Bulletins

This bulletin helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families prepare for leaving home during an emergency. It covers what to expect, what to bring, how to communicate support needs, where you may stay and how to prepare important emergency information.

Emergencies such as wildfires, floods, storms, earthquakes, power outages or gas leaks may mean you need to leave home for a while. Knowing what might happen and planning ahead can make an emergency feel more manageable for you and the people who support you.

Prepare before you need to leave

You may be told to get ready before you are told to evacuate. This means preparing in case you need to leave quickly.

Think about what you would need to stay safe and comfortable away from home. This may include:

• Medications and medical supplies
• Communication devices
• Wheelchairs, walkers or other mobility equipment
• Chargers and backup batteries
• Feeding or respiratory equipment
• Personal-care and continence supplies
• Important medical information
• Food and water that are safe for you
• Comfort or sensory items

Keep important supplies somewhere easy to find. A checklist can also help you or your support person remember what to bring.

Know what leaving home may be like

When emergency workers tell you to leave home, this is called an evacuation. You may need to leave quickly or leave some things behind. You might travel by car, van, bus, ambulance or another vehicle.

An emergency may also bring unfamiliar sights and sounds, including alarms, sirens, smoke, flashing lights, emergency vehicles and many people. Headphones, sunglasses, a communication tool or a comfort item may help.

You may need help with medication, eating, breathing, moving, using the restroom, communicating, personal care or staying calm. Make sure the people supporting you know what you need and how you communicate.

Plan for where you may stay

After leaving home, you may stay with family, at a hotel, hospital, shelter or another safe place. It may be noisy, bright, crowded or unfamiliar, and your usual schedule may change.

Ask for accommodations when you need them. A quiet space, familiar items, a checklist, calendar or visual schedule may make it easier to understand what is happening and what comes next.

When emergency officials say it is safe, you can return home. Your home or neighborhood may look different, and some services may not be working right away. It may take time for routines to return to normal.

Use the tools on this page

This page includes two versions of Leaving Home in an Emergency so you can choose the format that works best for you or your family:

• ‍Leaving Home in an Emergency: What to Expect and How to Prepare provides more detail about getting ready, leaving home, getting support, staying somewhere safe and returning home.
• ‍Leaving Home in an Emergency: A Visual Guide covers the same important information using shorter text and more pictures and visual supports.

Both guides also include a My Emergency Information sheet on the last page. Fill it out before an emergency and keep it somewhere easy to find. It includes space for your communication needs, medications and equipment, mobility and personal-care needs, food or allergy needs, sensory and emotional supports, emergency contacts, transportation plans, pets or service animals and other information responders may need to know.

Review your emergency information from time to time and update it when your needs, medications, equipment or contact information change.

Being prepared cannot prevent an emergency, but having a plan and knowing what to expect can make it easier to take things one step at a time.

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