Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities

General Weather Discussions and Analysis
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Texas Pirate

Thanks to the moderators and friends for encouraging me to bring this blog back again.
It's been awhile. But its nice to find my way back home.
;)
I was/am dedicated to educating and empowering the community to learn HOW to be safe.
I'll give you the information, but YOU got the POWER to save yourself.

Little did I know that during that summer of 2008, putting up this blog, we would be hit in September, by Ike.
I received lovely emails from families who took the advice given in the blog at the time,
and gratefully came through the storm. But there were other horror stories. We learned
a lot since then. And we will continue to learn, hopefully, with this blog. But I can't do it alone.
We all need to step up and care for each other in the disability community.

After Ike, I was blessed to receive over $300,000 worth of medical supplies and wheelchairs
from wx friends from around the U.S. and especially from a wonderful organization, Portlight, out in S.C.
Friends from all over the US, gathered in my stricken area, and we began to distribute
wheelchairs and other medical supplies to Harris, Galveston, Chambers, Orange Counties.
Did I get in trouble - you betcha. Did we care? No, we're rogue pirates :o
But, I learned a valuable lesson.

I became RED CROSS DAT trained, NIMS (FEMA), CERT certified, Skywarn (did I tell you I am a weather geek)
I help evacuate the disabled in this area. I was a Commissioner on the City of Houston Commission for People with Disabilities
(2 years), chair: emergency preparedness. I run an inclusive theater. Trust me, I'm dedicated to this community and want to
continue to keep y'all safe.

So, now what? So far, its a quiet summer. But we need to be prepared ALL year round for
whatever "come what may".... This blog will begin a dialogue with those in the disability community
or their caretakers and also stakeholders. Hopefully, information given, and exchanged will
help everyone.

I'm in. Hopefully you will be too.
Thanks again for the moderators and all my dear weather friends who allow me this platform.

"Because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim."
Lets stay weather safe.
Thats my mantra for you all.
♥ Lets begin the dialogue....
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srainhoutx
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Welcome back, Texas Pirate. Your post is now a 'sticky' and appears at the top of the page of our Weather Forum...;)
Carla/Alicia/Jerry(In The Eye)/Michelle/Charley/Ivan/Dennis/Katrina/Rita/Wilma/Humberto/Ike/Harvey

Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
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Katdaddy
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Yes welcome back, Texas Pirate. This will be excellent information. We are glad you are back.
Texas Pirate

Thanks for the lovely welcome. And perhaps, right in time for our next "I" storm, "Isaac" if 94L does
come to that.

We also have something we're watching in the Bay of Campeche right now. Pretty close to home, yes?

I want to begin with the topic of "Evacuation". This seems to be the driving force (no pun intended)
with every talk I give to disability organizations. Questions such as "Should I evacuate?" "Where should I go?"
" I want to stay in my home, where I have everything, will someone just get me if I get into trouble with the weather.?"
"I dont want to leave my service dog behind."

Let me begin with this. Even in the non-disabled community, I run into many who, even in a mandatory evacuation zone, that proudly boast:
"Well my Great Uncle Billy Bubba survived the great storm of 1900." YAY for your Great Uncle Billy Bubba!!!...But up to 10,000 didn't. And well, do you think they REALLY kept stats on people with disabilities back in the day? So we don't know how many we truly lost. Let me take a WILD unscientitic guess..." a whole bunch". We can turn to a more recent hurricane, "Katrina" to verify that "too many" people with disabilities died.

So Should you evacuate?
Answer: If you're in a mandatory evacuation zone, GO.
You might want to protect your home, but what if, it can't protect you?
It would be too late to call on a friend or family member to rescue you
and emergency personnel (GOD BLESS THEM ALL) might not get to you.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A CALVARY anymore. Sorry, them horses left a long time ago.
YOU need to have a plan to leave. Even if you are in a non-surge zone, but feel safer leaving
try and find a place to go.

YOU AND OR YOUR CAREGIVERS KNOW YOUR DISABILITY better than anyone. Better than your doctors, your sweet neighbors and certainly better than some stranger in the grocery line ready to give you the up to the minute
weather report that he/she THINKS is going to happen. YOU are in control. YOU know what you NEED. YOU got the plan.
Ask yourself: Do I or a loved one depend on electricity? For an electric chair? For meds? For breathing equipment?
If my roof does cave in, where would I go? Do I live alone and could I sustain an independant lifestyle if something were to happen?

