Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

[txflagwaver]

IS ANYONE READING THIS?

Just asking.

If you want to know if annyone is reading just check "Views" on the forum list.

[Texas Pirate]

Okay Folks we have a rainy weekend ahead (September 29-30th) figures huh?

Just a reminder for those of you who may be out and about:

http://tadd.weather.gov/tadd-intro.shtml

Stay safe: and my garden is already singing

[Texas Pirate]

October is ABILITIES MONTH!

Great time to show the world how YOU are empowering yourself by planning
and helping others plan to stay safe!

Need help? Just ask away....

Fema.gov is another great site for the community - and some of the vids are in ASL.

[Texas Pirate]

Wonderful Autumn Greetings to *ALL* - hope you are enjoying what is our Fall:
good football , food & festivals! The wx. has been cooperating, although I do hear grumbles of
"is it still summer?" Nice cold front coming in this weekend - right in time for Halloween!


Below, as promised, are links to our counties' Office of Emergency Management. Find yours, and bookmark it.
Some have wonderful information for people with disabilities.

Harris County: http://www.hcoem.org
Fort Bend: http://www.fbcoem.org
Galveston County: http://www.gcoem.org
Chambers County: http://co.chambers.tx.us
(they have a "special needs" registry)
Brazoria County: http://www.brazoria-county.com

http://www.ready.gov
http://www.readyhouston
http://www.ilru.org/html/projects/disasterPrep/x.gov


Like I said, some I really like, some need to step up - however, its good information to have for ANY type of emergency
that come what may.

Have a safe Halloween - and pass the candy!

"Because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim" ™

[Texas Pirate]

Well Hurricane Season is NOT over - and our friends in the Northeast will soon get something a kin to
"The Perfect Storm" - trick or treat, by Mother Nature.

It is already being compared to the Perfect Storm of 1991, and promises to cause much damage.

IF YOU KNOW anyone on the Eastern Seaboard with a disability I URGE YOU TODAY to get in touch with them.
This is not a storm to (no pun intended) blow off.

Make sure they have"

Water supply
Non perishable food
Flashlights
Battery Operated radio or better yet, A NOAA WEATHER RADIO
medication
AND A PLAN IN CASE THEY HAVE TO EVAUCATE
(oh yes HERE I GO AGAIN)

For those in NY/NJ/MASS/PA - PLEASE MONITOR and GET YOUR ACTION PLAN OUT and ready
to MOVE IT if you have too.

If you know people with disabilities. stakeholders, caretakers - get on the phone today and help them stay alive.

Prayers up for y'all, my friends. God bless.

"Because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim"™

[Texas Pirate]

Please take a moment to read and pass along to anyone who lives in these areas:
Thanks to S2K

How To Prepare for The Storm.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/hur ... 0&denied=1

[srainhoutx]

Please take a moment to read and pass along to anyone who lives in these areas:
Thanks to S2K

How To Prepare for The Storm.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/hur ... 0&denied=1

Thanks for updating this to cover the East Coast Storm, Texas Pirate. Our membership and viewers extend well beyond the Texas area and it is important to get the word out ahead of the storm...

[Texas Pirate]

Thank you.

I am hoping this storm does not catch the community OFF GUARD.
I know I am already getting emails about the "models" and the confusion as to where it may go.
This is a very large storm - and complicated one.
Wherever it does land, THE RIGHT SIDE will be the dirty side - the bad side.
Now is the time to preapare - from Virginia on up.
This is NOT like IRENE - it will be coming in a different angle.
Some areas will flood, some will get snow - you see?

Please remember, each hurricane has its own personality and issues to deal with
SO, when I hear people say "Well, I survived XYZ cane, I am quick to remind them
that doesn't mean ABC will be like it."

Anyone need help, PM me, I'm here to help get you through.
Also, the good peeps here have UP TO DATE, GOOD INFORMATION to follow.

"Because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim" ™

[vbhoutex]

At the request of Texas Pirate I am posting this link. She is trying to get this info out during this time. http://www.noaa.gov/stormcentral/ NOAA StormCentral - Sandy http://www.noaa.gov

[Texas Pirate]

Thanks VB for posting for me

Here is a rundown STATE BY STATE of the impact of Sandy

I pray you get through this historic storm safely


http://www.wunderground.com/blog/angela ... ticle.html

[Texas Pirate]

Wonderful advice for any emergency- communication for those you love
when you are seperated by distance or emergency situations.

Please bookmark:


http://www.ready.gov/family-communications

[jcarr]

A Hurricane Helpline has been set up for residents Call 1-888-485-1159 for information on sandy preps and the impact.

Search for open shelters by texting: SHELTER + a zip code to 43362 (4FEMA). Example : Shelter 01234 (std rates apply)

[Texas Pirate]

Thanks for the wonderful information!

There have been problems with sheltering and accessiblity - but there will always be some glitch with this.
Overall, it seems they have done a wonderful job.

God bless them up yonder.

