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Safe, Sound & Ready: Building Your Emergency Plan · Living Loud and Proud: Disability Conversations

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  Welcome to the Living Loud and Proud Podcast, brought to you by Disability Pride Pennsylvania.
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  If you need a link to the transcript for this episode, please visit our accessible website at www.disabilitypridepa.org/podcast.
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  And now, here is your host.
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  Hi, folks. Welcome to the Living Loud and Proud podcast. I'm your host and producer,
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  Phill Rosen, and today we are tackling a topic that affects every single one of us,
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  but one we don't talk about nearly enough through a disability equity lens: disaster preparedness.
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  But before we jump into the main portion of our show,
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  I'd like to invite anyone who is out in the Pittsburgh area to come to our final event of the Disability Pride season,
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  Disability Pride Pittsburgh.
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  Join us this Saturday, September 26th from 12 to 4 p.m. at Schenley Plaza.
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  We will have speakers including Dr. Josie Badger, Mayor Corey O'Connor, Disability Rights CEO Jennifer Garman, and others.
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  There will be ASL interpreters at the stage and available at the Disability Pride table for individual service,
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  a sensory space in the Carnegie Library boardroom, visual guides for blind or low-vision individuals,
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  tents for extra shade and seating, restrooms, cold water, and food options available from independent vendors on the plaza.
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  Ask your driver to drop off/pick up at 4100 Forbes Avenue.
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  Full details are available on the Disability Pride PA website at www.disabilitypridepa.org/pittsburgh.
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  And you can always ask questions by emailing access@disabilitypridepa.org. I went a couple of years ago to Pittsburgh Disability
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  Pride and had a ton of fun wilding out there. 10 out of 10 would recommend. We hope to see you there.
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  And now, on to our main show. When we look at the climate and weather risks in Philly,
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  the city faces a distinct mix of natural hazards: severe flooding along our rivers, extreme summer
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  heatwaves, hurricanes and tropical systems moving up the coast, harsh winter storms, and sudden
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  severe thunderstorms or tornadoes. Now, when some of these emergencies hit, the narrative we usually hear is,
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  "Just pack a bag and evacuate." But that advice completely ignores reality for millions of people.
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  To build real safety, we have to talk about who is most at risk during a crisis,
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  and the numbers tell a stark story. Here in Philly, 17% of our population lives with a disability.
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  That is roughly 274,000 people.
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  And according to Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies,
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  disabled individuals make up 27% of the U.S. population,
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  or approximately 94.3 million people, and globally it's 16% or 1.3 billion people.
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  During natural disasters and conflict situations, people with disabilities are two to four times
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  more likely to die or be injured than non-disabled individuals.
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  Additionally, during a crisis or natural disaster, over 70% of women experience gender-based violence,
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  and women and children are 14 times more likely to die during a disaster than men.
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  Women with disabilities are also more likely than men with disabilities and women without disabilities to face discrimination. Racial disparities also run deep. During Hurricane Katrina,
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  Black residents were 1.7 to 4 times more likely to die than white residents, and research shows that after natural disasters, white residents tend to
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  accumulate wealth through recovery aid, while residents of color lose wealth.
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  And post-disaster care shows massive gaps as well. Statistics show that one month
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  after a disaster, 70% of Deaf evacuees reported living in unsanitary conditions compared to just 7%
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  of non-Deaf evacuees. 74% of wheelchair users experienced a lack of food versus 9% of those who can
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  walk. 31% of adults who require personal care assistance are forced to evacuate compared to just
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  1% of adults without disabilities, and 59% of Deaf evacuees reported that they never came back home, which is more than four
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  times the rate for non-Deaf individuals. These are structural gaps, not random accidents during
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  emergency response. These statistics illustrate the need to build our
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  own readiness networks and take practical steps to protect ourselves and each other during disaster.
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  But before we dive into specific weather events like floods or ice storms, let's establish a
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  universal household emergency action plan. Regardless of whether you're facing a hurricane, fire,
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  chemical spill, power blackout, or other emergency, having an all-hazards plan and making sure everyone
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  in your home knows how to execute it keeps panic at bay when every second counts. Here is how you
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  build a plan that works for everybody in your home. Number one: hold a household strategy meeting.
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  Sit down with everyone in your home—children, roommates, partners, and caregivers. Walk through realistic scenarios together. Make sure everyone understands what different warnings mean and what their specific role is in an emergency.
