life alert’ necklaces.  Use it.  If for no other reason than it may notify people who can help you.

Take a cellphone with you. Use it to tell your friends and relatives that you are OK after you are safe. You probably text with your phone. That may be your only way of communication. Often cell phones don't work after a disaster, so factor that in. If you don’t know how to text, learn. Know the phone numbers of the people you need to be in touch with. Your memory will desert you, so have those numbers in the phone.

Keep every electronic device fully charged. You may not be near electricity soon. Take them all with you. Computer, tablet, phone, laptop.  Take ‘em along. Many of your records are there. You will need access to them.

If you have to rely on someone else to help, have them no more than 5 minutes away.  Be sure you have several people on stand by in case the first few are unavailable. 

I know I have not remembered everything I learned pre and post Hurricane Katrina.  If you have anything to add, let me know by commenting in the comment section.

Be alert, be aware, be safe.