MDA's Emergency Preparedness Webinar for Individuals with Disabilities [VIDEO]

Last week, MDA’s Emergency Preparedness Webinar explored how important it is for those living with disabilities or with access and functional needs to design a personalized emergency plan so they are prepared and empowered to handle any kind of emergency or disaster.

Vance Taylor, the chief of the Office of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, led the presentation. Taylor has a form of muscular dystrophy and uses a power wheelchair.
Key highlights include:

• Developing an evacuation plan before an emergency happens.
• Having a primary emergency plan — and a plan B.
• Putting together a “go kit” that includes prescription medications, medically relevant phone numbers, a list of food and drug allergies (including antibiotics), copies of health insurance and identification cards, and durable medical equipment (e.g., walker, cane, crutches, wheelchair, BiPAP, sliding board, etc.).
• Reviewing your emergency plan regularly, practicing how you will evacuate safely and conducting a yearly evacuation exercise.