Disasters Don't Wait. Neither Should Your Planning.
Put This Into Practice
CareCade makes it easy to implement best practices for home care management.
When disaster strikes, people who rely on home care face unique risks:
- Power outages disable medical equipment
- Evacuations disrupt medication schedules
- Heat waves affect those who can't regulate body temperature
- Communication failures leave caregivers unable to reach clients
- Supply chain disruptions affect medications and supplies
According to FEMA, people with disabilities and chronic conditions are disproportionately affected by disasters. Home care agencies and families need specific plans.
The Risks by Disaster Type
Power Outages
Who's at risk:
- Ventilator users
- People on oxygen concentrators
- Feeding tube users
- Insulin-dependent diabetics (refrigerated insulin)
- People who can't regulate body temperature
- Anyone using powered medical equipment
Duration matters:
- Short outage (hours): Inconvenient but manageable
- Extended outage (days): Life-threatening for some
Extreme Heat
Who's at risk:
- Elderly individuals
- People on certain medications (diuretics, beta-blockers, antipsychotics)
- Those with cognitive impairment (may not recognize danger)
- People with limited mobility (can't get to cooling)
- Those without air conditioning
The numbers:
- Heat kills more Americans than any other weather event
- Risk increases dramatically for those over 65 and those with disabilities
Extreme Cold
Who's at risk:
- Elderly individuals
- People with circulation problems
- Those with limited mobility
- People in poorly insulated housing
Earthquakes
Who's at risk:
- People with mobility limitations (can't move quickly)
- Those who can't "drop, cover, hold on"
- People dependent on infrastructure (water, power, roads)
Floods/Storms
Who's at risk:
- People who can't evacuate quickly
- Wheelchair users and those with mobility devices
- Those dependent on accessible transportation
- People in flood-prone areas
Building an Emergency Plan
Step 1: Assess Individual Risks
For each client, document:
Medical dependencies:
- Electrically-powered equipment (list all)
- Refrigerated medications (insulin, etc.)
- Oxygen needs
- Dialysis requirements
- Wound care supplies
- Other critical supplies
Mobility considerations:
- Can self-evacuate: Yes / No / With assistance
- Uses wheelchair, walker, or mobility device
- Can climb stairs: Yes / No
- Can hear alarms: Yes / No
- Can see warning signs: Yes / No
Cognitive considerations:
- Understands emergency instructions
- Can follow evacuation plan independently
- Needs supervision during stress
- May wander or become confused
Communication:
- Can use phone independently
- Has backup communication method
- Emergency contacts documented
Step 2: Create Individual Emergency Kits
Basic supplies (for everyone):
- Water: 1 gallon per person per day (3-day minimum)
- Non-perishable food (3-day minimum)
- Manual can opener
- Flashlight and extra batteries
- First aid kit
- Important documents (copies)
- Cash
- Phone charger (battery-powered or car)
- Whistle (to signal for help)
Medical additions:
- 7-day supply of all medications
- Medication list with dosages
- Medical equipment (backup if possible)
- Batteries for medical devices
- Copies of prescriptions
- Doctor contact information
- Health insurance cards
Mobility/sensory additions:
- Extra glasses
- Hearing aid batteries
- Wheelchair repair kit
- Extra cane/walker tips
- Portable ramp (if applicable)
Cognitive support additions:
- Comfort items
- Familiar snacks
- Activity items
- Identification with emergency contact
- Medical ID bracelet
Step 3: Plan for Power Outages
For oxygen users:
- Portable oxygen tanks (know how many hours each provides)
- Battery backup concentrator
- Contact power company for priority restoration list
- Identify cooling/warming centers with power
For ventilator users:
- Battery backup (know duration)
- Manual resuscitation bag
- Power company notification for priority restoration
- Generator or backup power plan
- Emergency contact protocol
For refrigerated medications:
- Insulated cooler with ice packs
- Know how long medications remain safe without refrigeration
- Identify pharmacy that may have power
- Backup supply location
General power planning:
- Register with utility company's medical baseline program
- Have battery-powered radio
- Keep devices charged
- Know location of charging stations (libraries, community centers)
Step 4: Plan for Evacuation
If client cannot self-evacuate:
- Register with local emergency services (many areas have registries)
- Identify accessible transportation options
- Pre-identify accessible shelter locations
- Have go-bag packed and ready
- Know multiple evacuation routes
- Practice the evacuation plan
If sheltering in place:
- Know how to shut off utilities
- Have supplies for extended stay
- Identify safest room in home
- Communication plan with family/agency
Evacuation kit (go-bag):
- Everything from basic kit in portable form
- Medications (full list + 7-day supply)
- Medical records summary
- Comfort items
- Change of clothes
- Personal hygiene items
- Cash
Step 5: Establish Communication Protocols
For families:
- Out-of-area contact (local lines may be overloaded)
- Meeting locations (near home and outside neighborhood)
- How to leave messages if separated
- Social media check-in plan
For agencies:
- Client emergency contact information (updated)
- Caregiver contact tree
- Protocol for welfare checks
- Communication with local emergency services
- Backup communication methods if phones are down
Agency Emergency Planning
Before Disaster Season
-
Update all client emergency information
- Emergency contacts
- Medical needs and equipment
- Evacuation status
- Location (including unit number, access codes)
-
Train caregivers
- Emergency response protocols
- CPR/First Aid certification
- Client-specific emergency procedures
- Communication chain
-
Coordinate with emergency services
- Register medically vulnerable clients
- Understand local emergency protocols
- Identify accessible shelters
- Know which hospitals are open
-
Prepare agency infrastructure
- Backup communication systems
- Paper copies of essential information
- Generator or backup power for office
- Emergency supplies at office
During Active Threat
Communication protocol:
- Monitor official emergency channels
- Contact affected clients (priority by vulnerability level)
- Deploy available caregivers for welfare checks
- Coordinate with emergency services
- Document all contacts and actions
- Communicate with families
Decision framework:
- Can visits safely continue? (Caregiver safety matters too)
- Which clients are highest priority?
