by Janice Murphy and Kathy Smith, retired speech-language pathologists and NWACS board members

reading time: 5 minutes

The views expressed in this post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of NWACS. No endorsement by NWACS is implied regarding any device, manufacturer, resource, or strategy mentioned.

Do you know that September is emergency preparedness month?

Do you know what emergency preparedness involves and how to start planning?

Throughout the world, disasters such as

• house fires,

• hurricanes,

• wildfires, and

• earthquakes

are increasing in frequency and severity. Do you know that following a major disaster, first responders may not be able to help you for 7-10 days; you may be on your own?

Many people, including us, have not taken the necessary steps to protect ourselves and our families from these potentially harmful disasters. So, we ask, are you prepared? And equally important, are the people we support prepared?

We, Janice and Kathy, invite you to join us on our journey as we learn to protect ourselves and our families. We want to share what we are learning so that not only we and our families are prepared, but also you, your families, and the people we serve are too.

Incidence of Disasters

This information is scary but also tells us the importance of being prepared! According to FEMA, in 2023 there were a record number of disasters in the USA, occurring on average every 10 days. Thus far, it appears that 2024 will break the 2023 record. Did you know that July 21, 2024, was the hottest day ever recorded on Earth? The globe is warming up and the number of incidences is increasing each year. It is highly likely that at some point an unexpected disaster WILL happen in your community and perhaps your neighborhood. Are you prepared? FEMA reports that adults and children with disabilities have an increased probability of being underserved during a disaster. This can cause long-term effects such as PTSD. Do all people with disabilities have plans in place to support them through a disaster?

FEMA’s Goal

FEMA’s goal is that not only are we prepared for a pending disaster but we are also prepared for after the disaster. Planning for after the disaster is especially important for people with disabilities. It increases the chances they can stay in their homes rather than be moved to other residential facilities such as nursing homes. FEMA also reports one of its goals is to shorten the after-effects of the disaster, especially for people with disabilities. These goals require all of us to plan and be prepared for every kind of emergency.

A first step in preparing for a disaster: Be Informed! 

An early step for any disaster is to find out about a pending disaster, be able to report a problem, and otherwise stay informed. Here are some suggestions to find out and/or report what is happening in your area.

911 options

In case of any emergency, 911 is the standard emergency telephone service. Now there are two more 911 options.

1. Enhanced 911 is available anywhere in the United States. It is similar to the standard 911 with the addition that the address and telephone number of where the call originated are automatically available. 93% of all counties in the United States have enhanced 911.

2. Smart 911 is a free service that allows users to automatically provide a ‘Safety Profile’. A ‘Safety Profile’ includes detailed information about a person and/or their households, pets, vehicles, etc. to 911 centers in case of emergencies. Information can also include health information, disability concerns, and more. All this information will automatically pop up on the emergency responder's screen. Users will also receive targeted alerts including information from the National Weather Service. Smart 911 is not available everywhere in the United States but can be requested. The Smart 911 app is available and free in the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Learn more at www.smart911

Non-Governmental Disaster Options

• Watch Duty: Started in 2021, Watch Duty is an app run by volunteers. It is mostly about wildfires including maps of wildfires, the activities of firefighting crews, air-quality alerts, and official evacuation orders. Watch Duty tries to compile official news briefings making sense of the jumble of information from different sources. You can sign up for free wildfire notifications for counties in about a dozen states. A user in Spokane, WA used it for a recent wildfire and said it spared him from hunting through different local news reports, public safety notifications, online posts, etc. “Watch Duty takes the best parts of social media and public services and puts it all in one spot.” The Watch Duty app is available in the Apple App Store, on Google Play, and via a web browser at www.watchduty.org/
  

• Rave Panic Button: Rave Panic Button is a smartphone alerting app specifically for work environments. With the push of a button, the Rave Panic Button app immediately dials 9-1-1, while simultaneously sending notifications to designated emergency people at your work site so that they can provide faster and perhaps more effective emergency response. Learn more at www.ravemobilesafety.com/products/rave-panic-button/
  

• Emergency: Severe Weather App: Emergency is an app by the American Red Cross (available in English and Spanish). Track severe weather and protect yourself and your loved ones with alerts, weather maps, and live updates. This app lets you customize 40 different weather alerts. It also provides step-by-step guides to help you prepare. And you can find open Red Cross shelters with an interactive map. The free Emergency app is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Plan. Learn more at: www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html

Know what disasters to expect

What are the most likely disasters you might experience in your area? In Seattle, the most likely disasters are predicted to be earthquakes and smoke from wildfires. Landslides in the hilly areas of Seattle are also possible but not in all neighborhoods. As our planet warms, other disasters may occur such as prolonged excessive heat in the summer which may cause death. If you live in a condominium or apartment complex, a fire may start in a nearby unit. A fire could occur at any time and also requires planning and preparation ahead of time.

Where to find help to prepare for a disaster

What kind of help is available in case a disaster will or has occurred? Federal (FEMA) and state and city governments all have Disaster Planning websites. The websites include information about both preparation before a disaster and relief after the disaster. All emphasize the need to learn what you can do before a disaster strikes. Check them out, especially your city disaster website.

Federal government websites

www.ready.gov/ This site is in 10 languages and gives specific information on how to prepare for a variety of disasters. The site has 6 categories including one to help kids of different ages get ready for a disaster. The federal government works with the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org/) to assist before and after a disaster.

State website

We live in Washington State. Our state website for disaster preparedness is: mil.wa.gov/emergency-management-division The website emphasizes the need to have a plan including working with your neighbor and/or neighborhood to help each other. The information is pertinent to your city and maybe even to the neighborhood you live in.

City website

We live in Seattle. The disaster website is: seattle.gov/emergency-management/prepare/prepare-yourself The website encourages residents to register with the fire and police departments. This includes sharing information about your family, especially if a family member has a disability or is elderly. Seattle encourages residents to use an app called Smart 911 on your cell phone. The app is free and automatically shares with emergency personnel information about you, your location, the nearest fire hydrant, details about your family members, and other specific information that would be helpful to the emergency personnel.

Stay tuned! We will be back to continue the conversation as we take action to get prepared!

Related:

AAC & Emergency Preparedness resource page

Emergency Communication - Are we prepared? (blog post)