Checklist for Texans with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs

Whether you will be evacuating with family, neighbors or friends - or whether you can evacuate on your own - here is a checklist for emergencies:

• Medical equipment and assistive devices (glasses, hearing aid, catheters, augmentative communication devices, cane, wheelchair, scooter, walker, dressing aids, oxygen, tubing, feeding supplies, drinking straws, etc.) Label each with your name and contact information. Be sure to have extra batteries and chargers.
• List of model numbers or serial numbers of medical devices and equipment.
• Medical alert tags or bracelets and written description of your disability-related or health care conditions.
• Medications and copies of all prescriptions, including a list of the prescription name, dosage, frequency, doctor and pharmacist. Also consider if medications need to be refrigerated and if so, bring a cooler with an ice pack or other coolant system.
• Hygiene supplies including absorbent pads and urinal as needed and personal grooming items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, towel, washcloth, comb, brush.
• Phone numbers and names of your physicians or other health care providers, health insurance information, emergency contact information including your support network members.
• Supplies for a service animal including food, identification tags, proof of up-to-date vaccinations and veterinarian contact.

Having emergency supplies in easy-to-carry containers will serve you well, no matter what kind of emergency you face.

Other disaster preparedness resources can be found at www.redcross.org and www.Ready.gov.