annex 5a-personal prepardness guide

7/30/2019 Annex 5A-Personal Prepardness Guide

1/22

PERSONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESSGUIDE FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES


2/22

Personal Preparedness Guide2

It is true that disasterscan occur anytime andanywhere, with or

without warning, anddisasters can affectanyone. But this does notmean that we arehelpless in the face of disasters.

Preparing yourself for a

disaster can greatlyreduce the impact adisaster will have onyou.

Informing yourself about the hazards around you and what may happen during adisaster improves your capacity to ensure your own safety.

Thinking about what you might need during a disaster and preparing these items

ahead of time can help you to cope with the situation later.The more prepared you are for a disaster, the less assistance and support you willneed during and after a disaster.

With increased knowledge and preparation come increased chances of survivaland recovery in the face of disasters.

Why should I be prepared?


3/22

3 for Persons with Disabilities

This booklet provides practical information and reflection points that will help youstart developing your personal disaster preparedness plan with your family andyour community,. And it aims to do so in a way that will help you take into account

your existing skills and capacities that can allow you to help yourself and othersduring disasters.

For caregivers and family members of persons with disabilities, as well as thecommunity as a whole, this booklet can help you ensure the safety of persons withdisabilities once a disaster occurs.

The information contained here can also be applied to other individuals includingolder persons, those with chronic illnesses or serious medical conditions, andpregnant women in the late stages of pregnancy, among others.

How can this booklet help me?

In addition to providing information and practical tips for your personalpreparedness plan, each section also contains Reflection Points . These exercises arethere to help you reflect and think about how you can start applying theinformation in each section to come up with a plan that is adapted to your uniqueneeds and situation . Reflecting together on the questions can also help you andthose around you measure how ready you really are for disasters.

You dont have to do all the exercises at once. For example, you can try to read adifferent section of this booklet everyday for a short period of time, completing theReflection Points as you go.

How to use this booklet


4/22


5/22


Disasters may disruptyour support network.

You may rely on family,neighbors and friends for helpbut in times of disasters theymay not be able to assist you.Concern over their own safetyand survival, the possibility of injuries or even death canmean that they will no longerbe able to provide support to

you.

Disasters cause psychological and emotional distress and trauma.Everyone affected by a disaster may panic and not know what to do because of stress,shock, fear and trauma. However, these emotions may worsen some medical conditionsor disabilities.

Relief organizations or government agencies may not be able to addressyour specific needs.

Right after a disaster, relief workers will prioritize providing for the basic needs of everyone affected, such as food, shelter and water. Your own personal needs such asneeds for medication or for an assistive device will not be a priority and therefore maynot be addressed immediately.


6/22


Emergency shelters may not meet your needs for accessibility, comfort andconvenience.

Evacuation centers may not always be adapted to your specific situation. For example, if you have limited physical mobility, you may have difficulties in moving around thecenter and accessing its facilities such as toilets due to inaccessible construction.Registration systems in evacuation centers also rarely collect information on personswith disabilities. This means that information on your specific needs may not bereaching relief workers.

REFLECTION POINTS

What are the different hazards and disaster risks in the place where youlive?

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

How about the place where you work or study? __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________


7/22


What factors today can make you more vulnerable during a disaster? _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

_______________________________________In your opinion, which of the pointsdiscussed before may be relevant to youduring a disaster? _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________

What you would do in these situations andwhat can you do now to be prepared forthem? _______________________________________ _______________________________________

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________


8/22


How can I prepare for disasters?

Attend meetings in your community on disaster risk reduction.

Broaden your knowledge onhazards, disasters andconsequences by going to DRRmeetings. From here, you canlearn how your communityprepares for disasters and howyou can help yourself duringdisasters. Others can learn fromyou too! For example, you canshow them how you and otherpersons with disabilities shouldbe assisted in times of disasters

Participate in community risk assessments.Take part in activities which identify the risks, hazards and capacities in yourcommunity. Contribute by ensuring that persons with disabilities are mapped and bysharing your possible needs. Do not also forget to offer whatever help you can in yourcommunitys disaster plans. For example, can you volunteer to manage registration orhelp prepare food in the evacuation centers?

