Project Prepare

Preparing for a Disaster

A disaster is any event that would cause the regional Center to close due to safety concerns for its staff and visitors.  This can include: a major earthquake, flooding, severe weather conditions, hazardous material spill, bomb threat, riots or fire.

In the event of a disaster, if the main telephone number to the regional center is out of order, please call 1.800.657.3239 to receive instructions on how to communicate with staff at the regional center.

The regional center conducts voluntary training seminars on disaster preparedness for clients, families, and service providers each year.  Through the Center's Project Prepare, clients and independent living program staff receive disaster training specific to people with disabilities.  Disaster kits are also distributed to clients at each training or through their independent living staff.  For more information about training or disaster kits, contact your service coordinator or check the training page for upcoming training.

We recognize that some clients living independent in the community or families with a child dependant on specialized medical equipment may need emergency back-up equipment or additional supplies of necessary medication.  Please communicate with your service coordinator if you need help to prepare and secure needed items.

Here are some considerations when planning for a disaster:

1.  Add special items like necessary medication, extra wheelchair batteries, food and water for service animals or other special equipment you might need to your standard disaster supplies.

2.  Keep a copy of important documents and a list of the serial and model numbers of medial equipment or assistive devices in a water and fireproof container.

3.  Ask your local community fire department, utility company and emergency management office about special assistance that may be available to you in an emergency.

4.  Arrange for a neighbor or support person to check on you in a disaster.

5.  Consider getting a medical alert system that will allow you to call for for help in an emergency.

6.  If you use electrical or battery powered assistive technology or medical devices view our Emergency Power Planning Checklist. You can also download a PDF of the Emergency Power Planning Checklist.

7.  Join the Network of Care and obtain a free Emergency Card to assist yoiu in communicating your needs in the event you are unable to during an emergency.  See more information below or click Network of Care to join and request your card.

When a crisis hits, it isn't always possible to communicate your needs. For this reason, the Network of Care provides all users with a resource to create their own Emergency Cards.

The Emergency Card is a hard plastic card the size of a credit card that fits in your wallet or purse. It gives critical information to emergency medical personnel in situations when you may not be able to speak for yourself. The Emergency Card can communicate the presence of a pre-existing condition; a life-threatening drug allergy, or your wish that someone contacted about your care prior to treatment.

The Emergency Card is free, and it is available to all users in the My Folder section of the Network of Care. This card can be printed at home, or at no additional cost, a plastic version can be mailed to you. You can make as many cards as you want at the Network of Care, simply by creating one free account for yourself.

For more resources on disaster planning for people with disabilities:

Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management

http://www.cert-la.com/ESP/ESP-Disabilities-Guide-2006.pdf

City of Los Angeles, Emergency Preparedness Department

http://www.lacity.org/epd/epdpi2e.htm#2

Los Angeles Chapter, American Red Cross-Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/disability.html

Disaster Supplies Kits and other Essential Supplies

http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/apendixa.html

National Energy Assistance Referral project toll-free at 1-866-674-6327

http://www.liheap.ncat.org/profiles/California.htm