Disaster and Emergency Preparedness
FEMA Assistance for Survivors with Disabilities
If you or a member of your household has a disability or access need and your home was damaged in a recent disaster in Arkansas (DR-4865 or DR-4873), FEMA may be able to help with accessibility improvements—even if the items weren’t in your home before the disaster.
Eligible items may include:
• Exterior ramps
• Grab bars
• Paved paths from vehicle to home
To receive assistance, you'll need documentation from a medical or rehab provider showing which items are needed.
For one-on-one support:
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362, available 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT, with help in most languages. If you use a relay service (e.g., VRS), give FEMA the number for that service.
Learn more and find in-person help locations:
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4865
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4873
Click Here to View the Full Flyer (page 1 in English and page 2 in Spanish)
APRIL Emergency Preparedness Response Position Paper
Emergency preparedness, response, and recovery are critical to all communities, and it is especially important for people with disabilities in rural areas. At APRIL, we strive to advance the equity of people with disabilities in rural communities through advocacy, collaboration, shared experience, leadership development, education, and training. In the face of disasters and emergencies, we believe that people with disabilities, like all other community members, must have the right and opportunity to live, work, play, and love in the communities of their choice.
Click Here to Read APRIL's Position Paper
Disaster and Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee
This committee was initiated support CILs and SILCs in their efforts on emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.
We are in a constant climate crisis, disasters and emergencies are increasing in intensity and frequency. Disabled people make up 26% of the US population. Disabled people are disproportionately impacted by disasters and emergencies because we are 2-to-4 times more likely to die or be injured during a disaster.
We are all first responders when disasters strike in our localities. Let’s get together to share good practices and strategies, information and resources, and peer support before, during, and after disasters and emergencies.
Every month on the Second Monday of the month (subject to change)
3:00pm EST (2:00pm CST, 1:00pm MST, 12:00pm PST)
Resources
Emergency Relocation Toolkit
Click here to check out the Emergency Relocation Toolkit
Barrier Free Futures Podcast
Topic: Invasion of Ukraine Effect on People with Disabilities
Host: Bob Kafka
"Wind Man v. The Hurricane"
A comic strip created by Peyton Douglas-Doran, a young leader through Disability EmpowHer Network. The comic is meant to educate disaster relief organizations on how to support and prepare for disabled and nonbinary people during emergencies.
Click here to download Wind Man v. The Hurricane
Click here to download Wind Man v. The Hurricane (Plain Text)