Special Needs Emergency
Preparedness Planning(Special
Needs Survey 2007)
If you are a person with a disability, do you know what you'll do or where
you'll go if you have to evacuate your home due to a natural or man made
emergency? This website is designed to help you answer that
question. If you decide that you probably could not evacuate your home
without help here are some suggestions about where to get that help.
Who Are the "People With Special Needs"?
People with special needs are those who will need help in evacuating their home
during an emergency due to a disability or require transportation to a shelter.
What Kind of Emergencies Require Evacuation?
North Smithfield Emergency Management informs you when a situation is
life threatening and when you must leave your home to be safe. Examples
are hurricanes, chemical spills or other accidents where life threatening
conditions threaten the area where you live.
When Are Evacuation Orders Given?
Emergency warnings and evacuation orders are given well in advance of a life
threatening emergency situation when possible. For example, an evacuation
order would be given at a time that would permit clearance of high risk areas
prior to the arrival of dangerous winds associated with a hurricane.
Who Decides What Areas Need Evacuation?
Depending on the type of life threatening emergency, decision for evacuation
orders can be made by Local Law Enforcement, Town Fire Department or North
Smithfield Emergency Management.
Where Should People with Special Needs Go In Response to an Evacuation Order?
People who are disabled, like other residents in a community, have several
choices of where to go when an evacuation order is given. These include:
* Leaving the area
* Staying with a friend in a safe location
* Going to a public shelter or a medical shelter
Each of these choices require prior planning. If you decide to leave the
region or stay with a friend, be sure you are on your way before traffic on the
highway becomes congested.
What is a Public Shelter?
Public shelters are operated by the RED CROSS and are opened during emergency
situations when people must evacuate their homes in order to be safe. You
should be aware of shelter locations in your neighborhood, but never report to
a shelter unless its opening has been announced by the Red Cross through the
local media. Schools are typically used as public shelters. If you have your
own transportation, you do not need to register to use a public shelter. If you
require transportation, you must register with the North Smithfield Emergency
Management at 401-767-2206.
What is a Medical Needs Shelter?
Medical Needs Shelters are operated by the North Smithfield Emergency
Management with volunteers from the Northern Rhode Island REACT. The intent of
Medical Needs Shelters is to provide, to the extent practicable, under emergency
conditions, an environment in which the current level of health of evacuees
with medical needs can be sustained. To ensure that you meet eligibility
requirements, you must request an application through the North Smithfield
Emergency Management . There are two Medical Needs Shelters in North
Smithfield. There locations are:
* Kendall Dean School
Green Street
Slatersville, RI
* North Smithfield Elementary School
Providence Pike
North Smithfield, RI
What Must I Take to a Shelter?
Public and Medical Needs Shelters will provide you with just that,
shelter. You must bring with you whatever you will need to be minimally
comfortable for the time you will be at the shelter. This includes:
* Cot (or folding lounge or air mattress), pillow, blanket,
linens.
* Three (3) day supply of food for individual taste and/or
special diets, water.
* Medications, medical supplies, vital medical equipment i.e.
oxygen concentrators, portable oxygen bottles.
* Personal items: important papers (insurance policies),
glasses, personal hygiene articles, change of clothing, sweater or jacket,
flashlight, quiet games i.e. cards, book, knitting.
NOTE: Pets are not allowed in shelters.
How Do I Arrange For Assistance to a Shelter?
You must register with the North Smithfield Emergency Management , if you are a
person who requires transportation to a shelter or are a person having medical
needs meeting criteria for use of a medical shelter. To register, call 767-2206
and request an application.
What Special Assistance Might a Person Need to Evacuate?
If you are a person with a disability and particularly if you live alone, you
may need assistance with the following activities in order to evacuate your
home during an emergency.
* Physical assistance in leaving the house and transferring
to a vehicle.
* Transportation from your home to a shelter, if you are
unable to arrange your own transportation.
How Do I Know If I Am Eligible to Go to a Medical Needs Shelter?
Eligibility for a Medical Shelter is defined as follows:
1. Persons dependent upon a health professional to administer
injectable medications.
2. Persons requiring daily or more frequent dressing changes
because of moderate to copious drainage from ulcers, fistulas, etc.
3. Persons needing assistance with ostomy management,
continuous peritoneal dialysis and indwelling catheters of any kind, with the
exception of a foley catheter.
4. Persons whose activities of daily living are so restricted
by immobility that their basic medical needs must be met by others.
5. Persons who require daily assessment of unstable medical
condition by professional nursing personnel, i.e., diabetes, cardiac.
6. Terminally ill patients who are in need of professional
assistance for administering heavy doses of medication.
7. Any resident whose life depends upon electrically
energized equipment within his/her residence (i.e. suction machines, home
dialysis machines).
8. Those who depend on oxygen therapy.
9. Those who are bedridden and require custodial care upon
advise of a personal physician.
If you are on a life support system requiring electricity, or require medical
supervision, you should register with the North Smithfield Emergency Management
for special needs assistance, NOW, before a disaster occurs.
SHELTER INFO PAGE