Emergency Preparedness and Accessibility for Individuals with Disabilities:

Preparation, clear communication, and accessibility are essential to keeping everyone safe. Effective disaster management works best when we coordinate to support both visible and invisible disabilities. 

  • Individual & Family Preparedness: Build a personal support network, tailor emergency kits with medical supplies and backup power, and register with local utilities if life-sustaining equipment relies on electricity.
  • Business Owners: Maintain accessible entrances and emergency routes, establish inclusive employee communication plans (such as visual or text alerts), and train staff to assist customers with diverse access needs during an emergency.
  • Shelters & Facilities: Shelters maybe needed during emergencies. There are different type of shelters and shelter facilities, Stay-At- Home, Mass Care Shelter, or Sheltering in Place.

 Are you "Ready" Campaign is a national public service advertising campaign designed to educate and empower Americans to prepare for and respond to emergencies including natural and man-made disasters.  The campaign asks individuals to do three key things: (1) build an emergency supply kit, (2) make a family emergency plan, and (3) be informed about the different types of emergencies that could occur and their appropriate responses.  The public is encouraged to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses, and schools.

Quick Links to some of READY.gov pages and other resources for guidance.

Looking to volunteer?  West Virginia Responder Emergency Deployment Information (WV REDI) registration is open to West Virginia's health and medical professionals, as well as others who are willing to help during a health-related emergency or event. For more information about WV REDI, ​contact our Responder Health, Safety and Volunteer Coordinator here; or log onto www.wvredi.org to register.