Wildfire Preparedness Guide for People With Disabilities

Physical and Mobility Disabilities

People who use wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, or prosthetics, or who have limited stamina due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or chronic illness, may face serious physical barriers to rapid evacuation.

Key planning priorities:

• Designate an evacuation helper. Identify at least two people who can physically assist you out of your home and into a vehicle. Practice the transfer or assistance technique with them in advance.
• Know the limits of your mobility device. Power wheelchairs are heavy and may not fit in all vehicles. Manual chairs are more portable but require a helper. Know what terrain your device can handle and what it cannot.
• Plan for uneven terrain. Evacuations may require navigating debris, uneven pavement, or unpaved ground. Identify potential obstacles along your evacuation route.
• Smoke and physical exertion. Elevated heart rate and physical exertion increase the risk of smoke inhalation. Wear an N95 mask and pace yourself. Notify your helper if you need to slow down.
• Alert first responders. If you are unable to evacuate, call 911 immediately and place a bright marker (towel, flag, or sign) visible from the street. First responders are trained to assist individuals with mobility limitations.

For children with mobility disabilities, caregivers should practice evacuation lifts and transfers in advance. School emergency plans should document the child’s evacuation needs and designate trained staff to assist.

Older adults who use assistive devices or have limited stamina are among the most vulnerable in wildfire evacuations. Early evacuation before orders are issued is strongly recommended. Arrange transportation help in advance and do not wait for conditions to worsen.

Blindness and Visual Impairments

People who are blind or have low vision may not be able to read visual emergency alerts, see smoke or flames until they are dangerously close, or navigate unfamiliar evacuation routes safely.

Key planning priorities:

• Use accessible alert systems. Register for emergency alert systems that offer phone calls and text messages. Enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), which deliver audio and vibration notifications to mobile phones. Use a NOAA weather radio with audio alerts.
• Know your home and route by feel. Practice navigating your home to all exits without visual guidance. Walk your primary and backup evacuation routes in advance, so they are familiar if conditions are smoky and visibility is low.
• Service dogs. If you use a guide dog, include the dog’s supplies in your go-bag. Confirm in advance that evacuation shelters accept service animals (they are legally required to under the Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Inform your Personal Emergency Network. Make sure network members know to call you, not just text, and to describe conditions verbally when assisting you.
• Label and organize your go-bag. Use tactile labels, rubber bands, or different bag textures to distinguish items you will need to locate quickly.

For children with visual impairments, coordinate with school staff to ensure the child’s evacuation plan is included in the school’s emergency protocol. Practice evacuation drills at home so the child is familiar with the steps and sounds.

Deafness and Hearing Loss

People who are deaf or hard of hearing may not hear standard auditory alerts, including smoke alarms, emergency broadcasts, sirens, or verbal instructions from first responders.

Key planning priorities:

• Install visual and vibrating alert systems. Replace standard smoke detectors with models that include strobe lights and bed shakers. Test them regularly.
• Enable visual and text-based emergency notifications. Sign up for emergency alert systems that deliver text messages. Enable WEA on your phone and make sure it is set to vibrate. Use captioned television or apps like the Emergency Alert app.
• Have a communication plan with first responders. Carry a communication card that identifies you as deaf or hard of hearing and provides written instructions for first responders. Many first responders are trained to write notes or use basic signs.
• Nighttime preparedness is critical. Most hearing aid users remove their devices at night. A vibrating or strobe alarm, including a bed shaker under the mattress, is essential for nighttime fire detection.

If your child is deaf or hard of hearing, work with their school to ensure they are included in all emergency drills with appropriate accommodations. Practice emergency routines at home, so children can respond quickly, even without hearing aids or cochlear implants in place.

Many older adults do not identify as hard of hearing but may miss auditory alerts. Strobe smoke detectors and text-based alert systems are recommended for anyone with reduced hearing, even mild loss.

Cognitive, Intellectual, and Developmental Disabilities

Individuals with cognitive disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), Down syndrome, or dementia, may have difficulty understanding and acting on emergency instructions, managing stress under pressure, or communicating their needs to first responders.

