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Emergency Preparedness
Disaster Recovery Guidebook
COVID-19
Resources for Families with CSHCN
In Texas, disasters can strike
quickly and without warning. It’s important to know what types of emergencies
are likely to affect your area. As a family of a child with special needs,
planning for an emergency is critical. You and your loved ones could be
anywhere when it happens – at work, at school, or in the car.
Every Family Needs an Emergency Plan
Planning with your family before a disaster is the best way to be sure that
everyone stays safe. Think about what kinds of supplies, medicines and
assistance your family needs each day and how you would make it on your own for
at least three days. Remember to include all family members and pets when you make your plan.
What does my family and child with a disability need in an
emergency?
Every situation is different
and each child has individual needs. To get started, here are questions to
think about:
- Depending on the nature of the
disaster and personal needs, will you stay and shelter-in-place, go to a public
shelter, or somewhere else? Plan for all possibilities.
- How will family members
communicate, if separated, and local phone service is unavailable?
- Have we gotten input and
discuss planning with our child’s health care providers?
- Did we pre-register with 2-1-1
if help will be needed to evacuate?
- Are there supplies that need
refrigeration?
- Is there equipment that
requires electricity? Have I notified the utility company?
- What supplies for service animals or pets
are needed? By law, service animals must be allowed in public shelters.
- Download
a Disaster Supply Checklist for a full list of items you might need in a
disaster.
In addition to survival basics -
food, water, first aid and tools - you may want to include:
- An Emergency Information Form
with a list of your child’s current doctors, pharmacy and phone numbers
- A list and two week supply of
all current prescription and non-prescription medicines, or as much as possible
- Two weeks of medical supplies
such oxygen, syringes, catheters, formula and other nutritional products
- Important documents like
medical records, health insurance cards, prescriptions and personal
identification stored on a CD, flash drive, or phone app. Keep paper copies in
a waterproof bag.
- Extra batteries and/or chargers
for hearing aids, wheelchairs, and other essentials
- Personal care and hygiene items
- Items to calm and entertain
your child
Other
things to consider in planning for an emergency:
- Register for STEAR Program under the Texas Department of Public Safety. This is a free,
public registry that provides local emergency planners and emergency responders
with additional information during times of an emergency event.
- Visit your local fire and
police departments. Tell them about your child. Invite them to your home to
meet your child and give you emergency tips.
- If you are separated from your
family at the time of the disaster, do you have a meeting place? Pick one place
in your neighborhood and one place outside of your neighborhood
- Make a list of family, friends,
and others in your support network
- Include a relative or friend in
another area who would not be affected by the same emergency and would be able
to help, if needed
- Check expiration dates on
medications in your emergency kit to avoid spoiling
Additional Resources
External links to other sites are intended to be
informational and do not have the endorsement of the Texas Department of State
Health Services. For more information
about Children
with Special Health Care Needs, Title V Maternal and
Child Health or information regarding maternal and child health in Texas,
please email TitleV@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7373.