This did happen to a friend of mine. She lives alone and a wheelchair user. She was TOLD that she was in a non-surge
zone. She told the 211 people she needed to leave. She didn't feel safe alone. They told her she was safe. She immedidately called her parents and they came and got her. Ike hit. Her roof fell in onto her kitchen area. No access to the kitchen, food, water, any supplies. She did the right thing. She knew she had to leave because she knew the limitations she would face, if something happened...and IT DID. Her plan was to call parents. She was lucky. I'm really not here to scare ya, I'm here to prepare ya and make you THINK.

Not saying EVERYONE with a disability needs to leave. I'm saying if YOU KNOW what you need to survive and staying put (outside the mandatory evac zones) is doable, you have your meds, your food, water, etc, by all means "hunker down" (Did I tell you how much I dislike that term?) :x

My suggestion is the following: when you create your plan (and this should be done in early Spring)
think through what you truly need. Call family members or friends BEFORE the NHC puts up those chilling words
" Hurricane Gusty is prepared to make landfall in the Houston/Galveston area. Preparation to saving lives and property
should be rushed to completion". Bingo, you're out of time, friends. At this point, YOU got the plan and you're ready to IMPLEMENT them.

If you cant find a friend/family member to take you in, by all means leave at the Bus HUB zones to get you out.
Your destination: San Antonio or Austin..whats wrong with that :-)
(Those living in the mandatory low lying areas either board in Texas City, Galveston, Pasadena- I'll put out the info for you)
IF you choose to do this, you MUST register. 211. Yeah, I know the ups and downs of this - and I'm sure you could share your stories too. However, its a start. You also need to register with your OEM (Office of Emergency Preparedness) in your city.
By registering, they have a count of how many may show up to the departure party. Think of it as an RSVP kinda thing.
You dont want to crash the party and be booted off the bus :-)

Do it now. Today. Actually last Spring would be have been ideal - but I'll get ya up to speed.

TEXAS IS A PET FRIENDLY SHELTER STATE. Dont make me say this twice.
AND BY LAW YOUR SERVICE DOG IS COUNTED AS A PERSON. Don't make me say this twice.

So what did we learn? You got the power and if you NEED power, you will make plans to leave.
WIth family or friends or if need be, shelter somewhere away from the storm.
Register.

For my friends in the deaf community, FEMA.gov has emergency information in ASL! Please check it out.
Let me say, Texas leads the nation in emergency preparedness. There are SO many good people working
it for the disability community, but like I said, YOU have to educate and empower yourselves.
Prepare today. Panicking leads to mistakes and could be hazardous to your health.

I hope this information is helpful. Open to discussion. Thank you. :D
If you really need some help, message me.


"because you are disabled, you don't have to be a victim." ™
Stormrider
Posts: 109
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:50 pm
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Welcome back, Texas Pirate. Thanks for bringing this topic to the table.

I evaced my then 82 year old, oxygen dependent father during Rita. We were supposed to go to Palestine. 26 hours of driving later, we ended up in Huntsville. Gas and shelter was hard to come by. Thankfully, a local church operating as a Red Cross shelter took us in. By the time Ike came along, his health was such that he needed dedicated care. His health provider had him sign up for evacuation, and he was taken out by ambulance, first to Houston then to San Antonio.

This past February, my dad made the ultimate evacuation. He's looking down at all the tropical action now.

A few offhand thoughts: Particularly with people who need life-support equipment like oxygen tanks and concentrators, having backups (extra tanks, alternate power) are a must. If you have someone in a nursing facility, find out its emergency plan is. Does the facility have backup power? Where will patients go if an evacuation is ordered? Is there a contact point if there is an evacuation?

I hope others will share their experiences and expertise on this subject. Again, thanks for getting the ball rolling.
Texas Pirate

Good morning Stormrider - First off, I'm sorry about your Dad, condolenses. Secondly, thanks for responding and sharing your story.

