ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Progress
Louisiana-
Mississippi
Chapter
Disaster Preparation
Federal agencies and members of Congress are vital resources to look to if a natural disaster or terrorist act impacts your area. This web site not only provides tips on how you can prepare for emergency situations, but also includes emergency contact information for organizations who provide disaster relief assistance to those living in impacted areas.
Although the hurricanes and flooding that have affected the U.S. in recent years have been the driving force behind the creation of this update, the information included below can also be used to prepare for any type of disaster, including floods, fires, tornados, earthquakes or acts of terrorism.
Which Disasters Impact Your Community
Emergency Assistance in Your Community
Replacement for Important Documents
Create an Emergency Kit
Practice Makes Perfect
NOAA Extreme Weather Information Sheet
Louisiana Guide to Supports & Services for Individuals with Disabilities
Which Disasters Impact Your Community?
Emergency Assistance in Your Community
There are several different organizations, both public and private, that provide disaster relief assistance to people living in affected areas. The organizations listed below are a few of the organizations that provide assistance to people nationwide. You should also contact your local, state or county’s department of emergency management (or similarly named agency) to obtain assistance information as well.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) -- Those living in disaster affected areas can call the FEMA disaster hotline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by visiting their website. The information includes "Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness", FEMA’s most comprehensive guide on emergency preparedness.
FEMA has a new mobile website, m.fema.gov,for accessing tools needed to prepare for and, when needed, recover from disasters. Before, during, and after disasters, many individuals will need to access important information by using their mobile devices. As a result, FEMA recently rolled out a mobile version of its website, so that people can get the information they need when disaster strikes. The new site is laid out in a user-friendly, questions-and-answer format that walks users through several important issues they face when dealing with disasters. Over the next few months, several enhancements will be made to this site, including the ability to apply for individual assistance when a disaster has been declared by the President, check on the status of an application, and update an existing application. This could be an extremely valuable source of information for families with members who have disabilities and/or who are elderly. For detailed information, visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/04/28/announcing-fema-mobile
The American Red Cross -- The American Red Cross and its local chapters are a helpful resource to contact following a disaster. Information is available by calling 1-866-GET INFO (438-4636) or by visiting the Red Cross website.
State and Local Assistance -- State and local governments provide emergency relief assistance. Check local telephone listings to find the contact information for your state’s office of emergency management or similarly named agency. Or, call your local police or fire department. Many states and localities provide special assistance for the disabled and people with special needs. Contact your state or county office of emergency management (or similarly named agency) to learn what emergency services may be available for the disabled, including special shelters that will accommodate the disabled, or transportation assistance in the event of an evacuation. You may need to register in advance for this special assistance.
Whole House Generators
To discuss purchasing and utilizing whoe house generator please call Terry Singer at 225-336-1535.
Checklist for persons with disabilities:
Items for a Disaster Supply Kit include: nonperishable food, bottled water, non-electric can opener, paper/plastic utensils, toiletries/personal hygiene items, water purification tablets, important documents, First Aid Kit, flashlight and batteries, bug repellent, sun-screen, battery operated radio, booster cables, auto tire repair kit. A comprehensive list can be found at American Red Cross. Important Family Documents: Driver's License Department of Motor Vehicles Government Issued ID Contact the issuing authority Insurance policies Your insurance agent or company Military discharge Department of Veterans Affairs, papers Passports State Department—Passport Services, Birth, death and marriage certificates Bureau of Records in the appropriate state Social Security or Medicare cards Local Social Security office, 1-800-772-1213 or TDD/TTY 1-800-325-0778 Credit cards The issuing companies as soon as possible MasterCard Contact issuing financial institution VISA Contact issuing financial institution American Express 1-800-441-0519 Discover 1-800-discover (1-800-347-2683), Titles to deeds Records department of the area in which the property is located Stocks and bonds Issuing company or your broker Wills Your attorney Income tax record The IRS center where filed, your accountant or Citizenship papers Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, 1-800-375-5283 Mortgage papers Lending institution For more information: Mississippi State Department of Health - 24 hour information hotline 1-866-458-4948; website includes contacts for Vital Records Mississippi Department of Human Services - Hotline is 1-800-345-6347
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Call the Office of Emergency Management in your county now to register for special assistance and to find the nearest special needs shelter to you. The county contact information for emergency management is available at 225-925-7500 or Louisiana Division of Emergency Management. To contact the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, please call 601-933-6362 or visit www.msema.org. Ask your parish/county Office of Emergency Management whether there is special transportation available to you for evacuation.
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Prepare a medical information list that includes:
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Send copies of important documents to your out-of-town contact person.
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Have a pet care plan. Shelters do not always accept pets. Contact your local animal shelter.
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Have an extra battery for a motorized wheelchair or scooter. A car battery also can be used with a wheelchair but will not last as long as a wheelchair's deep-cycle battery. Check with your vendor to know if you can charge your battery by either connecting jumper cables to a vehicle battery or connecting batteries to a converter that plugs into a vehicle’s cigarette lighter. Caution: Charge only one battery at a time.
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Have a patch kit, can of seal-in-air product, inner tubes for a motorized wheelchair or scooter with inflatable tires.
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Have a lightweight manual wheelchair for backup.
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Have a converter for your communication device.
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Pack a low-tech communication board and preprinted key phrases in your disaster kit.
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Order an adaptor kit if you are using a BiPAP. Respironics has a kit that can be used with a car battery and a marine battery.
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Enroll in your electric company's "priority reconnection service", if available. Even with this "priority reconnection service", your power could still be out for a long time following a disaster. Individual homes do not have reconnection priority over emergency facilities.
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Contact your utility company and fire department before you connect a generator to house wiring. Connecting a generator is specifically prohibited by law in some areas. Evacuating to a special needs shelter may be safer than staying at home with a generator during a disaster.
Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container
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Copy of will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
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Copy of passports, Social Security cards, immunization records
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Record of credit card accounts
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Record of bank account numbers, names, and phone numbers
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Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
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Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
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Copy of Supplemental Security Income award letter
887-368-5463
225-922-0500, 1-800-827-1000 or TDD/TTY 1-800-829-4833
202-955-0430 (24 hours)
TDD/TTY 1-800-347-7449
1-800-829-1040
Louisiana:
Department of Health & Hospitals, Office of Aging and Adult Services
866-758-5035
http://www.louisianahelp.org/
http://www.redcross.org/
http://www.flash.org/
Mississippi:
Mississippi Get Help - Aging & Disability Resource Center - 1-888-240-7539