Department of Health
John J. Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, Commissioner

For Specific Demographic Groups Animal Owners Caregivers Children Faith-Based Communities Speakers of Other Languages Senior Adults Women (including Pregnant Women) For Specific Disabilities and Special Needs Groups Persons Living with Disabilities and Special Needs Persons with Blindness or Visual Impairments Persons with Chronic Disease including Diabetes Persons with Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities Persons who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Deaf-Blind Persons with Mental Illness Persons with Mobility Impairments For Practitioners General Information for Planners Shelter Planning Evacuation Planning Mental Health Planning Training/Toolkits

For Specific Disasters All Disasters Earthquakes Extreme Heat Fires Floods Hurricanes Influenza/Pandemic Influenza Landslides/Mudslides Mold Radiation Tornados Winter Weather For Specific Locations Tennessee Chattanooga Jackson Knoxville Memphis Nashville Tri-Cities For Legal Resources Find Resources in your County Tennessee Access to Justice

Animal Owners

• Disaster Readiness for Owners of Pets or Service Animals (National Organization on Disability)
• Users of Service Animals (Disability Preparedness.gov)
• Protect Your Pets in an Emergency (CDC)

Caregivers

• Caring for Someone with Dementia in a Disaster (FEMA)
• Prepare for a Disaster: Information for anyone caring for a newborn (March of Dimes)
• Just In Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers [PDF] (U.S. Administration on Aging)
• How to Prepare Yourself and Your Family for Disasters [PPT] (UNC Center for Public Health Preparedness)

Children

• Children with Special Heath Care Needs (Disability Preparedness.gov)
• Ready Kids (ready.gov)
• FEMA for Kids (FEMA)
• Emergency Preparedness for Children with Special Health Care Needs (American Academy of Pediatrics) 
• Helping Children Cope with Disaster [PDF] - also in Spanish [PDF] (American Red Cross)
• Preparing Child Care Programs for Emergencies [PDF] (Tennessee Department of Human Services)

Faith-Based Communities

• Disaster Tip Sheets for US Religious Leaders (National Disaster Interfaiths Network)

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Speakers of Languages Other than English

Español (Spanish)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)
• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs (FEMA)
• Helping Children Cope with Disaster [PDF] (Red Cross)
• Mold Clean Up [PDF] (TN.gov)

Deutsch (German)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

Français (French)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

کوردی (Kurdish)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

中文 (Chinese)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

العربية (Arabic)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

한국어 (Korean)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

Tiẽng Việt (Vietnamese)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

Lao (Laotian)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

हिन्दी (Hindi)

• Disaster Information (diversitypreparedness.org)

American Sign Language

• Sign Language for Emergency Situations [PDF] (American Red Cross)

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Senior Adults

• Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults (CDC)
• Preparing Makes Sense for Older Americans [PDF] (National Organization on Disability)
• Disability Preparedness: Seniors (Disability Preparedness.gov)
• Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors [PDF] (American Red Cross)
• Just In Case: Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and Caregivers [PDF] (U.S. Administration on Aging)
• Caring for Someone with Dementia in a Disaster (FEMA)

Women (including Pregnant Women)

• Disaster or Emergency Preparedness Plan for Women (National Women's Health Information Center, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
• Giving Birth “In Place”: A Guide to Emergency Preparedness for Childbirth [PDF] (American College of Nurse-Midwives)
• Prepare for a Disaster: Pregnancy (March of Dimes)
• Prepare for a Disaster: Information for anyone caring for a newborn (March of Dimes)
• Information for Pregnant Women - Specific Emergencies (CDC)
• Radiation and Pregnancy (CDC)
• Wildfires: Information for Pregnant Women and Parents of Young Infants (CDC)

General Information for Persons Living with Disabilities or Special Needs

• Prepare Yourself: Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Disabilities [PDF] (National Organization on Disability)
• Disaster Preparedness: Other Disabilities (Disaster Preparedness.gov)
• Preparing for Disaster for People with Disabilities and other Special Needs [also in Spanish] (FEMA)
• Ready America: People with Disabilities and Other Access or Functional Needs (Ready.gov)
• Preparing Makes Sense for People with Disabilities and Special Needs [PDF] [Text only] (National Organization on Disability)

Persons with Blindness or Visual Impairments

• Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Sensory Disabilities (National Organization on Disability)
• Disability Preparedness: Visual Disabilities (Disability Preparedness.org)
• Preparedness Tips for People with Visual Disabilities (American Red Cross)
• Earthquake Tips for People With Visual Disabilities (American Red Cross)
• Fire Risks for the Blind and Visually Impaired [PDF] [Text only] (U.S. Fire Administration)

