Hurricane Disaster Preparedness

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Many of us remember Hurricane Katrina – both the storm and the flooding that came after. Families with children with disabilities or special health care needs were forced to move. Few were prepared for the severity of the disaster, and many families arrived in new cities with nothing.

Are you prepared for an emergency like Katrina? There are plenty of resources and information to help you plan.

Visit the Texas Ready website and prepare now before a disaster strikes.

First, make a plan. Consider pets and family members who are elderly, young, or have disabilities or special health care needs. Pick someone to watch over the person with a disability.

Talk to your family and decide how you will communicate with each other, where you will go, and what you will do in an emergency. Keep a copy of your emergency plan in a safe place you can access if disaster strikes.

Build a supply kit or at least create a checklist of items you need to take with you. You can find a disaster supply checklist here. Adapt it to meet your specific needs.

Don’t forget medications and important documents. Those may include a copy of your child’s: 

• Evaluations
• Individualized Education Program
• Individual Family Service Plan
• Individual Plan of Care
• Individual Plan for Employment 

If you have to move, having these documents makes it easier to start in a new school district.

Fill up your car’s gas tank before leaving, and pack plenty of snacks and water. Plan your evacuation route ahead of time and decide where you’ll stay. When you have a child with a special health care need or disability that requires accessibility, you may need to make hotel reservations early. Download any of the free evacuation route maps, and research hotels where you may end up.

If you or someone you know needs help during an evacuation because they can’t drive, contact 2-1-1 Texas to register with the State of Texas Special Needs Registry. Register early and remember to renew your registration yearly.

You can also register on the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry. This free registry gives local emergency teams advance notice about special needs in their community.

Learn more about emergency preparedness for families of children with disabilities on this site.