For people with access & functional needs and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters. 

Special evacuation needs to think about 

Create a support network of people who can help you in a disaster. Keep a contact list in a watertight container in your emergency kit or on your electronic devices.

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

Plan ahead for accessible transportation that you may need for evacuation or getting around during or after disaster. Check with local transit providers as well as with your emergency management agency to identify appropriate accessible options.

Many city and county emergency management agencies maintain voluntary registries for people with disabilities to self-identify in order to receive targeted assistance during emergencies and disasters. Contact your local emergency management office to find out more.

If you are on dialysis or other life-sustaining medical treatment know the location and availability of more than one facility that can help you.

If you use medical equipment in your home that requires electricity, talk to your doctor or health care provider about what you may be able to do to keep it running during a power outage. You can also ask your power provider to put you on a list for priority power restoration.

About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult for them to refill their prescription or to find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect your prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.

Wear medical alert tags or bracelets. Also add pertinent medical information to your electronic devices

If you have a communication disability consider carrying printed cards or storing information on your devices to inform first responders and others how to communicate with you.

If you use assistive technologies, plan how you will evacuate with the devices or how you will replace equipment if lost or destroyed. 

Locate and access your electronic health records from a variety of sources by using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' online tool. 

Keep a list of the nearest medical facilities, local hospitals and nearest transportation.

Plan for children and adults who may have difficulty in unfamiliar or chaotic environments. Consider your service or support animal or pets and plan for food, water and supplies. If you need to evacuate, you’ll need to know whether your shelter allows pets or not, since some shelters only allow service or support animals.

All plans or recommendations contained herein are flexible and subject to change, based on the nature of the emergency. It is always important to follow the official guidance or orders of state, county and local officials at the time of an emergency.