Persons with Chronic Disease including Diabetes

• Disaster Information for People With Chronic Conditions and Disabilities (CDC)
• Diabetes: Tips for Emergency Preparedness (American Diabetes Association)
• Diabetes Care During Natural Disasters, Emergencies, and Hazards (CDC)

Persons with Cognitive and Developmental Disabilities

• Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Developmental or Cognitive Disabilities (National Organization on Disability)
• Cognitive & Developmental Disabilities (Disability Preparedness.gov)

People who are Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, or Deaf-Blind

• Disability Preparedness: Hearing and Speech Disabilities (Disaster Preparedness.gov)
• Disaster Preparedness Video in American Sign Language (Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network CEPIN)
• Prepardness4Deaf YouTube Channel (Deaflink, Inc.)
• What to do in an emergency (American Association for the Deaf-Blind)
• Special-Needs NOAA Weather Radio for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Persons  (NOAA)
• NOAA Radios Fact Sheet (Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network CEPIN)
• Text Alerts Fact Sheet (Community Emergency Preparedness Information Network CEPIN)
• Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Communication Access: Lessons Learned Since 9/11 and Recommendations [PDF] (Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Advocacy Network)
• Fire Risks for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing [PDF] (U.S. Fire Administration)
  

Persons with Mental Illness

• Disability Preparedness: Psychiatric Disabilities (Disability Preparedness.gov)
• Helping Children Cope with Disaster [PDF] (American Red Cross)
• Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters (DHHS, SAMHSA)

Persons with Mobility Impairments

• Disaster Readiness Tips for People with Mobility Disabilities (National Organization on Disability)
• Disability Preparedness: Mobility (Disability Preparedness.org)
• Safety First- Evacuation Planning Support Program (Easter Seals)
• Fire Risks for Mobility Impaired [PDF] [Text only] (U.S. Fire Administration)

General Information for Practitioners

• SNAPs - Snap Shots of State Population Data for Tennessee - interactive map (CDC Emergency Preparedness)
• Accommodating Individuals With Disabilities In The Provision Of Disaster Mass Care, Housing, And Human Services- Reference Guide (FEMA)
• Guide for Emergency Planners, Managers, and Responders [PDF] (National Organization on Disability)
• An ADA Guide for Local Governments - Making Community Emergency Preparedness and Response Programs Accessible to People with Disabilities [PDF] (Department of Justice)
• Emergency Planning for At-Risk Populations: How Your Agency Can Be Involved [PPT] (UNC Center for Public Health Preparedness)
• Mobile TIPS for First Responders (Texas A&M Center for Disability and Development)

Shelter Planning

• ADA Checklist for Emergency Shelters (Department of Justice)
• Shelter In-Take Form for Special Needs [PDF] (Red Cross)
• Emergency Shelters - database search (TN Disability Pathfinder)
• Guidance on Planning for Integration of Functional Needs Support Services in General Population Shelters [PDF] (FEMA)

Evacuation Planning

• Orientation Manual for First Responders on the Evacuation of People with Disabilities (USFA)
• Accommodation and Compliance Series:  Employers' Guide to Including Employees with Disabilities in Emergency Evacuation Plans (Job Accommodation Network)
• Lessons Learned: Special Needs for Katrina Evacuees Project Findings [Word] [PDF] (National Organization on Disability)

Mental Health Planning

• Preparing for and Responding to Pandemic Influenza: Implication for People with Disabilities (American Journal of Public Health)
• Disaster Recovery Resources for Substance Abuse Treatment Providers (DHHS, SAMHSA)
• Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters (DHHS, SAMHSA)
• Mental Health All-Hazards Disaster Planning Guide [PDF] (DHHS, SAMHSA)

Training/Toolkits

• Disability Etiquette [PDF] - also in Spanish [PDF] (TN Disability Coalition)
• Cultural Competency Curriculum for Disaster Response (DHHS-Office of Minority Health)
• Developing Cultural Competence in Disaster Mental Health Programs: Guiding Principles and Recommendations [PDF] (DHHS, SAMHSA)
• Emergency Preparedness Planning Toolkit for Diverse Populations (Center for Public Health Preparedness, Yale School of Public Health)
• Diabetes Disaster Response Toolkit (American Association of Diabetes Educators)
• Tips for First Responders (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency)
• Risk Communicating Resources for Rural Areas (Georgia Southeast Health District)
• Pictogram Signage for POD Sites (Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services/Department for Public Health)
• Pictogram-based Signs for Mass Prophylaxis Services (Cambridge (MA) Advanced Practice Center for Emergency Preparedness)