[Texas Pirate]

If you are a person with a disability living in Manhattan below 39th Street and are both without power and unable to leave your building, and are in need of an accommodation in the form of food delivery, you can contact Christian Valle at the Mayor's Office for People With Disabilities at 646-234-6488 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting FREE 646-234-6488 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to request this accommodation. Please note you will have to provide proof of your disability to receive this accommodation.

[Texas Pirate]

NPR: Talk of the Nation:

How people with disabilities are getting through Sandy:

Please - have a plan y'all

http://www.npr.org/programs/talk-of-the-nation/

[Texas Pirate]

So many heartbreaking stories are coming out of NY and NJ
People with disabilities/elderly trapped in their dark apartments: cold and hungry.

Trapped. Because they either had no one to help them PLAN or THEY THEMSELVES didn't
want too - "someone will get me" or "I'll be okay...this won't be that bad." SURPRISE!

How many times have I said "MAKE A PLAN. Contact FRIENDS/FAMILY and tell them you want to stay
with them." Shelters are last resort and sometimes not ACCESSIBLE -both physically or geographically....
and with the population that has been
affected by this storm, sometimes its hard to get to the area that is hit.


Molinaro complained the American Red Cross "is nowhere to be found" — and some residents questioned what they called the lack of a response by government disaster relief agencies
(Staten Island- the forgotten borough)

Although FEMA and RC are doing the best they can - no one seemed PREPARED for this Superstorm.
Dont know why, its been talked about for DAYS

People who hunkered down, are running out of food and water (hmmmm)
There is a gas shortage, so even if people wanted to buy gas for their generators, out of luck
(hmmmm gas can didn't go on the the supply list, huh?)


HURRICANE=DISASTER

Look at this equation. Doesn't take a math Ph.D to figure it out, people.

Take this storm as a lesson to plan for yourself. It can and will happen here.

WE LIVE ON MOTHER NATURE'S PLAYGROUND.
I must add that Texas has one of the better preparedness plan- cuz we're used to it and it has improved over
time and lessons learned. BUT YOU still need to STEP UP.

The NE is up for possibly ANOTHER Nor'easter next week. Not as bad as Sandy, but do they need more rain/snow?
Do they have generators? (no)
Will they freeze? (yes)

If you need help planning, I'm here.

"because you're disabled, you dont have to be a victim" ™

[Texas Pirate]

For those affected by Sandy:
In the aftermath of #disaster dealing with difficult emotions can be tough, but you are not alone! Call us 24/7 at 1-800-985-5990.

http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisori ... 11753.aspx

[Texas Pirate]

Good News:

Where food and water can be gotten in the "blackout" zones in NY

FOOD will be delivered to those who are homebound/disabled and cant get out
via National Guard -
If you know of anyone in this area, please help me get the word out

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/2012110 ... kout-zones

[Texas Pirate]

This is a good site for people with disabilities
you can bookmark it

http://usodep.blogs.govdelivery.com/cat ... paredness/

[Texas Pirate]

Hello Friends,

I hope you are enjoying our most delightful November roller coaster weather. Hot, than cold and everyone is
running around sniffling. Must be fall.

And I'm sure you've all been following the aftermath of disaster - (not talking about the bitter campaign season)
I'm talking about the aftermath of Mother Nature and the destruction that is unfolding in NY/NJ.
A SuperStorm to rival all storms then the one two punch of snow/sleet/rain. You can't write this script
and be believed - it would be like a horror movie. But, sadly it's real and even sadder: They were warned.

While we in the Gulf Coast understand sitting in the dark for weeks and wondering if we will ever see the light again
the majority (hopefully) have generators. BEFORE THE STORM. Especially those WHOSE LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. Right?
if not, I know of a great Christmas gift to give THOSE YOU LOVE.

Watching those up north scream, holler, beg, demand for generators after the storm is a lesson for all of us.
After the storm is NOT the time to get prepared when supplies are limited, patience is wearing thin and lives lost.
Some may not even see power turned on until after Thanksgiving. They are not prepared. The excuse of "Well they aren't
used to this" is a poor one at that. Who is ever used to disaster? You prepare. You hope for the best, plan for the worst.
No matter where you live or what you do. Period.

Some lost their homes and barely got out with their lives.

Everyone took a hit with this storm - sadly from toddlers on up. But it was the elderly and the vulnerable who
took it worse.

Yes, took it worse.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/0 ... 68812.html

This is why I say over and over and over and over again: Prepare NOW. Because anything could and will happen.
Don't be one of those on the news who said "I just didn't know it would be this bad."
If you, or the one you love who is disabled, looses their life, yeah, I would say, it would be a very bad day.

Please, give yourself the gift of preparedness.

AND...I would like to end on an upnote: I am grateful in this season of gratitude to live in a state that truly is preparedness ready. But, its up to us, to step up too.

Prayers up for those who are suffering. I hope they can find relief soon.

"Because your disabled, you dont' have to be a victim"™