Rita, wow. For those of us who lived through it, the evacuation was the Cat 5 nightmare. However, good things DID come out of it - especially for preparedness for the disabled. Cuz, I promise you, that evac disaster will never happen again. Chills me to the bone to think of 1-10. :cry:

And the point you bring you up is excellent. Assisted Living Care/Nursing Homes and Emergency Plans. We fail on that one. Getting better, but we still got a long way to go. IMHO
My step Mother lived in one up the street from me. She lived alone. I got her out, sent to her to friends home in Waco.
However, there were many residents who were left behind. No one to care for them, plan for them, or connected them to evacuation hubs. We are in a low lying area. They were left with no power, very little food and ran out of water.
If we care for our loved ones, part of that love is making sure the place they live HAS a plan. DONT BE AFRAID to ask and DONT BE AFRAID to have them SHOW YOU the plans. If not, CALL someone either with the City (OEM) or non profit organizations to come out and help them plan or a time when all the residents can gather together and LEARN how to empower themselves with a speaker.

As I stated above in the opening topic of EVACUATION: If you are dependant on electricity for LIFE,no matter if you stay or leave: Make sure you have all the mechinisms you need to carry on and survive. Generators, batteries, etc etc. YOU know your disability better than anyone else.

Thank you Stormrider for kicking off this conversation! Appreciate it. Hope this helped.

Stormriders suggestions: A few offhand thoughts: Particularly with people who need life-support equipment like oxygen tanks and concentrators, having backups (extra tanks, alternate power) are a must. If you have someone in a nursing facility, find out its emergency plan is. Does the facility have backup power? Where will patients go if an evacuation is ordered? Is there a contact point if there is an evacuation
"Because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim"™
Last edited by Texas Pirate on Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
rnmm
Posts: 352
Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 12:16 am
Location: Santa Fe, Texas
Contact:

I am a mother of a chronically ill child who requires breathing treatments on a regular basis and the grand daughter of a very sweet grandmother who requires occasional oxygen therapy, she is also on a feeding tube...

Please note, I understand my family members are not disabled as some of your clients are Emmy, but maybe I can help bring to light some useful information/gadgets that can be of great use during an evacuation?!?!?

For my son, we do have a nebulizer that will run off the ac adapter in our car. This has proven to be a very special piece of equipment! I always make sure it is charged and ready to go! This way he can always have his treatments no matter where we are. I do take his full sized nebulizer with us when we evacuate, but he cannot use that in a car and during Rita, he used his travel neb much more than I would have liked for him to have to. But I am telling you guys, this little contraption was a life saver...literally! They are not too expensive and in fact, our insurance company covered the expense for ours! It is very easy to put together and it is very easy to use...in other words very user friendly! If anyone you know has to have neb treatments, I highly suggest getting one of these, even if you don't use it during an evacuation, you have it for any other time you may lose electricity. I also put all of his and my grandmothers meds that have to be refrigerated in an insulated lunch bag and then place them in the cooler, that way they don't get too cold but stay at a proper temperature!

For my grandmother, seeing as we have to crush her meds to put them through the feeding tube, if it comes to an evacuation for our area, I crush her pills in advance and put them in a labeled sandwich bag, that way they are ready to go and if I have to, I can give them to her "on the road". I also make sure I have everything I need to keep her peg site clean and as germ free as I possibly can while on the road. We have a travel size oxygen tank and I also carry extra tubing in case I need it to be longer or shorter.

I don't know if anything I added helps or even makes sense to be in a topic for disabled folks, but I hope it brought to light a little something helpful for someone.
My name is Nicole and I love weather!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alicia, Allison, Rita, Ike
Texas Pirate

Nicole! thank you...every bit of information helps. Every bit.
You see I had no idea the nebs, such as you explained, existed - I do now and I'm sure (hopefully) many reading this will
stay ALIVE because you brought this to our attention. Wonderful.

When we turn to the topic: SUPPLIES ON THE RUN: I will add your idea...wonderful and thank you for all
those fabulous wx chats! :D

Nicoles in put: we do have a nebulizer that will run off the ac adapter in our car

"because your disabled, you don't have to be a victim" ™
Texas Pirate

Going to digress a bit before returning to EVACUATION/and making a plan

Here is something that is important NOW and will affect all of us.
Please read and pass this along.
ASL link is provided before for our friends in the deaf community.
WEST NILE is rampant in our State. Please take care.
"because your disabled, you don't have to be a victim" ™


Office of the Governor Rick Perry
Committee on People with Disabilities


The Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services has partnered with the Department of State Health Services and Department of Aging and Disability Services to produce two American Sign Language videos about West Nile Virus Prevention measures.

