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Emergency preparedness often begins with water, food, flashlights, and batteries. Those supplies matter, but an inclusive emergency plan also needs to answer a more personal question:
What support does this individual need to stay informed, safe and connected during an emergency?
The Administration for Community Living (ACL) updated its emergency-preparedness resources on August 27, 2026, just before National Preparedness Month. ACL notes that older adults and people with disabilities may face additional challenges when access to food, water, shelter, rest, services, or everyday supports is disrupted.
In San Diego County, wildfire, power outages, severe weather and other emergencies make local preparedness especially important. The goal is not to predict every possible emergency. It is to identify important needs, establish backup options and make a plan before a stressful situation occurs.
Emergency planning should respect the person’s preferences and independence.
Ask:
Avoid assuming that a disability automatically means dependence or that a family member will always be available.
Make the plan accessible. Depending on the person’s needs, this might include large-print instructions, pictures, a communication device, translated information, a simple written sequence of steps, or a copy shared with a trusted support person.
Keep an updated list of medications, allergies, healthcare contacts and other essential health information in a secure and accessible location.
Only include information that is necessary and protect personal privacy when sharing copies.
Ask a pharmacist or prescribing clinician how to prepare for potential disruptions, including medication storage requirements and what to do if access to a medication is interrupted. Do not create an additional medication supply or change how medications are taken without professional guidance.
Make a list of essential equipment and supplies. Identify which items depend on electricity, batteries, or charging and what backup options are available.
Consider everyday supports that may be difficult to replace quickly, such as:
If equipment is medically necessary or depends on electricity, seek individualized guidance from the appropriate healthcare provider, equipment supplier, utility, or emergency-management resource.
Choose more than one way to communicate with family members, friends, caregivers and an out-of-area contact.
Text messaging may sometimes work when voice calls do not. Keep important phone numbers written down in case a phone is unavailable, damaged, or loses power.
When possible, identify at least two people who could provide backup support. Be specific about what each person could realistically do, such as:
If a regular caregiver is unavailable, ask: Who has the information needed to provide appropriate backup support?
Consider how the person would leave during an evacuation and where they could go.
Think about potential barriers involving:
A plan does not always need a full-scale practice evacuation. Start small. Locate the emergency bag, test the communication plan, identify an alternate exit, or practice getting essential equipment ready to leave.
Small steps can make the plan easier to follow when stress is high.
San Diego County’s Aging & Independence Services Safety & Disaster Preparedness resources provide local emergency-preparedness information and connect residents with resources such as ReadySanDiego and AlertSanDiego.
AlertSanDiego provides emergency notifications to residents and businesses in affected areas. Landlines are automatically registered, while residents can register mobile devices. The County also provides Accessible AlertSanDiego for residents who are deaf, blind, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind.
Because emergency programs, registration procedures and contact information can change, use official San Diego County resources as the current source for local preparedness information.
Families who receive in-home services should also ask their provider how emergencies may affect care.
Questions to consider include:
Families should not assume that routine in-home services will continue unchanged during a disaster.
ComForCare Home Care North San Diego can review its role within an individual’s non-medical support plan, including current communication procedures and agreed responsibilities. Emergency coverage, staffing, response times and continuity of services should be confirmed directly with the provider.
Emergency preparedness does not have to happen all at once.
Choose one step today:
Preparedness becomes more useful when it is specific, accessible, and practiced.
For older adults and people with disabilities, a strong emergency plan is not only about supplies. It is about knowing what support is needed, who can provide it, how communication will happen and what to do when normal routines are disrupted.
This article provides general emergency-preparedness information and is not a substitute for individualized medical, emergency-management, or equipment-related advice. Follow instructions from local emergency officials and consult qualified professionals for individual needs.
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If you or a loved one in North San Diego County receives in-home care, ComForCare Home Care North San Diego can help you think through non-medical support needs, communication preferences and ways to maintain continuity of care as part of your overall preparedness plan.
Have questions about in-home care for an older adult or person with a disability? Contact ComForCare Home Care North San Diego at 858-247-1005 to learn more.
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