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  If someone in your home has mobility, sensory, or cognitive needs, assign explicit support roles so nobody is left guessing during a crisis.
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  Number two: establish two designated meeting places. If an emergency forces you out, you need to know where to gather if you get separated from the group. Set up two locations:
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  A neighborhood meeting space, which is a place right outside your home—maybe a specific street corner, mailbox, or neighbor's porch for sudden events like fires or gas leaks;
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  And an out-of-neighborhood meeting spot, which is a local public building outside your immediate block—something like a neighborhood library, park entrance, or community center in case your whole block is inaccessible or affected beyond your home.
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  Number three: practice escape routes and utility shutdowns. If possible, know at least two ways out of every room in your home.
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  If you or a household member uses mobility devices, make sure your primary and secondary escape routes are accessible and clear of obstructions. Teach able household members where and how to safely turn off utilities like water, gas, and electricity if emergency officials instruct you to do so.
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  Number four: document and distribute the plan. Don't leave your plan in your head. Write it down or save it on everyone's phone.
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  Keep a physical printout in your emergency go-bag and post it somewhere central, like on the fridge.
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  Include your home address and emergency numbers (including non-emergency police and fire), contact info for doctors, pharmacies, and equipment suppliers, addresses of your meeting spots, and the name and phone number of your out-of-town contact person.
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  Number five: drill and rehearse regularly. A plan on paper means nothing if you haven't tested it. Practice your evacuation drills at least twice a year.
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  Include your pets and service animals in these practice runs so they become comfortable entering carriers, navigating
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  emergency routes, and staying calm in high-stress situations. Once you have a household plan set in
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  place, let's tie it into your broader community network. First, lock in your alerts and communication.
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  Download the FEMA app on your smartphone to get real-time emergency alerts. Sign up for local emergency
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  notifications in your specific area and monitor local emergency management social media for updates on open shelters, warming or cooling centers, and assistance locations.
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  Build your external support network in advance by connecting with your neighbors, family, and friends to confirm emergency plans.
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  Remember that out-of-town contact I mentioned? Make sure everyone in the house has that number memorized or written down.
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  During a disaster, local cell towers get overloaded, and it's much easier to text one relative or friend in another state who can coordinate updates for everyone else.
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  Second, let's talk medical and health planning. Keep flashlights near every bed and, if possible, keep a battery-operated or hand-cranked weather radio nearby with extra batteries.
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  Keep external power banks fully charged for phones, mobility devices, and communication apps. You should talk to your doctor about backup power for medical equipment, oxygen supplies, and securing extra medications.
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  If you have Long COVID or are at higher risk for infectious diseases, establish at least two separate household options for staying with family or friends if you need to evacuate.
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  If you must go to a public shelter, call the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767. Ask what measures are in place to protect residents from infectious disease and confirm whether you and your household can isolate while still receiving full services.
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  Third, whenever you need to evacuate, remember the 6 Ps of emergency evacuation: 1. People and pets, including service animals, their food, and gear.
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  2. Papers: important identification, phone numbers, and documents.
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  3. Prescriptions: medications, vitamins, hearing aids, extra eyeglasses, and chargers. 4. Pictures and irreplaceable memorabilia.
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  5. Personal electronics: computers, tablets, communication boards, and power cords.
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  6. Plastic and cash: credit cards, physical money, small bills, change—the works.
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  And preferably, you want to make sure that you pack all of these things into a waterproof bag or container to avoid any sort of dampness or water damage, because you're probably going to be running out in the middle of a storm, rain, or flooding.
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  You just don't want any of your important documents getting wet while you are trying to evacuate.
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  Now let's break down some specific hazards, starting with severe winter weather and power outages.
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  First things first: you want to prevent frozen pipes. Trust me, if you get frozen pipes, you're going to have a bad day.
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  So, you want to let water drip overnight from a faucet on an exterior wall. Open the cabinet doors under sinks so indoor heat reaches uninsulated pipes, and keep your thermostat set to the same temperature day and night.
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  Stay warm during power outages. Hang blankets over windows and bedroom doors to insulate the space.
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  Cover hardwood or tile floors with blankets, towels, or rugs to cut the chill.
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  All right, now let's talk carbon monoxide safety. Check your carbon monoxide detector batteries and replace them if needed.
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  Remember, the detector should be kept at bed height, not up on the ceiling, because let's face it: you're not breathing up on the ceiling, you're breathing down on your bed.
