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Community and Internet Resources


Safety: Accessible Egress/Evacuation/Disaster Preparedness


National

Access Board Resources on Emergency Evacuation and Disaster Preparedness specifies the required number of accessible means of egress required in the design of accessible routes and provides the technical criteria. Emergency warning systems to alert people with hearing impairments are also covered. Specifications for fire-rated spaces where persons unable to use stairs can await evacuation assistance are also required.

American Red Cross has developed a comprehensive guide entitled Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs. This guide, provided on their website free of charge, has been written to assist those with physical, visual, auditory, or cognitive disabilities prepare for natural disasters and their consequences. It provides assessment exercises, checklists and tips on how to establish a support network. The American Red Cross will send an Education Services representative to your organization to speak to anyone free of charge about emergency and disaster preparedness. They also publish several pamphlets on Preparing for Emergencies, A Checklist for People with Mobility Problems, and Family Disaster or Emergency Preparedness. Contact your local American Red Cross office by visiting their website and typing in your zip code.

Disability.gov: Emergency Preparedness includes comprehensive information on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery plans that take into account the needs of people with disabilities, as well as practical tips on how individuals, schools, and places of business can prepare for emergencies.

Disaster Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities provides resources on earthquake, fire, and disaster preparedness resources, barrier removal and evacuation procedures.

Disaster Preparedness Resources for People with Disabilities are provided by Disability Resources.org.

Easter Seals Evacuation Planning Support created a national public education campaign, S.A.F.E.T.Y. first: Working Together for Safer Communities as a response to their growing national concern for personal safety. It's a set of key questions, resources and an excerpt from BOMA's, Are Your Tenant's Safe? that gives everyone a place to start. Their emphasis is on learning from specific solutions of people with disabilities and other special needs. Using the S.A.F.E.T.Y. first kit as a guide, the first step is for businesses to work directly with employees that have disabilities and special needs to develop a personal evacuation plan. As individual needs will vary, people with disabilities are best suited to identify their specific evacuation needs. Once identified, those needs can be integrated into existing evacuation plans — likely providing new insights and essential changes to existing plans. For more information on the S.A.F.E.T.Y. first kit, check out this website.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides preparedness information for Individuals with Special Needs.

New Sign Fire Safety for Wheelchair Users at Work and at Home is a brief pamphlet, developed by United Spinal Association, that provides guidance on addressing the evacuation needs of people with mobility disabilities. This pamphlet is useful for employers, employees and citizens with disabilities alike.

Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy has written, and made available via their website, the Emergency Evacuation Preparedness Guide. This guide features an ability self-assessment and lists emergency evacuation options for people with disabilities.

Inclusive Preparedness Center is focused on helping ensure that all individuals are included in the development of and inclusion in plans for protection from both natural and man-made emergencies. In almost all cases, emergency planning, including evacuations and sheltering during natural disasters, attacks of terrorism, industrial and highway accidents has not taken into consideration the communication, transportation and medical needs of persons with disabilities, and other special populations. This center provides training and other resources to help local emergency organizations plan for individuals who need specialized communications, transportation and medical supports in emergency situations.

National Fire Protection Association provides fire safety and evacuation planning. Contact the NFPA at Education@nfpa.org

Ready.gov: Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities and Special Needs: Get Ready Now is a brief disaster preparedness guide tailored to people with disabilities. The brochure offers tips on preparing an emergency kit and discusses how to create a support network, how to develop a family communication plan, and what to consider and how to prepare for evacuation.

U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) offers questions and answers to assist employers who are developing or reevaluating emergency evacuation procedures. This will assist employers on requesting medical information as part of emergency evacuation procedures.

U.S. Fire Administration provides fire safety and evacuation planning.

State Listings

State Access Codes provides links to state codes for the requirements for accessible egress and emergency alarms.

California

Los Angeles City Fire Department offers fire safety education and earthquake safety programs for individuals with disabilities. The courses can be anywhere from one to four hours long depending on the group's needs. For more information about the programs, call (818) 756-9672.

Virginia

HELPU Fire and Life Safety is non-profit organization that works with individuals with disabilities as well as Fire and Rescue Personnel. HELPU offers guidance and support for instruction regarding fire and life safety and in working with the special needs population. They have developed several training manuals as well as an online disaster-planning manual for individuals with disabilities. Their website features an abundance of information on fire and life safety, as well as many links to related organizations. For more information, visit their website.

For more on the topic of Safety:

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[Updated November 30, 2011]
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