Key planning priorities:

• Use simple, visual emergency plans. Create a picture-based or step-by-step visual checklist of what to do during an evacuation. Post it in a visible location at home. Practice the steps repeatedly so they become routine.
• Practice drills frequently. Familiarity reduces panic. Conduct regular home evacuation drills and frame them calmly and positively. Some individuals may need many repetitions before the steps feel automatic.
• Prepare a communication card. Include the person’s name, emergency contacts, disability, communication preferences, behavioral considerations, and medical needs. Keep it in the go-bag and on the person when evacuating. Consider a medical ID bracelet or wearable tag with emergency contact information.
• Identify sensory and behavioral triggers. Wildfires involve noise, chaos, smoke, and disrupted routines, all of which can be distressing. Pack comfort items, noise-canceling headphones, or sensory tools. Inform helpers and shelter staff about known triggers in advance.
• Caregiver backup. If the primary caregiver is unavailable, ensure a trained backup person knows the individual’s full routine, communication needs, and evacuation plan.

Schools are required to have individualized emergency plans for students with IEPs or 504 plans. Parents should review and update these plans annually and ensure they are coordinated with the family’s home plan.

For older adults, dementia can cause confusion, wandering, or an inability to follow instructions under stress. Early evacuation is critical. Alert neighbors and first responders to the individual’s condition. Consider a door alarm or GPS tracking device to prevent wandering during emergencies.

Mental Health and Psychiatric Disabilities

People living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe anxiety, or major depression may experience intensified symptoms during wildfire emergencies. 

The stress of evacuation, displacement, and loss can destabilize mental health even for those who are well-managed under normal conditions.

Key planning priorities:

• Prepare a mental health crisis plan. Identify warning signs that your condition is worsening under stress, and write down what helps. Share this plan with your PEN and any shelter staff.
• Protect your medication supply. Psychiatric medications must not be interrupted without medical guidance. Include a 14-day supply in your go-bag, with refill instructions and prescriber contact information.
• Identify your mental health contacts. Include your psychiatrist, therapist, and pharmacy in your emergency contacts. Know how to reach crisis lines (988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) if needed during or after the disaster.
• Have a decompression plan for shelters. Emergency shelters can be overwhelming,  crowded, loud, and unpredictable. Identify a quiet area to retreat to, bring noise-canceling headphones or comfort items, and inform a trusted shelter staff member of your needs.

It’s also a good idea to plan for post-disaster mental health support. Wildfires are traumatic. Displacement, property loss, and community disruption can trigger or worsen mental health conditions for weeks or months afterward. Seek support early rather than waiting for symptoms to intensify.

Chronic Illness and Medical Dependencies

People with chronic illnesses, like heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, or autoimmune conditions, may face specific risks during wildfires related to smoke exposure, medication access, and disruption of ongoing treatments.

Key planning priorities:

• Know your smoke exposure risks. Wildfire smoke is especially dangerous for individuals with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily during fire season and limit outdoor exposure when air quality is poor. Use HEPA air purifiers indoors and wear a properly fitted N95 mask when outdoors.
• Protect your medication continuity. Ask your doctor about getting a larger-than-usual supply of critical medications before wildfire season. Know the storage requirements for temperature-sensitive medications such as insulin.
• Dialysis and infusion patients. Contact your dialysis center or infusion provider before fire season to ask about their emergency protocols. Know in advance where backup treatment facilities are located in case your primary center is inaccessible.
• Oxygen-dependent individuals. Contact your oxygen equipment supplier about portable backup units and emergency delivery procedures. Register with your utility for medical priority and inform your PEN about your oxygen needs.

Planning ahead for these needs can reduce health risks, prevent dangerous interruptions in care, and give you more control during an already unpredictable situation.

Speech and Communication Disabilities

People who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices, communicate via sign language, or have speech differences may face barriers communicating with emergency responders, shelter staff, or strangers during evacuation.

Key planning priorities:

• Prepare printed communication cards. Even if you use a digital AAC device, paper backups are essential. Include your name, emergency contacts, medical needs, and basic phrases (“I need help,” “I use a wheelchair,” “Please speak slowly”) on a card you carry at all times.
• Charge your devices before wildfire season peaks. AAC devices, tablets, and smartphones should be kept charged. Include charging cables and a portable power bank in your go-bag.
• Alert first responders. If you cannot communicate verbally during an emergency, wave, point, or use written communication as soon as possible. Many first responders have basic communication training, but a card with your name and needs significantly speeds up assistance.

Preparing these tools in advance can help ensure your needs are understood quickly when every second counts.

Before

Build your PEN, register with local programs, customize your go-bag, plan accessible evacuation routes, and prepare backup power

During

Activate your network, follow your plan, alert 911 if you need rescue assistance, limit smoke exposure

After

Restore medications and care services, document losses, apply for FEMA and disability-specific assistance, and prioritize mental health