Natural disaster preparation when your child has disability, autism, ADHD or other needs

Natural disasters like bushfires, floods or cyclones can happen quickly and without warning. Planning and being prepared can help you respond quickly and calmly.

Planning is particularly important if your child has disability or ADHD, is autistic or has other additional needs. For example, you might need to think ahead about how to manage your child’s medical, travel or sensory needs during or after an evacuation.

Here are tips to help you plan and prepare for a natural disaster. These tips can help you meet your child’s needs and keep your family safe.

Organising information for natural disasters

If your child has health, medical, behavioural, mobility or other additional needs, you probably have a lot of paperwork and other information. It’s a good idea to keep all this information together so you can pack it quickly and take it with you in a natural disaster. It might help to put the information in a folder or file.

What to put in your information folder

• Your family Medicare card, your health benefits card if you have one, and other important documents
• Your child’s medical plan, including copies of their medical records and assessments, and the names and contact details of their GP and medical specialists
• A list of your child’s medicines (including details of dosage and frequency) or other medical treatments and copies of your child’s prescriptions
• Your child’s NDIS plan, care plan or support plan, if they have one
• The names and contact details of your child’s NDIS providers, occupational therapist, physiotherapist and other health professionals
• Legal documentation that relates to your child, like court orders
• Your child’s individual learning plan (ILP)
• Information about your child to help other people care for them

Information about your child will help other people know how best to connect with and care for your child if you get separated. This might include things like whether your child is non-verbal, how they prefer to communicate, how they react to people they don’t know, whether they have sensory issues or whether they’re likely to wander. It might also include tips on helping your child calm down if they’re upset.

Packing an emergency bag for natural disasters

An emergency bag has all the items that you and your family need to stay safe and healthy if you need to leave your home during a natural disaster.

Our guide to packing an emergency bag can get you started. And if your child has particular items that they need for their health, care, safety and comfort, these items should go into your bag too.

What to put in an emergency bag for children with additional needs

• Your information folder or file
• An emergency identification bracelet or card with your child’s details and your contact information, which you can remove from the bag and attach to your child
• Your child’s medicine and other health care products – enough for 7-14 days if possible
• Feeding and foods needs – for example, syringes, tubes or special foods if your child has allergies
• Hygiene items – for example, nappies, continence pads, wipes, hand sanitiser, special toothbrushes or toothpaste, lotions and creams
• Special clothing – for example, clothes that have been adjusted to fit your child, clothes made of a particular fabric or clothes without tags
• Things that help your child calm down or feel safe – for example, a book, special interest item, headphones or earplugs
• Your child’s preferred communication system, aid or device – for example, a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
• Other electronic devices and assistive technology, including chargers or spare batteries
• Items for service animals – for example, identification, vest or harness, lead, food, water and treats
• Written instructions for using the items in the bag, in case you and your child get separated

Making a natural disaster action plan

It’s important to make a natural disaster action plan. The Red Cross RediPlan can get you started.

Your action plan should include things like:

• how to stay safe
• when, where and how to evacuate
• who to contact for help
• who to tell your plan to
• where to get up-to-date information about the disaster
• what to do if your family members get separated or are in different places when the disaster happens.

Your child’s needs might affect what you do, where you go and what help you need in a natural disaster. So when you’re making your action plan, you could consider things like:

• your child’s mobility and specialised transport needs – for example, where and how you plan to take shelter in your house, or where and how you plan to evacuate
• your child’s service animal and how to transport and care for it
• an emergency contact who doesn’t live nearby – a person outside the emergency area who’s familiar with your child’s needs and who family members and support people can contact if you and your child get separated.

If your child’s condition means they’re likely to need medical attention during a national disaster, speak with your GP about how to plan for this.

Preparing your child for natural disasters

The way you prepare your child for a natural disaster will depend on their age, developmental stage, additional needs and ability.

You’re best placed to know what your child needs. These general tips might also help:

• Talk with your child about natural disasters in a way that your child can understand.
• Include your child in planning in a way that suits their interests and abilities.
• Practise sheltering or evacuating with your child and their mobility aid, service animal, medical equipment and so on.
• Attend children’s events run by emergency services. Let organisers know beforehand about your child’s particular needs.

Our articles on preparing your family for a natural disaster has more information, which you can adapt to your child’s needs.

Visual supports and social stories can help your child learn about what might happen in natural disasters, what to do, and why it’s important to follow instructions. They can also prepare your child for how they might feel. For example, a social story might say, ‘It might feel scary when we leave our house. We can take 10 deep breaths together, and then we’ll get in the car. I’ll put on my headphones and listen to my favourite song’.