Disaster Preparedness
Below, please find some resources for providers that will assist you with providing persons with mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse disorders information regarding personal preparation for a disaster. Some of these materials will also help you as a provider to help consumers plan for a disaster.
Providers can incorporate disaster and emergency preparedness planning into treatment. For example, a provider may include disaster planning in the course of formulating a crisis plan. Consumers and people with disabilities may also happen to be with their care provider during a disaster or a community-wide emergency. If so, that care provider will have hands-on responsibility to assist in evacuating or sheltering in-place. A care provider should know how to access emergency services and shelters for their clients, especially those with limited mobility and transportation needs.
From the American Red Cross:
From the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services:
From the National Institute of Mental Health:
Other Preparedness Links:
- This link takes you to American Red Cross’ Disaster Services Alternate Language Material
- Vaya a este sitio web de la Cruz Roja(Red Cross) para información sobre preparaciónes en caso de desastres en varios idiomas, incluyendo en español
- FEMA for kids
- NC MHDDSAS
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Ready.gov —Department of Homeland Security; has a section for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs
- Federal Alliance for Safe Homes
- United States Department of Health and Human Services Disaster Information
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs National Center for PTSD
If you are interested in behavioral health disaster training or would like further assistance or direction toward educating consumers about disaster preparedness, please contact Peggy Yonuschot at pyonuschot@opc-mhc.org or 919-913-4144.