The Texas Department of State Health Services urges people to take precautions to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile virus, a mosquito borne illness. People should use insect repellent when outdoors and avoid going outside at dusk and dawn. There has been a higher than usual number of human West Nile cases in Texas this year due to the warm winter and recent rains, particularly in the North Texas region.

Additional West Nile Virus information can be found at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/diseas ... /WestNile/ and http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/TxWestNile/PSAs/.

This link takes you to videos in American Sign Language http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/TxWestNile/ASLs/

WEST NILE VIRUS MESSAGES

The Department of State Health Services has asked Health and Human Service agencies to disseminate the following messages:

PREVENTION

Take the following precautions:
•Use an approved insect repellent every time you go outside and follow the instructions on the label. Approved repellents are those that contain DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
•Regularly drain standing water, including water that collects in empty cans, tires, buckets, clogged rain gutters, and saucers under potted plants. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.
•Wear long sleeves and pants at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
•Use air conditioning or make sure there are screens on all doors and windows to keep mosquitoes from entering the home.
•Texans who are elderly and those with chronic medical conditions or compromised immune systems are more vulnerable to developing West Nile illness if they are bitten by an infected mosquito.
•There is no effective treatment for West Nile Virus illnesses, so it’s important to prevent mosquito bites.

COMMUNITY
•Help neighbors who are elderly, have disabilities or access and functional needs to repair their windows or door screens to keep mosquitoes out and with other precautions to reduce their risk of becoming ill.
•Also remember other Texans with access or functional needs in your communities who may need assistance in reducing their risk of illness.

SPRAYING ACTIVITY
•The majority of Dallas county areas are performing enhanced ground-based spraying.
•There will be aerial spraying over a large area of Dallas County during the next few days.
•Aerial spraying is a very effective and safe way to kill adult mosquitoes in large, densely populated areas.
•We understand that many people have concerns about exposure during aerial spraying; for those people, health officials suggest the following precautions:
•Minimize exposure. Avoid being outside, close windows, and consider keeping pets inside while spraying occurs.
•If skin or clothes are exposed, wash them with soap and water.
•Rinse homegrown fruits and vegetables with water as a general precautionary measure.
•Cover small ornamental fish ponds.

Because the chemical breaks down quickly in sunlight and water, no special precautions are suggested for outdoor swimming areas
Texas Pirate

We have Isaac about to enter the Carib and perhaps the Gulf of Mexico in the next couple of days.
Weather models have it going anywhere from FLORIDA to NEW ORLEANS.
Although NOT a threat to Texas, lets use ISAAC as an example of what we do if we WERE facing this
threat. And I truly hope those in the disability communities are monitoring this potential storm.

At this point, we would be aware and would be monitoring the situation.
We already have our plan in place that we worked on in the Spring:
We would take it out and go over the plans with family/caregiver.

You have decided that

a) You live in a low lying mandatory evacuation area and have to leave.
You know your disability better than anyone else and staying would NOT give you the
independant crisis-free lifestyle you live. Or perhaps you need electricity to survive.
You have already decided that you will spend time with family and or friends to "ride" this storm out.
You call the people and tell them "hey guess who's coming to dinner...for a while". Kind of a heads up
this may be coming our way and I will want to stay out of the area.

or

b) You have registered with 211 and your local Office of Emergency Management and you have
the Location of the evacuation hub for you area (please see the information below)
Sheltering is NOT the Hilton. We all agree. But if its the last resort and YOU want to survive
it can be a haven of sorts. You will bring the supplies to make it as comfy as possible.
(Supplies another thread later)

or

c) You are not in the "flooding zone- surge area" and feel you have the right equipment to
maintain the lifestyle. You know your disability better than anyone else. OR you might
want to leave and stay with friends/families until you can return home.

As we monitor the weather and it has been decided by the NHC and our local NWS that
the storm is headed this way: weather statements will start coming out. The first would be a
hurricane watch - this means that conditions are ripe. "A watch is typically issued 48 hours BEFORE
the anticipated first occurrence of tropical storm force winds" (NHC)

If you decide to leave: you have all your important papers/meds/other supplies you need to sustain
You are ready to roll.....

