Harris County Texas Homeland Security and Emergency Management

Functional Needs

Be ready to explain to first responders that you need to evacuate and choose to go to a shelter with your family, service animal, caregiver, personal assistant, and your assistive technology devices and supplies.

Plan for accessible transportation that you may need for evacuation or getting to a medical clinic. Work with local services, public transportation, or paratransit to identify your local or private accessible transportation options.

Inform your support network where you keep your emergency supplies; you may want to consider giving one member a key to your house or apartment.

Contact your city or county government’s emergency management agency or office. Many local offices keep lists of people with disabilities so they can be helped quickly in a sudden emergency.

If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about how you can prepare for its use during a power outage.

If you have a communication disability, make sure your emergency information notes the best way to communicate with you. Plan how you will communicate with others if your equipment is not working, including laminated cards with phrases, pictures, or pictograms. Wear medical alert tags or bracelets.