Disaster Planning and Recovery: Special Populations

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A guide for people who are blind and visually impaired, focusing on preparation for personal needs.

Free news service for anyone who is blind, visually impaired or print disabled.

The special-needs NOAA Weather Radio has recently been designed to adapt to the needs of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. The Radio can warn deaf and hard-of-hearing persons of hazardous conditions, giving them around-the-clock, up-to-the-minute weather information.

The material provided in this document is general information on how you can use NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) as an alerting tool for the deaf and hard of hearing.

A guide for making special preparations to communicate and to stay informed during an emergency.

General information about disaster preparedness, including a list of emergency kit supplies for individuals with hearing loss.

Access the link to download the brochure in English, Spanish, French-Creole, Vietnamese, Simplified Mandarin, and Traditional Cantonese.

The Preparedness Buddy is a brochure that you can fill out to create a personal emergency plan designed for all persons including those with access and functional needs. Preparedness Buddy provides a step-by-step template to complete an emergency plan using a personal support network or buddy system.


1. Find a preparedness buddy.
2. Complete the Preparedness Buddy personal emergency plan brochure. Keep the original plan in the disaster kit and ask the buddy to keep a photocopy.
3. The preparedness buddy should regularly check in on his/her designated buddy during the emergency event.
4. Review and update emergency plans each year or during peak disaster seasons.

In a disaster, it's essential that behavioral health responders have the resources they need—when and where they need them. The SAMHSA Disaster App makes it easy to provide quality support to survivors. Users can navigate pre-deployment preparation, on-the-ground assistance, post-deployment resources, and more—at the touch of a button from the home screen. Users also can share resources, like tips for helping survivors cope, and find local behavioral health services. And, self-care support for responders is available at all stages of deployment.

The SAMHSA Disaster App helps responders focus on what really matters—the people in need.

*Be ready—access resources for any type of traumatic event, including tip sheets; guides for responders, teachers, parents, and caregivers; and a directory of behavioral health service providers in the impacted area.
*Be prepared—rely on and access pre-downloaded resources on your phone in case of limited Internet connectivity in the field.
*Be confident—review key preparedness materials so you're confident you're providing the best support possible.
*Share resources easily—send information to colleagues and survivors via text message, email, or transfer to a computer for printing.

This toolkit outlines actions states can take to empower caregivers to make informed decisions about the special needs of people with dementia at a time of emergency or disaster.

Emergency readiness checklists and tools to prepare for unexpected emergencies from the U.S. Administration on Aging, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

This list of tips for older adults will help them plan and respond to emergency situations. Also provides a printable checklist of ways to prepare.

The guide is intended to support older adults and their caregivers in preparing in three easy steps: assess your needs, create a plan, and engage your network. The guide provides easy-to-read, user-friendly worksheets that walk individuals and caregivers through a self-assessment to identify specific needs and checklists that create a personalized plan.

Resources from the University of Delaware

Guide outlines the four elements of evacuation information that occupants of buildings need: notification, way finding, use of the way, and assistance.

This booklet will help people with disabilities prepare and emergency plan to protect themselves, family, friends, personal care assistant and others in the support network in the event of an emergency.

These tips from the Red Cross provide people with disabilities and their caregivers with guidance in managing communications, equipment, pets and home hazards.

This website will help you think through your personal needs in an emergency, and how to plan ahead for various situations. It will suggest action steps to develop your personal preparedness plan.

This page provides information on the work the agency is doing to facilitate accessible emergency management.

Information for women who are pregnant on how to plan for and respond to emergency situations.

This website provides questions that might help midwives prepare for emergency situations, as well as links to other disaster preparedness resources.