Does your Emergency Management Plan consider your staff and citizens who may have disabilities? Presidential Executive Order #13347 stipulates that "the needs of people with disabilities be considered in Emergency Preparedness Planning". Your access to continued Federal Funding may depend on your compliance.

Whether you are dealing with a terrorist attack, chemical or bio-hazard incident, or a natural disaster such as hurricane Katrina, emergency management is a major issue and assuring that you are prepared to assist and protect your citizens and residents with disabilities is a point that MUST NOT be missed in your plan.

Areas of concern include physical access in the form of parking, accessible routes, curb cuts, ramps, restroom, showers, decontamination units, shelters, meals and food distribution locations as well as transportation to those services. Access also includes effective communications in broadcasting emergency notices, evacuation orders and other emergency instructions as well as communication once at the shelters for those who may be deaf or hard of hearing. In addition, access to printed material in alternative formats should be considered for those who are blind or have low vision. Even something as simple as facilities for service animals is a concern.

Are you prepared to evacuate or care for those needing specialized medical equipment or on-going treatment such as oxygen, ventilators or dialysis or even just simply provide refrigeration for necessary medication ?