Tidbit facts:

During Katrina, 71% of those killed were over 60 and 41% were over 75.
You must plan PRIOR to a storm coming into the Gulf of Mexico.

If you plan ahead, you don't panic. Panicking is hazardous to your health!!!

Information on Evacuation Hubs in LOW LYING AREAS:

"The Department of Transportation (DOT) is dedicated to ensuring the highest level of emergency preparedness
in the event of a disaster. During an emergency, person with disabilities may require (1) additional assistance with
evaucation and (2) Using transportation to get to a safe place. This is YOUR RIGHT, but you must take the first step
and register with 211 or call your local OEM and let them KNOW you need assistance.

Galveston Evaucation Assistance:
Islanders with transportation needs or special needs should register with the City Evacuation Assistance Program.
There is NO eligibility requirements and the program is FREE to the public. To sign up for evacuation assistance, please
call (409) 621.3179- CityofGalveston.gov

Bay Area: Seabrook, Nassau Bay, El Lago, Webster
Pasadena Convention Center - 7902 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena, Texas
Please register with your local OEM.

Galveston County Evaucation Assistance
From TIKI ISLAND to LEAGUE CITY
Doyle Center - 2010 5th Ave: Texas City
http:www.gcoem.org.

Please write this information down. Keep it in a safe place. It should be with your overall PLAN.

"because your disabled, you dont' have to be a victim>™

I hope this information is helpful. :D
Texas Pirate

I got a great email from somone on another forum
and thought it would go well with this thread on Evacuation!
YAY MAIL!

Its also a concern that comes up when I speak with varying groups.
I can, with her permission, use her email (and concern) and maybe it's yours too.

Dear Pirate (Love your name ha ha)

I recently moved to the Clear Lake area and its a MAJOR evac. area
The water gives that one away! My name is (R.S.) and I have a disability. I have ----------.
My family lives outside Katy. I will leave and stay with them if anything happens so I am so lucky
that way. But, here is my concern. If I leave, I am afraid I wont be able to get back to my home.
My neighbor said that her sister couldn't get back into Seabrook after Ike. If it takes forever to get back
I might want to stay. What do you think?
Thanks for the great insights and suggestions
R.S.

Dear R.S.
Woohoo advice from a neighbor about her sister who says.....
Seabrook had two gas leaks and didn't want people returning b/c all it would take is one person
to light a match and KABOOM...you get that picture right? Safety first. Even with upset citizens.
Your house wouldn't look very pretty after that, would it?

Everyone wants to get back to their homes asap. Assess the damage, get back to normal asap.
No one wants to hang out in shelters and trust me people who work shelters also have the same concerns
if they are residents in the area. Also, as kind as it was for Aunt Ruby and Uncle Fred to put you up
for a week (to save your life), you want your own home. Everyone can relate.

HOWEVER...(you knew this was coming) IF your area can not support YOUR independant life style,
dangerous conditions exist (no electricity, severe damage to area, gas leaks, no safe water)
Do you REALLY want to be there? No. Trust me. Snakes and alligators too - oh boy!
Also would be able to get to hubs for ice/water/food if you needed it?
Remember, grocery stores may be closed for a bit.
Is your home itself safe for re-entry?
Once you can get back: chances are you may still need to use a generator, bottled water and your
other essential supplies.
We have to wait for the all clear (as far as gas leaks, and other dangerous situations) so we remain safe and sane. In the long run, it truly makes sense.
I hope this helped you R.S. and I so thank you for the mail. I hope you enjoy Clear Lake area.
~Pirate

"Because your disabled, you dont have to be a victim"™
Texas Pirate

Prayers UP for all in the path of Isaac.
IF this WERE headed this way, THIS would be the time we stay ALERT and AWARE
and begin our plans of either evaucation or truly getting our supplies, etc.
(You should already have your meds/important papers gathered)

I hope the disability communities throughout FLORIDA are aware and prepared.
SHELTERS are beginning to open - beginning in the KEYS.
First shelters will be opening within hours in the Keys. Key West HS, Sugarloaf School, Switlik School in Marathon, Coral Shores HS in Islamorada. If you know any friends/family there
you might want to call and check up on them.

Red Cross will be opening shelters throughout Florida as Isaac gets closer.
I pray y'all well through the storm, Florida.

