1.8 Populations with Specific Needs
Children, childcare, and youth engagement with disaster
Consider engaging older youth in recovery work—which can build a sense of belonging and connectedness with community in what can be an isolating time. See Section 1.10 on Volunteer Management for more.
| Systems | Stuff |
|---|---|
| Communication and Planning | |
|
Make a plan of where to go/who to call if separated: who will we contact? where will we meet?
Once old enough, have your child memorize their caregiver's phone number
Create a backpack/go bag that is easy to travel with for the age/size of the kid
Have conversations about different kinds of disasters and what to do in case of emergency (e.g., wildfire, flood, communications blackout, etc.)
| Essential Items for Go Bags
Contact/emergency phone numbers, including emergency contact info for non-primary caregivers (e.g., uncle, grandparent) in case of separation
Snacks and water
Infants - formula and diapers
Comfort item - stuffed animal, etc.
Entertainment - game, drawing paper/pens
Two changes of clothes
Medications
List of child allergies, if applicable
|
| Community Care and Well-Being | |
|
Locate or create a directory of local childcare providers
Make time and space to talk with young people about their experience of disaster. Ask questions like 'how has this disaster affected you?' and 'what is sticking in your mind about this experience,' and generally, what questions they might have about the situation.
If a child has a pediatrician, it is important to connect them to that same doctor for continuity of care. If they do not, you can reach out to a | |
Senior citizens and elders
| Systems | Stuff |
|---|---|
| Communication and Coordination | |
|
Create a directory of seniors in your town, noting addresses, phone numbers, mobility or
health needs, and emergency contacts.
Partner with senior centers, councils on aging, and home health agencies.
Set up a "buddy system" or neighborhood pod where each elder has a designated check-in partner.
Coordinate with municipal emergency managers for welfare checks and transport plans.
|
Printed contact sheets with emergency info
Large-print flyers and phone tree templates
Radios, landlines, or simple communication devices that work without internet
|
| Preparedness and Supplies | |
|
Help elders assemble emergency kits with labeled containers and easy-open packaging.
Identify medication refill and delivery systems (pharmacies, mutual aid networks)
Connect with local electricians or solar installers about powering medical devices
(oxygen, CPAPs, mobility aids).
| Essential Items for Go Bags
7-day supply of medications and a printed medication list.
Glasses, hearing aid batteries, mobility aids (cane, walker, etc.)
Spare phone chargers and battery bank.
Comfort items (blanket, family photos).
Emergency ID and medical info card.
|
| Shelter and Mobility Support | |
|
Identify accessible warming/cooling shelters with ramps, restrooms, seating, and quiet
spaces.
Develop local transport plans with volunteers or community shuttles for evacuations or
appointments.
Train volunteers in safe transfer assistance and trauma-informed communication
|
Portable ramps or folding mobility aids.
Cots with raised legs, pillows, and blankets.
Transport aids (wheelchairs, folding chairs, lifts).
|
| Community Connection and Well-Being | |
|
Involve elders in resilience planning and intergenerational knowledge-sharing
Host community meals, storytelling circles, or skill exchanges where seniors share local
history and survival knowledge.
Provide emotional support after disasters – partner with counselors, churches, or peer
networks.
|
Printed resources directories (Meals on Wheels, Council on Aging, libraries)
Small grants or stipends for elder volunteers.
Community bulletin boards and radio announcements for offline updates.
|
People with mobility challenges and other disabilities
Note: Much of the guidance for seniors also applies to people with mobility challenges and other disabilities. See the "Senior citizens and elders" section above for additional information on communication, preparedness, shelter support, and community connection.
| Systems | Stuff |
|---|---|
| Communication and Coordination | |
|
Create a directory of people with disabilities in your town, noting addresses, phone numbers, mobility or health needs, and emergency contacts.
Partner with senior centers, councils on aging, and home health agencies. Find your local council on aging at
Set up a "buddy system" or neighborhood pod where each person has a designated check-in partner.
Coordinate with municipal emergency managers for welfare checks and transport plans.
Plan for service animals, sight and hearing accommodations
|
Printed contact sheets with emergency info
Large-print flyers and phone tree templates
Radios, landlines, or simple communication devices that work without internet
|
| Preparedness and Supplies | |
|
Help people assemble emergency kits with labeled containers and easy-open packaging.
Identify medication refill and delivery systems (pharmacies, mutual aid networks)
Connect with local electricians or solar installers about powering medical devices (oxygen, CPAPs, mobility aids).
| Essential Items for Go Bags
7-day supply of medications and a printed medication list.
Glasses, hearing aid batteries, mobility aids (cane, walker, wheelchair)
Spare phone chargers and battery bank.
Comfort items (blanket, family photos).
Emergency ID and medical info card.
|
| Shelter and Mobility Support | |
|
Identify accessible warming/cooling shelters with ramps, restrooms, seating, and quiet spaces.
Develop local transport plans with volunteers or community shuttles for evacuations or appointments.
Train volunteers in safe transfer assistance and trauma-informed communication
|
Portable ramps or folding mobility aids.
Cots with raised legs, pillows, and blankets.
Transport aids (wheelchairs, folding chairs, lifts).
|
| Community Connection and Well-Being | |
|
Involve people with disabilities in resilience planning and intergenerational knowledge-sharing
Host community meals, storytelling circles, or skill exchanges
Provide emotional support after disasters – partner with counselors, churches, or peer networks.
|
Printed resources directories (Meals on Wheels, Council on Aging, libraries)
Small grants or stipends for volunteers.
