Blog | Tag: Emergency Planning

Common fire-safety advice often tells people not to use elevators during a fire. People who cannot use the stairs may also have been told to wait in a stairwell for firefighters to help them evacuate. Both ideas have some basis in fire and building safety rules, but neither one is a universal instruction that applies to every building. The safest response depends on the building, the type of emergency, the evacuation features available, and the building's emergency plan. For people with disabilities, that makes learning about emergency evacuation before an alarm sounds especially important.

Emergencies can happen to anyone. But for people with disabilities, the risks are often greater. When emergency plans fail to include everyone, it can result in people being left without access to shelter, transportation, communication, or life-saving services. These are not just oversights—they can become violations of civil rights.

We encourage preparedness because disaster zones are chaotic! The more preparation prior to an emergency, the less chaos and stress. Getting prepared can also be stressful. There are so many things to think about. Having the answers to your questions ahead of time can decrease stress and possibly save lives.