Ready Illinois website offers emergency preparedness tips for people
with functional needs and their caregivers
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[April 05, 2013]
SPRINGFIELD -- While every home
should have a disaster preparedness kit and family communications
plan, emergency preparedness is even more critical for households
with members who have disabilities, functional needs or may need
assistance during an emergency.
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Throughout April, as part of its 2013 preparedness campaign, the
Illinois Emergency Management Agency will highlight the importance
of disaster preparedness for people with functional needs. "An ice
storm, tornado or other disaster can leave people without power,
heat or water for several days," said IEMA Director Jonathon Monken.
"For those who may need some type of assistance, these conditions
can be even more dangerous if they aren't prepared."
Monken said the Ready Illinois website offers a guidebook with
preparedness tips for people with visual, cognitive or mobility
impairments; people who are deaf or hard of hearing; those who use
service animals or life-support systems; and senior citizens. The
guide, Emergency Preparedness Tips for Those with Functional Needs,
is available at
www.ready.illinois.gov.
For each functional need, the guidebook provides a list of
supplemental items for a disaster kit, tips on developing an
emergency plan, suggestions on how to be better informed about
community emergency planning and a checklist of preparedness
activities.
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In addition, the booklet contains a list of items for a standard
disaster kit, a cut-out health information card, contact information
for agencies providing services to people with functional needs, and
a copy of an Federal Emergency Management Agency and American Red
Cross guide,
Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and Other
Special Needs.
[Text from
Illinois
Emergency Management Agency file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information]
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