- What resources are available?
- Who needs evacuation assistance?
After Disaster
- Welfare checks for all clients
- Assess needs (medical, housing, supplies)
- Resume services as quickly as safely possible
- Document everything for records and potential claims
- Debrief what worked and what didn't
- Update plans based on lessons learned
DSHS and State Resources
Washington Emergency Management
Client registration:
- Washington has no statewide medical vulnerable persons registry
- Contact local emergency management for local programs
- Some utilities have medical priority lists
Accessible shelters:
- Local emergency management maintains shelter lists
- Ask about accessibility features before emergency
- May need to advocate for accommodations
DSHS Continuity Planning
Washington DSHS maintains emergency plans that include:
- Continuation of benefits during emergencies
- Emergency service authorization flexibility
- Communication with providers
During declared emergencies:
- Additional flexibility for service delivery
- Potential for emergency service authorizations
- May allow temporary changes in care location
See DSHS emergency information for current alerts.
Specific Scenarios
Heat Wave Protocol
Prevention:
- Check on clients daily during heat events
- Ensure AC is working (or identify cooling centers)
- Increase fluid intake
- Recognize heat exhaustion/stroke signs
Warning signs:
- Heavy sweating or no sweating
- Confusion
- Nausea/vomiting
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hot, dry skin
Response:
- Move to cool area immediately
- Apply cool cloths
- Give cool (not cold) water if conscious
- Call 911 if symptoms are severe or persistent
Extended Power Outage
First 2 hours:
- Check on oxygen/ventilator-dependent clients immediately
- Activate backup power plans
- Contact power company for estimated restoration
2-24 hours:
- Deploy portable oxygen as needed
- Transport to powered locations if necessary
- Increase check-in frequency
24+ hours:
- Consider evacuation to powered facilities
- Coordinate with emergency services
- Prioritize most vulnerable clients
Earthquake Response
Immediately after:
- Check for injuries
- Check for gas leaks, structural damage
- Move to safe location if building is unsafe
- Do not use elevators
Within 24 hours:
- Account for all clients
- Assess medication and equipment needs
- Determine if homes are safe to occupy
- Coordinate emergency care as needed
The Technology Angle
CareCade During Emergencies
During emergencies, home care technology can help:
Location tracking:
- Know where caregivers and clients are located
- Identify who's in affected areas
Communication:
- Push notifications to caregivers
- Document welfare check attempts
- Coordinate care in real-time
Documentation:
- Record what happened during emergency
- Track who was contacted
- Document service continuity
Planning:
- Maintain current emergency contact information
- Store medical information accessibly
- Generate client lists by vulnerability level
Low-Tech Backup
Technology fails during disasters. Always have:
- Paper copies of client lists with contact information
- Paper medication lists
- Physical maps
- Non-electronic communication plan (meeting locations, call trees)
- Battery-powered radio for official information
Resources
Emergency Planning:
- FEMA: General emergency preparedness
- Ready.gov Disabilities: Planning for disabilities
- Washington Emergency Management Division
Utilities:
- Register for medical baseline programs with your utility
- Request priority restoration lists
- Get information on planned outages
Local Resources:
- Area Agency on Aging
- County emergency management
- Local independent living centers
- Disability advocacy organizations
Checklist: Is Your Agency Ready?
- All clients have emergency contact information updated
- Vulnerable clients registered with emergency services (where available)
- Individual emergency plans for high-risk clients
- Caregiver training on emergency procedures
- Communication tree established and tested
- Backup communication methods identified
- Paper copies of essential information maintained
- Emergency supplies available
- Coordination with local emergency management
- Annual plan review scheduled