Emergency Preparedness
A Note From Our Office
People with disabilities are often overlooked in government emergency preparedness plans, so we have made it a priority to make sure that the disability community has the best chance when disaster strikes. Are you prepared for dangerous weather, evacuation, health crisis, or other natural disaster? We can help! Create your personal emergency preparedness plan before the emergency strikes so you can be ready for the unexpected.
In addition to assisting individuals or families with emergency planning, we are spreading the word about Smart911, a free and secure service to share information with local firefighters, paramedics, and police who are responding to an emergency. How does this help? After your profile is created, if anyone calls 911 for you or for your home, the first responders will have access to your profile, giving them information in advance that might be needed to save you in an emergency when you might not be able to speak for yourself.
In just a few short minutes, you can create a profile online at https://www.smart911.com/, deciding the personal information you desire to share with the first responders assisting you or your home in an emergency situation. Smart911 allows you to decide what's important, such as the number of people in your household, a description of your pets to be rescued in an emergency, your medical information, and more. Depending on the information you choose to share, first responders could learn about your allergies, possible drug interactions, or your blood type before they arrive at the scene of the emergency. During a fire, sharing the layout of your home and where your pets might be found reduces the time needed to search. The information shared will help emergency personnel help you when mere seconds matter the most!
We can assist you in learning more, recovering or updating an existing profile, or in creating your own Emergency Preparedness Plan and a Smart911 profile, or you can find more information on our website at https://www.disabilitynetwork.org/smart911. We encourage you to check out these free services and take control of your safety before the emergency strikes. We’re all in this together, let us know how we can help.
How Does Smart911 Work?
Smart911 allows citizens to provide personal profile information that 911 call takers may need in order to assist them during an emergency. When you dial 911, the information received by the 911 call center may be limited based on the type of phone you are calling on. With Smart911, anytime you make an emergency call from a phone registered with your Smart911 Safety Profile, the 911 systems recognizes your phone number and automatically displays your Smart911 Safety Profile information on the screen of the call taker who receives your call. At a time when you may be panicked, unable or unsafe to communicate, Smart911 ensures that the details you would need to tell 911 are immediately available in the event you cannot verbally provide them.
Be prepared for any emergency by giving public safety the information they need to better help and communicate with you by completing your Smart911 Safety Profile. Your Smart911 Safety Profile Is free, private and secure. Your profile information will only be seen if you ever have to call 911. Your Smart911 Safety Profile information also travels with you. If you call 911 in any area that has Smart911, your Smart911 Safety Profile information will be displayed to the call taker.
Accessible Smart911 Safety Profile
A Smart911 Safety Profile enhances 911 assistance by providing additional information for a faster response in emergencies. You have the option to include essential details about household members, aiding those you care for during critical situations, whether the call originates from a home phone or mobile device. Address and location information, including visual details of the emergency location, can be added to expedite response times, along with information about access points such as hidden driveways or gate codes.
Sharing important health information ensures that 911 and first responders have access to critical details, enabling more effective responses. You can customize your profile with as much or as little information about vehicles, pets, service animals, or any special notes you want responders to be aware of. Enroll now to provide 911 with the necessary information for a swift response—it could be a lifesaver!