Maintaining Health
People with health-related needs may rely on medications, services, durable medical equipment (DME), electricity for life-maintaining equipment, breastfeeding support, childcare, or access to specialized food or nutrition. During emergencies, disruptions may make it harder to maintain health and safety.
How the AFN Community Can Plan Ahead to Maintain Health in an Emergency
- Ready.gov: Personal Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities social media Toolkit. Español. The toolkit contains personal disaster preparedness videos to share with individuals that use Wheelchairs, are hard or hearing, and/or blind.
- Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs: This publication was developed by the American Red Cross in collaboration with FEMA to provide tips and guidance for millions of Americans who have physical, medical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities.
- Ready.gov: People with Disabilities: Provides disaster preparedness resources for individuals with a Mobility Disability, are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, have a Speech Disability, Alzheimer’s and Related Dementia, and are Blind or Have Low Vision.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Disaster Distress Helpline: Find free and confidential 24/7 service that offers multilingual crisis counseling by phone or text at 1‑800‑985‑5990 for anyone experiencing emotional distress from natural or human‑caused disasters. There is additional language assistance in Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Russian, Haitian Creole, French, Polish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Japanese, Farsi, Spanish, and ASL.
- Alameda County Health: Call 1-510-891-5600 or visit Behavioral Health Department Crisis Services for more information.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 988 for help or visit 988 Alameda County for more information.
- American Red Cross: Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors is a brochure created for seniors to take responsibility and prepare now for a sudden emergency.
- American Red Cross: Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults: Provides information targeted to older adults helping them prepare for disasters and emergencies.
- Cruz Roja Americana: Preparación Ante Emergencias Para Adultos Mayores: Proporciona información dirigida a adultos mayores ayudándoles a prepararse para desastres y emergencias.
- CDC: Diabetes Care During Emergencies: Provides tips to plan ahead and manage your diabetes during times of emergency.
- Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialist:Diabetes Emergency Preparedness: Offers a searchable library of diabetes-related patient handouts, professional tools, and practice papers.
- Alzheimer’s Association Emergency Preparedness Tips: Offers emergency preparedness advice for caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
- National Cancer Institute: Emergency Resources for the Cancer Community: Offers tips on maintaining treatment continuity, access to the Cancer Information Service, and disaster-specific plans.
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Infant Feeding in Disasters and Emergencies – Breastfeeding and Other Options: A fact sheet offering recommendations for formula use, relactation, and donor milk when needed.
- CDC: Safety for Expecting and New Parents: Provides guidance for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding individuals during natural disasters and severe weather.
- Autism Speaks: Natural Disaster Resources: Provides guidance and resources to help families of individuals on the autism spectrum prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters.
- PG&E: Emergency Planning Tips for People Who Rely on Electric or Battery Dependent Medical Devices: Includes backup power solutions, generator safety tips, and information on medical support programs for individuals who rely on electric or battery-powered medical devices.
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Preparing for Emergencies: A Guide to People with Dialysis: A booklet offering step-by-step advice for dialysis patients on preparing go‑kits, medical supply backups, and alternative treatment plans during disasters.
- U.S. Fire Administration: Fire Safety for People with Disabilities: Provides fire safety guidance, prevention tips to mitigate the risk of residential fires, and free educational materials tailored for people with disabilities and their caregivers.