INFORM YOURSELF AND INFORM OTHERS


9/22


Be familiar with your communitys early warning systems.Early warning systems arethere to ensure thateveryone in the communityhas ample time to prepare

for any impending hazards.Familiarize yourself with thesystem being used in yourcommunity and ensure thatit can get information toyou in time. Examples of systems include bells,sirens, announcements onmegaphones or radios, theuse of colored flags, towncriers, rain and flood level gauges, etc. Remember the different levels used in yourcommunitys early warning system, so that you and your family will know what to do atany point in time before, during and after a disaster.

Observe.Check your surroundings for possible hazards.

Monitor the situation.Be abreast of any hazard updates through the TV, radio and other mediums.


10/22


REFLECTION POINTS

Do you know your communitys various early warning systems?What signals and symbols are used? What do they mean?

Fill out the table below with information from your community. An examplehas been provided to help you get started!

SYMBOL OR SIGNAL WHAT TO DO?

Church bells ring for five times Signal number 1. We should stand-by andwait for other instructions


11/22


PLAN AND PRACTICE YOUR EVACUATION PLAN


Know your

communitys evacuation plan.Find out where theevacuation centers are inyour community. Identifywhich evacuation center is

closest to your home and towhere you work, and whatthe best evacuation route foryou is.

Also device a personal or a family evacuation plan. Having a plan with your family will lessen the chances of breaking the family support

system during emergencies. Make sure everyone is familiar with the plan and that it isin line with your communitys evacuation plan.

Think about evacuation plans for places other than your home.A disaster can strike when you are not at home. Find out about the evacuation anddisaster plans of your workplace or school.


12/22


Practice! Participate in emergency drills in your community. Practice the evacuation plan withyour family. Think about alternate methods of evacuation as well and practice them tocover various types of situations. Practicing gives you an opportunity to find out whatcan be improved in your personal and your communitys disaster preparedness plans.

Accessibility of evacuation centers and routes.Find out if your evacuation route and the evacuation center where you may need tostay is accessible. If it isnot, try to familiarizeyourself with the routeand the place. If you

think it will beimpossible for you toaccess the evacuationcenter, speak with yourcommunitys evacuationcommittee or yourcommunity leaders. Tell

them about yourconcerns and specificneeds, and find analternative solutiontogether.


13/22


REFLECTION POINTS

Can you leave your house on your own?Yes, I can do it on my own. No, I need someone to help me .

If you answered no, how will you call someone for help to leave your house? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Who will you call to assist you? ___________________________________________

The closest evacuation center to my home is: ________________________________________________________________________

The closest evacuation center to my school or place of work is: ________________________________________________________________________

Are the route to the evacuation center and the center accessible to my needs?Yes, the route and the center are accessible.No, I will have a hard time getting to the center and moving around the center.

If no, how do you think the route and the center be improved for you?

________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________


14/22


KNOW YOUR NEEDS AND PREPARE FOR THEM


Assess your needs. Think about the things that areessential to you. These can includeimportant medicines or assistivedevices if you use any, such aswheelchairs, hearing aids, crutchesand the like. Ask yourself how you

can continue meeting these needsafter a disaster.

Always be ready .Try to prepare a survival kit togetherwith your family that includes items that you think are essential during and after adisaster. Make sure that your survival kit is complete and known to all family members.

Find out what available services can respond to your needs.Knowing what services are available can make the evacuation process and the post-disaster situation easier for you and those in your support system. For example, if youthink you will have difficulties reaching the evacuation center, ask your communityleaders to consider assigning persons to assist and guide you during evacuation.


15/22


REFLECTION POINTSDo you have a mobility aid or an assistive device? For example, a wheel-chair, a cane, or crutches? Yes, I use a _________________________.

No, I dont use one.I need an assistive device but I dont have one.

If you answered yes, what will you do if your mobility aid or assistive device getslost or damaged during a disaster? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

Are there specific medications or medical supplies that are essential to you?

Yes No

If yes, do you have enough stocks of these medicines and supplies in case a disasterprevents you from obtaining a new stock?

