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| SUN LAKES LIFESTYLES | SEPTEMBER 2023 | 11 By Janis Rice, EPAP PIO Disabilities affect many people in our community and can impact a person both obviously and subtly. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. Making a plan is an important and a critical step to survival. Your plan should include the following: 1. Creating a support network of people who can help you in a disaster. 2. Keeping a list of personal contacts, medical providers, and important medical and medication information in a watertight container in your emergency "go bag" or on your electronic devices and inform your support network where they can find it. 3. Wearing medical alert tags or bracelets. 4. Giving a trusted friend or family member a key to your house. For example, on the Fourth of July, Banning experienced a city-wide power outage. Many of us were locked out of homes because we rely on our electric garage door openers to get into our homes. For this reason, we should give a key to a trusted neighbor or place an extra key in a inconspicuous place outside your home. 5. Planning for ADA accessible transportation. This is important if you need to evacuate or to get around during or after a disaster. 6. Finding a local emergency management agency who can provide an assistance program for people with disabilities. 7. Knowing the location and availability of more than one dialysis or life-sustaining treatment centers which can provide service in the event of an emergency. 8. Knowing how to keep medical equipment running during a power outage or where generators will be available. 9. Keeping a reserve of your prescriptions, over- the-counter drugs and vitamins, in the event you cannot get your prescription refilled. Organize everything in an airtight container and place in your "go bag" (be sure to rotate medication). 10. Persons with a communication disability should carry printed cards or store information on their devices to inform first responders and others how to communicate with them. A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments is an easy way to financially protect yourself before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends direct deposit to a checking or savings account. If you get federal benefits, you can sign up by calling (800) 333-1795 or sign up online. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS EPAP & THE DISABLED PERSON