Special Needs

Although most EHS facilities do not house large populations or people with special needs it is important that EHS facility managers are aware of these populations because they may need to be evacuated or sheltered-in-place due to a release.

The term “special needs” could be defined as “people who feel they cannot comfortably or safely access and use the standard resources offered in disaster preparedness, relief and recovery.” (People who cannot access resources are included, not just those who feel they cannot.) This definition would include people who are mentally and/or physically disabled, non-English speaking, culturally isolated, medically or chemically dependent, homeless, frail or elderly, and children.