"Because your disabled, you dont have to be a victim"™
Texas Pirate

Ahoy Friends- I hope you have been keeping an eye on Isaac.
As of Sunday (8/26) he is still a Tropical Storm and giving Key West fits.
Shelters are open/evacuations going on throughout the area.

So, you say, what does THAT have to do with US?
Glad you asked - some of the latest weather models (who are reliable)
are beginning to shift ISAAC west. Yes, west.
One model puts it as a MAJOR CANE in NOLA (putting Houston in the "cone" or at least TX.LA more
under the gun)
one models puts it East of NOLA to Florida. (we would be out of the "cone")
Clear as mud huh?
Wrong.
It's Mother Nature who will be the definitive and we mustn't let our guard down yet.

NOW is the time for us to REVIEW our plans.
Go over evaucation plans /start THINKING about decisions: (Hello, Aunt Ruby? ....) just sayin.
Make sure we have the supplies we need
Meds
Batteries
Any other supplies you may need to keep you up and running/surviving
Important papers (insurance/medical/personal information)

Later on tonight, I will come back and putup a supply list
what to take if you evaucate/what you need if you *cough* "hunker down)
(Did I tell you how I despise that word?)

Just giving y'all a little heads up and lets start monitoring that weather.
Hope this helps.
You can always PM me if you have any questions.. :D .

"because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim"
Texas Pirate

Lets use this statement from NOLA regarding ISAAC as an example of what WE would do
IF this were us:

State of Emergency declared in New Orleans. New Orleans Mayor planning for shelter in place event verses evacuation for the moment. Advising all residents to prepare.

{They declare the State of Emergency so they can get HELP asap.}

At this point the mayor is saying he wants his residents to...no I'm not gonna say those words "stay in place"
There are no shelters available so everyone just stay put.
YOU make the decision as to what is BEST for you in your situation.
If your plans are to leave and stay with family/friends- so do so.
YOU know what works for you, a family member, better than anyone else.
You could decide you want to get out before the storm hits
(Isaac is EXPECTED to make landfall anywhere from Wed/Thursday, but I dont speak for
Mother Nature- you got to monitor. And we still dont have a definitive as to where....

IF you decide to stay in place, these are some of the supplies you will need
(This is from this forum but I have added a few from my own experiences)


Your important papers/meds in a safety box
Food for your pets

Red Cross list also: http://images.bimedia.net/documents/Hur ... sGuide.pdf

Hurricane Kit/Ride Out Items
1. Flashlight(s),
2. Extra bulbs for flashlights / lanterns/candles
3. Collapsible water containers (enough for 7 days at 1 gal/day per person)
4. Portable radio and/or TV
5. Weather radio A MUST!!!!!! There are wx radios now available for the deaf community.
6. At least 2 sets of extra batteries for all electronic devices
7 First aid kit
8 batteries - tons of them.
9. Toolkit - hammer, screw drivers, pliers and assorted nails/screws
10. Fire extinguisher (ABC type)
11. Manual can opener
12. Battery-operated fan
13. Duct tape
14. Blue tarp (15x20ft) and 100ft rope or cord
15. Gloves
16. Eye protection glasses
18. Automobile power inverter
19. Rain gear (poncho/raincoat)
20. Matches / lighter
21. Pocket knife/multi-tool
22. Plastic garbage bags
23. 5-gal gas cans (2-4) for car/generator WITH funnel (if needed)
24. Disposable camera
25. Battery-powered alarm clock (can use cell phone)
26. Outdoor extension cords (2-3 50ft)
27. Small window AC unit
28. Generator 29. Whistle
30. Plastic sheeting
31. Tree saw / axe / hatchet

Personal Items:
1. Prescription medications (2-4 week supply)
2. Non-prescription drugs (aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever)
3. Mosquito repellent / sunscreen
4. Pet medications (2-4 week supply)
5. Pet cage (if traveling with pet)
6. Emergency phone numbers
7. Important documents (insurance/passports/Soc. Security card, medical records)
8. Home PC backup disks/drive
9. Moist wipes
10. $100-$300 in extra cash (small bills)
11. Extra set of car/house keys
12. Disposable diapers
13. Feminine supplies
14. Personal hygiene items (toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap)
15. Toys/games for kids (deck of cards)
16. Disinfectives - such as lysol, etc.
Food / Water:
1. Water – 1-2 gal/person for 7 days
2. Nonperishable food – enough for 7 days
a. Peanut butter
b. Bread
c. Canned goods (fruit/vegetables/soup/meat/tuna/beans)
d. Dried fruit
e. Powdered milk
f. Energy bars / breakfast bars
g. Snacks (cookies / crackers / chips / nuts / candy)
h. Boxed juices / energy drinks
i. Cereals
j. Dry & canned pet food
k. Baby formula
3. Camp stove and extra fuel
4. Ice chest(s)
5. Waterless soap
6. Extra charcoal/propane for BBQ pit
7. Disposable plates/cups/utensils/napkins
8. Salt/pepper/sugar
9. Aluminum foil
10. Garbage bags
11. Your favorite comfort foods

