ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments

G. Supplies

• Provide an effective way for people to request and receive durable medical equipment and medication.Despite advance planning, some people with disabilities will find themselves in shelters without a supply of the medications or medical equipment they need. For example, some medical insurance plans prohibit people from purchasing medication until their existing supply is almost gone. Other people may be required to evacuate without medication or medical equipment or be inadvertently separated from medication or medical equipment during evacuation. Emergency managers and shelter operators need to plan and make arrangements in advance so persons with disabilities can obtain emergency supplies of medications and equipment.

• Whenever possible, provide refrigeration for certain types of medication. Many people with disabilities need medication that must be refrigerated. Shelters need to have a safe and secure refrigerated location where medications can be stored and accessed when needed.

• If electricity is available, give priority to people with disabilities who use ventilators, suctioning devices, and other life-sustaining equipment. Some people with disabilities require ventilators, suctioning devices, or other life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity. Without electrical power, many of these individuals cannot survive. When electrical power is available, access should be given to people who depend on electrically powered equipment to survive. 
  
  Many people with disabilities depend on battery-powered wheelchairs and scooters for mobility. The batteries in these mobility aids must frequently be recharged, or they will stop functioning. Without these mobility aids, many people with disabilities will lose their ability to move about, they may be unable to participate in some services offered by the shelter, and they may need to depend more heavily on assistance from others. When possible, provide these individuals the opportunity to charge the batteries that power the equipment they use for mobility and independence. 

• Provide food options that allow people with dietary restrictions to eat. Because of disabilities, some people are unable to eat certain types of food. For example, people with diabetes must restrict their intake of carbohydrates. Other people have severe allergies to common food ingredients, such as peanut oil and byproducts. In planning food supplies for shelters, emergency managers and shelter operators need to consider foods and beverages for people with common dietary restrictions. 

• Provide emergency supplies that enable people with disabilities to care for their service animals. Many people with disabilities rely on service animals to do things they cannot do themselves. But when evacuating during an emergency, some individuals will be unable to transport enough food and water for their service animals. Shelter operators need to make food and water available so individuals can feed and care for their service animals. Shelter operators should also make reasonable modifications to security screening procedures so that people with disabilities are not repeatedly subjected to long waits at security checkpoints simply because they have taken their security animals outside for relief.