Prepare Yourself

Do you have a plan for yourself?

• Evacuation Preparedness​ Guide​ - PDF:  This guide focuses on people with disabilities and activity limitations successfully evacuating buildings. Its goal is to help you strengthen your evacuation preparedness.  
• Path To Disaster Readiness:​​  Almost everyone makes better plans when they have help.  This booklet helps people plan together.  You can use it to plan for emergencies to protect yourself, your family and others. This booklet is available in alternate formats and multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Russian.  ​ 

Do you have a plan for your family?

• Family Readiness Kit - PDF:  This kit is for parents to use at home to help prepare for most kinds of disasters.  

Do you have a plan for your service animal?

• FEMA has information for pet owners!  Click here to learn how to plan for pet disaster needs and how to shelter your pet during and after a disaster.  Click here to view the Information for Pet Owners - PDF.
• Disaster Preparedness for Pets:  Take the time to make a plan and assemble an emergency kit for you and your pet.  Click here to visit The Humane Society of the United States and learn more about Disaster Preparedness for Pets. 
• Maryland Department of Disabilities Emergency Preparedness Brochure:
  • Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for Owners of Pets or Service Animals - PDF​ 

Emergency Shelter Accessibility

State and local governments are responsible for keeping everyone safe during disasters. Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), emergency shelters must be fully accessible and include people with disabilities alongside the general public.

Key Guidelines for Shelter Operators:

• Provide Support: Plan to accommodate individuals who need medical care, equipment, or supportive services in general population shelters.
• Avoid Unnecessary Exclusion: Do not turn away people with disabilities based on false assumptions about their care needs.

Resources & Assistance:

• Shelter Checklist: We converted the 67-page DOJ checklist into a concise survey. Click here to view the ADA Shelter Checklist.
• Questions? Contact the Maryland Department of Disabilities at (410) 767-3660 for support.