Promising Practices – Common Strategies

1. Identify special needs populations by consulting relevant documents (e.g. ASTHO and CDC)
2. Use technology to map the locations of special needs populations

ASTHO Planning Guide for Health Departments

RAND Special Needs Mapping Tool

1. Assist organizations in identifying funding resources for preparedness planning
2. Include special needs populations in all aspects of preparedness planning exercises and drills
3. Include organizations in the local alert network and help them to develop systems for notifying and assisting their clients in an emergency
4. Enlist help from organizations to identify and obtain special equipment (e.g. Braille writers) and supplies that first responders and shelter providers will require to adequately prepare for special needs populations
5. Develop a community advisory committee that includes staff and clients from multiple advocacy and service organization to provide direction and guidance on implementing preparedness plans for various emergency situations
6. Provide preparedness materials to advocacy organizations, service agencies, and support groups that are specific to the population they serve and can be freely distributed
7. Develop a self-identified registry enrollment and request delivery through community-based organizations

Linn County, Iowa Emergency Management Agency's Special Needs Registration Card

Special Needs Assistance Program – Online Registry

Guide for Training Non-Public Health Workers to Respond to Public Health Emergencies

CDC Emergency Preparedness Guides (multiple languages)

American Red Cross Disaster Preparedness Info (multiple languages)

1. Disseminate materials that encourage community residents to identify their friends and neighbors who would need assistance in an emergency and help those with special needs develop a preparedness plan
2. Establish a public hotline or website with information and free materials for guiding people
3. Encourage people to help the elderly, disabled, or those with medical conditions stockpile enough supplies of food, water and medications in order to safely remain in their homes
4. Include ideas for people to assist neighbors to evacuate safely
5. Encourage health care providers, home health agencies, and businesses that provide goods and services to special needs populations to promote preparedness among their clients and patients
6. Engage established organizations (e.g. neighborhood watch), cultural, civic, and faith-based groups and schools in broadly disseminating preparedness information and materials

Neighbor-to-Neighbor Network Program

SAFELY OUT

Emergency Supply Kits for Homebound Elderly Residents

The Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP)

North Carolina Pandemic Flu Program

Emergency, Community and Health Outreach (ECHO)

1. Draft emergency plans directly with the facilities and community-based organizations that care for and support these populations (e.g. long-term care, day care, assisted living facilities)
2. Provide a notification hotline or other mechanism to alert facilities to begin early evacuations
3. Plan for transportation of facility staff as well as truck rental to get water, food, and medical supplies to facilities
4. Include personal caregivers or essential family members when transporting individuals who are disabled, elderly, or have functional limitations
5. Integrate local and community plans into the larger jurisdictional plan
6. Execute formal agreements such as memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with other organizations in order to facilitate collaboration
7. Work with organizations to provide a single, consistent message or set of messages about preparedness (e.g. risk communication)

FEMA Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs

Partnering to Achieve Rural Emergency Preparedness Workbook