Functional Needs

• What can you do independently and where may you need assistance?
• Will your regular sources of assistance be available after a disaster?
• How will you maintain supplies of water, food, medications, and your other needs?

• Create a disaster plan and decide how you will communicate in an emergency
• Have an evacuation plan
• Secure your space
• Identify hazards and secure moveable items (such as oxygen tanks)
• The more limitations you have, the more important it is to create safe spaces

Organise your Disaster Supplies

In addition to a standard emergency kit you may need to include:

• Documentation containing specific medical information about your needs
• A list of any medication you take (include a chart which shows the time you take them)
• Emergency contact information of a friend or family member
• Hearing aid, batteries, eyeglasses, contact lenses
• Oxygen or nebulizer supplies
• Hygiene and catheter supplies
• Feeding equipment
• Service animal/pet owners will need to make a kit containing supplies for these animals

People with developmental/cognitive/intellectual disabilities:

• Ensure you have a written or visual checklist with short, easy steps
• Include communication tools in your kit
• Practice your plan

People who are deaf or hard of hearing:

• Have more than one method to receive warnings and evacuation information
• Keep pen and paper in your kits for communicating information

People who are blind or visually impaired:

• Be aware that usual sound clues may not be available
• Shuffling your feet if there is a lot of debris on the ground will reduce likelihood of falling
• Store extra canes, batteries and supplies for your communication devices
• Label emergency supplies using large print, fluorescent tape or Braille

Medical Requirements and Life Support 

• Make sure any medical equipment that needs power has battery back-up or a generator
• Keep emergency phone numbers for your friends, family, doctor handy
• Always have a phone available that does not rely on mains power

Flood

• Have ready the contact details of a family member, friend or neighbour who can help
• Ensure your mobility items are close at hand, travel as light as possible
• If you voluntarily evacuate ensure you tell a family member or friend

Storm

• Register with emergency services and the City of  Charles Sturt Council (8408 1111) if you require the help of others in a storm
• Review our social media pages for any up to date messaging
• Ensure the batteries are charged on your medical equipment
• Maintain stocks of supplies, equipment, and medications

Pandemic

• Get your annual immunisations
• Limit contact with others to only those people you need to care for you
• Where possible avoid the sharing of devices or equipment used for your care

Animal disease outbreak

• Always keep license and ID tags on service animals and keep their certification
• Be prepared to use alternate equipment if your animal cannot provide its normal services
• Report serious or unusual symptoms or behaviour in your animal to your local vet

Earthquake  

• The greater your limitations, the more critical it is to create safe spaces in advance
• Protect yourself from falling objects in the safest place possible near where you are
• If you are in a recliner or bed: do not try to transfer during the shaking. Cover your head and neck with your arms or a pillow until the shaking stops

• Check yourself for injury; pay extra attention to areas with reduced sensations
• Check your environment for new hazards
• Your service animal may be frightened or injured
• Contact your support group, carer family and friends as soon as practical

Emergency respite care
If you are unable to look after someone for a while (for example, you have to go to hospital or have another situation that you need to manage), and there is no one else who can step in, emergency respite care may have services available.

Call your local Commonwealth Respite and Care link Centre on 1800 052 222 for information about available services in your area.