Over a period of ten months, a cross-section of people with disabilities, disability service providers, county emergency planners, and emergency responders met to better understand one anothers’ point of view and take concrete steps to increase the safety of people with disabilities during a disaster. The information in "10 Things People With Disabilities Should Know &  Do to be Safe in a Disaster" based on these discussions, our joint research, suggestions from people with disabilities in coastal Mississippi, and materials distributed by FEMA and the American Red Cross. There are thousands of pages on the web and in print that can give more detailed information about staying safe. We provide some additional sources of information on the last page of this packet. The ten points that we make are a brief form of all of the recommendations we have agreed upon during our hours of work.

This project was funded by a grant from the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities. The Disability Resource Group received the grant and acted as the lead agency in bringing together the many local organizations and in writing this brochure. Representatives from the following organizations have been a part of the project:

• LIFE of Savannah

• Georgia Council of the Blind, Savannah Chapter

• Office of Deaf Services, Savannah School of Art and Design

• American Red Cross of Savannah

• Department of Family and Children’s Services, Chatham County Office

• Chatham County Emergency Management Administration

• Savannah Police Department

• Effingham Office of Family and Children’s Services

• The ARC of Effingham

• Brunswick Office of the Georgia Department of Labor

• Glynn County Office of Emergency Management

• Brunswick Mayor’s Committee

• Glynn County Health Department

• Glynn County School System

• Guide Dog Users of Georgia

• Brunswick Fire Department

• Gateway Behavioral Health Services

• National Alliance on Mental Illness, Savannah Chapter

We hope that the process we have begun will continue in communities all over our state so that the one and a half million Georgians with disabilities can look forward to long, safe and happy lives.