Community bulletin boards and radio announcements for offline updates.
|
(Im)migrant populations with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Folder with resources and templates: Limited English Proficiency Documents
| Systems | Stuff |
|---|---|
| Plan Ahead | |
|
Gather information on the language access needs in your area. Other than English, are there mostly Spanish speakers in your area? Individuals who speak Nepali?
Partner with organizations and groups that work with (im)migrant individuals who speak other languages. Connecting with schools is a great place to start.
Connect with community members who are bilingual
Make a list of organizations and people who can support and connect with LEP individuals
Learn and use modes of communication that (im)migrant communities frequently use
Compile a list of resources in other languages around disasters for LEP individuals
Will your hub have money that could pay for an interpreter? If so, you can contact someone from AALV for in-person interpreter services (for events planned ahead) or set up an account with
Create a list of people in your community who can be called upon for interpretation in a pinch
|
Download
|
| Create Connections | |
|
Create trust with (im)migrant LEP communities ahead of time to ensure they feel comfortable and safe accessing/reaching out to your hub in the event of a disaster
Set up a "buddy system" or neighborhood pod where each LEP group/family unit/individual has a designated check-in partner.
For hard to reach individuals, pass off translated materials to a trusted community member, visit trusted community spaces to share information, or explore the option of home visits to share information with trusted community members
Translate and share the emergency list of to-go items with individuals
Create a written list of contacts people can reach out to
| Host community meals or gatherings in partnership with trusted community members for LEP individuals
Ensure there are interpretation services available for the event
Post signage in appropriate languages
Prepare childcare
Host events in later hours of the day or on the weekends
Arrange transportation
|
| During Disaster | |
|
If you are convening people during an emergency, post signage in applicable languages
Develop local transport plans with volunteers
Train volunteers on the procedure for interacting with LEP individuals, from start to finish
Access to services
| Access to services
Posters, markers
Have laminated cards prepared for quick translation needs
Will you be using a LanguageLine? Have assistance from a bilingual community member? Try not to have children interpret!
Transport aids (infant car seats, toddler car seats, booster seats)
If you are holding food at your hub, try to have some culturally relevant non-perishables stock piled
|
| After Disaster | |
|
Ensure individuals have access to appropriate needs. Do individuals have healthcare needs?
Provide emotional support after disasters – partner with counselors, churches, or peer networks.
Parent Child Centers and food shelves can support with access to food and other concrete supports
Connect individuals with a | |
Farm animals and livestock
Save the Whole Family
This should go without saying, but animals under care deserve every consideration possible to be saved during the event of a disaster.
Act before - not during!
Livestock can be challenging to corral and move in the best of conditions, never mind during extremely stressful periods of imminent or occurring disaster. If severe weather is anticipated, it will never be the incorrect idea to move livestock preemptively. Whether they are moved to higher ground, indoors, or entirely off-site, do not wait until you & your animals are already under duress to get them moving.
Leave no creature fenced
Sometimes adequate removal of livestock and farm animals from the path of a climate disaster is just not possible, especially when human safety is at stake. When movement to safety is not a possibility, opening all gates and allowing your livestock freedom to roam can go a long way in ensuring their survival. There are many success stories of farmers opening up pastures before floods, and returning to find their livestock waiting for them! It is incumbent on you to give them every chance for survival, even if they do not make their way back to your pastures.
| Systems | Stuff |
|---|---|
| Before Disaster | |
| Create a Plan [Another Plan Template] (With daily feed &
water requirements for most livestock)
Site Safe Housing for Livestock - Ideally high & dry!
Consider Connecting with your local FSA & NRCS Offices - While not essential, your local FSA (Farm Service
Agency) and NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Services) agents are valuable resources
in times of emergency. Whether applying for disaster insurance, relief programs, or
conservation planning to promote on-farm resilience, these offices offer a variety of
potential resources for your farm.
Gather Supplies
| Stockpiling a few days worth of the following supplies (in a dry & secure area) will aid in buffering against the supply chain failures in times of disaster Feed - Dry & non (or less) perishable ideal for storage - Hay, bags of
grain, pellets, etc.
Medications
Bedding
Minerals
Water
Fuel
|
| During Disaster | |
|
Act Early & Conservatively
Prioritize Safety - Checking on/moving/handling livestock during the height of disaster
can be extremely dangerous. Take every precaution possible to limit human exposure to
peak disaster conditions.
Turn off any electric fence chargers
Leave no animal fenced
| Handling Equipment - Halters, leads, corrals, etc.
Temporary Shelter - If permanent shelter is in path of disaster,
establishing and preparing a temporary shelter (shed, copse of trees, retrofitting a
basement/garage/greenhouse, etc.) may be necessary.
Trailer - Livestock may need to be hauled off-site in the event of a
disaster. While owning an adequate trailer (or vehicle) may not be
accessible/reasonable for all folks, establishing relationships with neighbors who do can
be a valuable resource!
|
| After Disaster | |
|
Assess & Clean the Site - Debris in pastures/yards can potentially cause harm to
returning livestock. Be sure to closely inspect pastures for trash, scrap metal, etc.,
before reintroducing your animals.
Ensure Fencing Integrity - Before reintroducing livestock walk all fencelines to catch
potential sites of damage, sag, electricity grounding, etc.
Contact your local FSA & NRCS agents - If applicable, local agents will come to your
property to assist in planning for post-disaster recovery, IDing assistance programs,
filing insurance claims, etc.
| Debris removal equipment - Chainsaws, work gloves, trash bags, eye
protection,
|