Yes No If yes, how many days can your stock last? _____ days

What will you do if water is unavailable during or after a disaster? ________________________________________________________________________

If you use items that run on electricity such as nebulizers or dialysis machines, whatwill you do in case there is no electricity? ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________


16/22


BROADEN YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK


Create and expand your personal support network.

Identify people who you thinkcan help you obtain the resourcesyou will need after a disaster.Other than your family, identifyother people who have thecapacity to assist or help you intimes of emergencies like your

neighbors, community healthworkers, leaders, etc. Have anemergency contact person bothin the community and alsoelsewhere.

Talk to the people in your network directly and explain what is expected

of them as part of your support network.Discuss with each one of them what you think your needs will be during a disaster andlet them know what the best way will be to assist you. Have your network practice yourpersonal evacuation plan with you, and make sure your network knows to check on youimmediately after a disaster or an evacuation order.


17/22


Contact Disabled Peoples Organizations (DPO) or other persons with

disabilities in your community.Connecting with other persons with disabilities will provide you an opportunity to learnfrom each others experiences of disasters. Working together can also facilitate theprocess of ensuring that disability is included in your communitys disasterpreparedness plans. Find out if there is a DPO in your community and join theirmeetings and activities. If there is none, ask about your community or municipalitysfocal point for persons with disabilities.

REFLECTION POINTS

Who do you consider your primary support person? ___________________________________________________________________

In addition to this person, who are the other people that you can add toyour personal support network?

____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________ ____________________

In case of an emergency or a disaster, how will reach these people? _____________________________________ _____________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________


18/22


KEEP SAFE DURING A DISASTER


Know when to evacuate. Follow the advice of the authoritieswhen you must evacuate your place.

Keep a flashlight and whistle orother noisemaker close to you.These items can be helpful in callingattention to yourself. They can be used

to call for help or to signal yourpresence if you get trapped.

Avoid hazardous areas.Do not stay in or go to areas such asrivers or seas where water may rise.Also, avoid hilly or mountainous areas

where landslides are likely to happen.

Turn off the main electrical switch if planning to evacuate .Make sure that all the lights are off, electrical cords of any appliances pulled off fromthe socket, and as well as gas tanks used for cooking food.


19/22


How ready am I?

Assessing your very own capacities and recognizing what assistance you will needalready increases your preparedness . After reading the booklet, take time toexamine your own capacities.

Think about the questions in thisbooklets reflection points. Were youable to answer most of them? If not,continue reflecting on these questionstogether with your caregiver or yourfamily to help you understand whatyour capacities and needs are andwhat you can do together to preparefor disasters. Collect additionalinformation and ask questions directlyto those in charge of disaster riskreduction in your community.

Remember that working with othermembers of your community will helpnot only yourself, but your entirecommunity to be prepared to facedisasters.


20/22


EMERGENCY INFORMATION SHEET

During emergencies, it may help if your essential information is in one place. For example, it will beeasier for you to let relief workers and search and rescue teams know about your specific needs.

Full Name: ________________________________ Birthday: ______________Address: _________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________Telephone number: ________________________ Blood type: _____________

Do you have a caregiver? Yes. No

If yes:

Name of Caregiver: ________________________________________________Contact number: ________________________________________________

Other individuals in your support network:

NAME CONTACT INFORMATION


21/22


EMERGENCY INFORMATION SHEET

Name of primary doctor/health provider: ________________________________

Address and contact information: ____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________List of essential medications and dosages:

_____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________

Do you use an assistive device or mobility aid? Yes. No If yes, please specify: ________________________________________________

Please describe any specific medical conditions: __________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe any physical limitations: ________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe any difficulties in communication: ________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Please describe any cognitive difficulties: ________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________


22/22

http://www.handicapinternational.ph

Email: [email protected]

Handicap International is an independent international, non-profit, non-political aid organization working in situations of poverty, exclusion, conflict and disaster.

Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups throughout the world,our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their

living conditions and promoting respect for dignity and their fundamental rights.

Through the support of:

If you would like to know more about disaster risk reduction activities in your community, please contact:

annex 5a-personal prepardness guide

Documents