I hope this is helpful. NO ONE has commented, but I'm sure people are reading :-)
"because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim" ™
Last edited by Texas Pirate on Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Andrew
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 3438
Joined: Wed Feb 03, 2010 9:46 pm
Location: North-West Houston
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Don't worry we are reading it. Thank you again for all the support and information you have provided us all. If Isaac does affect this area I am sure a lot more people will be checking this page.
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Texas Pirate

Thank you Andrew I appreciate your feedback.

This just came in:
MANDATORY evacuation for residents of Grand Isle, LA starts 10am Monday

I'm so happy Louisiana is on the ball. Considering this week, is the 7th anniversary of Katrina.
We have learned so much, sadly at so many people's expense and lives.
The disability community does NOT have to be victims this time. NO WAY! :cry:
Kudos to LA. But YOU need to step up.

If this WERE us: And hopeful this IS what the disability community is doing now:

This is THE time for those (especially the community) to gather
ALL your important stuff - and get ready to MOVE....
call your friends/family and tell them "guess who's coming to dinner...and breakfast...and lunch..."

You will take:
Your meds/important papers/doctors information/pillows/blankets/sheets/towels/hygeine products for you and if you have a family, them/
pet food/vet information if you have it for your pets/water/food/batteries/cell phone/anything essential pertaining
to your SURVIVAL and HEALTH.

No matter where you go for safety (friends/family home or maybe perhaps shelter:)
CALL someone you know and tell them WHERE YOU ARE. Even if you're at friends/family
you may have a family member OUTSIDE of the state who may worry about you.

You will wait it out til the "all clear"

To Louisiana and all points EAST (as of this time/date)
God Bless Y'all...I pray you well thru the storm if it does come your way.
AND...please stay safe.

I hope this information helps.

"because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim"™
Texas Pirate

TWC map has SE TX under an "AWARE" alert

This means we must begin to truly monitor Isaac in the next 48 hours
We wont have much time to gather our supplies if this TRULY does go to west of NOLA.
REMEMBER: we dont have to get a DIRECT hit, to feel the affects of this storm.
Its LARGE.

I dont know how to post pictures, or I'd show you the TWC map.
Texas Pirate

Good Monday morning - I'm sure many of us weather watchers are weary after
staying up the majority of the night watching Isaac. Yes, its a life.

What I want to say is this: NOLA mayor has stated that the residents are to "shelter and place"
(YAY he didn't say HUNKER) There are, at this time, NO LAST RESORT SHELTERS available.

Let me say this about that:
LEAVE! IF you are dependant on electricity/power to keep you alive and up and running
LEAVE....NOW. LEAVE. Get the hell out of dodge.

Even if Isaac doesn't take a direct hit on NOLA (the soup bowl), it is a RAINMAKER
and a large one at that. Power outages will be certain. Flooding, yeah definitely.

Please. Get ready.

I hope this helped.
Praying for all.

"Because you are disabled, you don't have to be a victim.™

Supply list: RED CROSS

http://images.bimedia.net/documents/Hur ... sGuide.pdf
Texas Pirate

To our community across the Gulf Coast
please find emergency information thru this link:

Stay safe.


http://www.weather.com/news/gulf-coast- ... e-20120827
Texas Pirate

Throughout SEPTEMBER you can receive a

FREE VISUAL FIRE ALARM! FREE!

To qualify, residents must live in Houston, have a low or fixed income and substantial hearing loss.

email: mopdmail@houstontx.gov

The life you save will be your own.

Tell em Texaspirate sent ya! :D

"because you're disabled, you dont have to be a victim"™
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