Pack an Emergency Supply Kit

In addition to supplies needed for a general disaster kit, as a parent of a child with special needs, you should add several things to your emergency supply kit checklist.

Additional supplies may include:

• A copy of your child's up to date In Case of Emergency Form and Care Plan.
• Current medical information and important records stored in an easy to carry format such as a CD or flash drive (keep at least one paper copy in a waterproof bag).
• Two-week supply of medical supplies including syringes, dressing materials, nasal cannulas, suction catheters, etc.
• At least a 3 day supply of medications (fourteen days is ideal). It may be a challenge to get extra medications for emergencies, so talk with your child’s doctor about how to obtain an extra supply. Keep prescription information in your wallet, survival kit, and car, along with the name, location and phone number of an out of town pharmacy.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist how to properly store medication for use in an emergency. In a disaster, if you can’t contact your doctor or pharmacy, you can ask for help from emergency responders or staff at emergency shelters or service centers. You can also call your local Red Cross or state resources such as the Washington State Information Network 211.
• Back up power support such as a generator for electrical medical equipment (due to deadly fumes, only use generators, camp stoves or grills when outdoors).
• An AC adaptor for your car for small electrical equipment such as a nebulizer (note how long your battery will last while using the adaptor).
• A way to charge your cell phone without electricity such as a car adaptor or a hand crank radio/flashlight that includes a cell phone charger.
• Battery powered or travel versions of medical equipment your child uses
• Manual wheelchair or other non-electric equipment.
• Extra contact lenses, glasses, and lens supplies.
• Batteries for hearing aids and communication devices.
• Special dietary foods and supplies.
• Cooler and chemical ice packs for storing medications that must be kept cold.
• Items that calm or entertain your child.
• Identification to be carried by each child in case your family gets separated.
• Proof of service animal status to insure a service animal can go with you into a shelter.

Be sure to pack a smaller "to go" version of items for use in an evacuation and store supply kits in multiple places (house, car, work, school, etc.). Store your supplies in an easy-to-get-to waterproof and pest-proof container. You will need to update supplies each year, replace water every six months, and update emergency contact and medical forms as necessary.