News & Tips

Sometimes emergency preparedness advice can be overwhelming. Do you or someone in your household have a disability? Here are three things you can do to get started with preparing for a natural disaster or another emergency.

One. Complete This Medical Information and Emergency Health Care Form

This is a way to communicate medical information and the best ways to assist you in case of an emergency. Keep this on you with a copy of your Medical Emergency Wallet Card. Put a copy in your go-bag (kit for evacuation) when you are ready to assemble one. But for now, start with this form and the companion wallet card.

Two. Register for Smart911

Smart911 automatically provides 9-1-1 operators your profile in an emergency. Any time you call 9-1-1 from a number registered with your safety profile, the system provides operators the information you chose to log. In this way it serves as a registry (useful for persons with disabilities and medical conditions as well as those at risk of domestic violence). The Smart911 app for iOS and Android additionally provides alerts from the National Weather Service and local public safety agencies. Smart911 is free, private, and secure.

Three. Obtain a Hand-Crank/Solar Weather Radio

In case of an extended power outage, a weather radio with multiple power sources can help you stay connected to disaster response efforts. This Midland radio has a built-in rechargeable battery that can charge with direct sunlight or the hand crank. It can also take 6 AA batteries.

Ready for more steps? Check out the Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for Persons with Disabilities created by the Wisconsin AT Act Program (WisTech) in partnership with the WI Council on Physical Disabilities. The Puerto Rico AT Act Program (PRATP) translated this toolkit into Spanish (also available at this webpage).