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  And if you move into a closed-off room to stay warm, make sure that you bring the carbon monoxide detector into that room with you.
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  And you should never, ever, ever use a gas generator inside your home, garage, or an enclosed space.
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  And if you need to find shelter, public libraries act as warming centers during regular operating hours. For 24/7 community warming centers, call 211, 311, 1-800-RED-CROSS, or 1-800-733-2767.
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  Now, let's move on to severe summer weather. When severe summer weather hits, understanding alert levels can save your life.
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  A Watch (Severe Thunderstorm or Fire Weather) means conditions are possible; you should be prepared.
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  A Warning (Severe Thunderstorm or Red Flag) means dangerous weather is occurring or imminent; take action.
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  For severe thunderstorms and tornadoes, you should pick a safe room in advance: a basement, storm cellar, or an interior windowless room on the lowest floor if possible.
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  If you have helmets—motorcycle, bicycle, or hard hats—put them on.
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  A full-face motorcycle helmet offers the best head and neck protection against flying debris, but any helmet is better than none. Keep chin straps securely fastened.
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  If you shelter in the bathroom, getting into the bathtub (anchored directly to the foundation) and covering yourself with heavy cushions or blankets gives you excellent protection if, God forbid, the walls or roof collapse.
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  If you live in a mobile home, plan early to evacuate to a sturdy brick or concrete building. Never take shelter under a highway overpass because winds accelerate beneath overpasses, creating dangerous wind tunnel effects.
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  For wildfires and smoky air, you should stay indoors and keep all your windows and doors closed.
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  Use central air conditioning or electric fans to stay cool rather than opening windows. Maintain a 5-foot defensible space around your home free of dead leaves, mulch, or flammable items, and keep firewood piles at least 30 feet away.
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  That will mitigate the risk. It does not save you entirely from embers, but that's better than nothing.
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  Finally, let's cover coastal storms, flooding, and heatwaves. Starting with hurricanes and tropical storms,
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  the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th.
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  Storm surge is historically the leading cause of hurricane-related deaths in the U.S. Storm surge refers to flooding that occurs naturally because the storm is hitting the land and creating extra waves.
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  Know your evacuation zone and routes. If you have a car, try to keep at least a half tank of gas at all times, follow official evacuation routes, and never drive into flooded areas.
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  Now, for flooding and dam breaches, get to higher elevation quickly if possible. Avoid wading or swimming in water.
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  Never walk, wheel, or drive through moving water. Just six inches of moving water can knock you over or stall a car.
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  One foot of water will float many passenger cars, and two feet of rushing water can sweep away SUVs and pickup trucks.
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  One other thing to remember, too, is when flooding occurs, oftentimes power lines get knocked over, and water and power never mix. So it's best to try and stay out of the water in general.
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  Finally, let's talk about extreme heat. Extreme heat is the single deadliest weather hazard in the U.S.
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  Stay in air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.
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  Crucially, you do not want to rely on electric fans as your main cooling source in extreme heat.
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  Fans only circulate air, and sure, they feel nice, but they don't lower core body temperature or prevent heat illnesses.
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  Know the signs of heat stroke: body temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit, hot or red skin with no sweat, rapid pulse, and confusion or loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately if any symptoms are present.
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  Cold water or ice bath immersion is the single fastest, most effective way to lower core body temperature and prevent organ damage or death while waiting for medics in someone who has heat illness.
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  Now, keep in mind, disaster readiness isn't about panic. It's about autonomy, dignity, and taking care of one another before the storm hits. Take a few minutes today to sit down with your household, review the universal emergency plan, check your flashlights, talk to your support network, and make sure your emergency plan fits your lifestyle.
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  If you would like additional information about disaster planning or need resources during disaster recovery, you can go to www.ready.gov.
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  On that website, there are tips on how to plan for and manage recovery for different disaster types, including radiation emergencies, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, to name a few.
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  Another wealth of resources for vulnerable populations is the Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies.
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  You can visit their website at www.disasterstrategies.org or call 1-800-626-4959.
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  There are links to resources, news, tips, and more on their website that is geared towards helping prepare vulnerable populations to respond in a crisis.
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  All right, folks, thanks for joining me here on the Living Loud and Proud podcast. I'm your host and producer, Phill Rosen. I'll see you in two weeks.
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  Please visit our accessible website at www.disabilitypridepa.org. You can find us on social media at Disability Pride PA on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.