Concerns for All Disasters

• Health and Safety Concerns for All Disasters (CDC)

Earthquakes

• Earthquakes (CDC)
• Earthquakes (FEMA)
• Earthquake Tips for People With Visual Disabilities (American Red Cross)
• Earthquakes and People with Special Needs (CDC)

Extreme Heat

• Heat Related Illnesses Fact Sheet (TN Dept of Health)
• Extreme Heat (CDC)
• Heat (FEMA)

Fires

• Wildfires (CDC)
• Wildfires (FEMA)
• Fire Risks for the Blind and Visually Impaired [PDF] [Text only] (U.S. Fire Administration)
• Fire Risks for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing [PDF] (U.S. Fire Administration)
• Fire Risks for Mobility Impaired [PDF] [Text only] (U.S. Fire Administration)
• Wildfires: Information for Pregnant Women and Parents of Young Infants (CDC)

Floods

• Floods (CDC)
• Floods (TN Department of Environment and Conservation)
• Resources for Flood Victims (TN.gov)
• Flood and Insurance Information (FEMA)

Hurricanes

• Hurricanes (CDC)
• Hurricane Information (FEMA)
• Hurricane Information for Schools (CDC)
• Hurricane Information for Specific Groups (CDC)
• Hurricane Information for Health Professionals (CDC)
• Hurricane Audio, Video, and Multimedia Resources (CDC)

Influenza/Pandemic Influenza

• Persons with Disabilities and the Flu (flu.gov)
• Pandemic Influenza (TN Department of Health)

Landslides/Mudslides

• Landslides (CDC)
• Landslides (FEMA)

Mold

• Mold (FEMA)
• Mold (TN Department of Health)
• Mold Clean Up [PDF] - also in Spanish [PDF] (TN.gov)

Radiation

• Frequently Asked Questions about Radiation Emergency (CDC)
  
• Radiation and Pregnancy (CDC)
  

Tornados

• Tornados (CDC)
• Tornados (FEMA)
• Disaster Food Stamps (SNAP) Questions and Answers for Tennessee Counties Affected by April Tornadoes [PDF] (TN.gov)

Winter Weather

• Winter Weather (CDC)
• Winter Weather (FEMA)

Tennessee

• Bioterrorism and Response (TN Department of Health)
• TN Resources for Storm Victims (TN.gov)
• TN Disability Pathfinder
• 2-1-1 Help Line (United Way)
• Tennessee Volunteer Organizations Active in a Disaster
• TN Volunteer Mobilizer (TN Department of Health)

Chattanooga

• Emergency Preparedness and Planning (Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department)
• How to Develop an Emergency Plan (Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency)
• Services for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (Partnership for Families, Children and Adults)

Jackson

• Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services (Jackson Center for Independent Living)

Knoxville

• Emergency Preparedness (Knoxville Health Department)
• Free Ready Kit Bags (Knoxville/Knox County Emergency Management Agency)
• Knoxville Center of the Deaf
• Compassion Coalition
• East Tennessee Human Resources Agency

Memphis

• Emergency Preparedness for You (Shelby County)
• Shelter in Place [PDF] (Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management Agency)
• Special Needs Disaster Planning (Memphis/Shelby County Emergency Management Agency)
• Special Needs Patients Registry (Memphis Light, Gas, and Water Division) People who have special needs such as respirators, oxygen, or any type of medical equipment should register with their local Fire Department and Memphis Light, Gas, and Water Division.
• DeafConnect of the MidSouth

Nashville

• Emergency Preparedness (Nashville Health Department)
• Special Needs Registry (The Mayor's Office of Emergency Management and Nashville Electric Service) A special needs database that will notify emergency personnel in the event of an evacuation or disaster. To register or for more information, contact NES Customer Service at 615-736-6900.
• Smart 911 Registration
• Salvation Army – Nashville Area Command
• Middle Tennessee Red Cross
• Guide to Downtown Evacuation [PDF] (Nashville.gov)
• TN SmartWay Road Closures (TDOT)
• Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
• Habitat for Humanity
• HandsOn Nashville
• Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee
• Bridges

Tri-Cities

• Household Preparedness Guide [PDF] (Johnson City Emergency Management Agency)
• Emergency Preparedness (Sullivan County Regional Health Department)
• Communication Center for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (Frontier Health)