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How to Donate or Provide Disaster Relief Assistance for People with Disabilities

Updated November 30, 2018

Are you prepared for an emergency or a disaster? Do you know what to include in an individual or family emergency survival kit or evacuation kit? Do you know how to contact those who may assist you in an emergency or disaster? Visit NHU's guide How to Prepare for an Emergency or Disaster for People with Disabilities and How to Get Help in the Aftermath

Have you considered trying to assist people with disabilities in communities in time of disaster, but do not know how to go about it? Consider the options provided in this guide and check back with us. As we learn more about organizations that are assisting in relief efforts, we will list the information on charitable organizations and tips on donating to disaster relief here on this guide. Bookmark our guide and remember to refresh the page on your browser each time you visit.

Select the Disaster Relief topic of your choice from the links below:

• How to assist someone with a disability during an emergency or disaster

• How to donate or offer help for people with disabilities during disasters in the U.S.

• What You Should Know Before You Give to National Disaster Relief

• How to donate or offer help for people with disabilities during International Disasters

How to assist someone with a disability during an emergency or a disaster

During a fire or other disaster evacuation of people with disabilities, even those who are self-sufficient under normal circumstances may have to rely on the help of others. Are you a caregiver of a person with a disability? Do you have a neighbor who has a disability? Has a neighbor or friend with a disability asked you to assist them in emergencies? Will you be able to provide assistance to an individual during an emergency?

Below are tips from FEMA on how to prepare to assist someone in an emergency: Be sure also that you are knowledgeable of what is being asked of you and that you are able to provide the assistance you wish to offer. Take a class in life safety to become more knowledgeable and aware of how to assist another person. (For instance: No one should try to swim to a person struggling in the water if they themselves cannot swim, as the victim will often panic and overwhelm their rescuer, but you can learn more about what can happen and what you can do to rescue, such as how to get a life preserver to them.)

• People with disabilities often need more time than others to make necessary preparations in an emergency.
• Because disaster warnings are often given by audible means such as sirens and radio announcements, people who are deaf or hard of hearing may not receive early disaster warnings and emergency instructions. Be their source of emergency information as it comes over the radio or television.
• Some people who are blind or visually-impaired, especially older people, may be extremely reluctant to leave familiar surroundings when the request for evacuation comes from a stranger.
• A guide dog could become confused or disoriented in a a disaster. People who are blind or partially sighted may have to depend on others to lead them, as well as their dog, to safety during a disaster.
• In most states, guide dogs will be allowed to stay in emergency shelters with owners. Check with your local emergency management officials for more information.
• People with impaired mobility are often concerned about being dropped when being lifted or carried. Find out the proper way to transfer or move someone in a wheelchair and what exit routes from your buildings are best.
• Many respiratory illnesses can be aggravated by stress. In an emergency, oxygen and respiratory equipment may not be readily available.
• People with Epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease and other conditions often have very individualized medication regime's that cannot be interrupted without serious consequences. Some may be unable to communicate this information in an emergency.
• Be ready to offer assistance if disaster stikes: If a disaster warning is issued, check with neighbors or coworkers who are disabled. Offer assistance whenever possible.

  Prepare an emergency plan.

• Work with neighbors who are disabled to prepare an emergency response plan. Identify how you will contact each other and what action will be taken.

• People with disabilities need to keep communication and develop plans with local government and utilities during non disaster times to ensure plans are in order during emergencies and disasters. Evacuation

• Be able to assist if an evacuation order is issued. Provide physical assistance in leaving the home/office and transferring to a vehicle, if you are able.
• Provide transportation to a shelter. this may require a specialized vehicle designed to carry a wheelchair or other mobility equipment.

  Self-Help Networks

• Self-help networks are arrangements of people who agree to assist an individual with a disability in an emergency. Discuss with the relative, friend or co-worker who has a disability what assistance he or she may need. Urge the person to keep a disaster supplies kit and suggest that you keep an extra copy of the list of special items such as medicines or special equipment that the person has prepared. Talk with the person about how to inform him or her or how to keep informed of an oncoming disaster and see about getting a key to the person's house so you can provide assistance without delay.

Have you considered trying to assist communities in time of disaster, but do not know how to go about it?

Giving to national or international disaster relief efforts requires careful consideration. Consider the options provided in this guide and check back in the coming months. As we learn more about organizations that are assisting in relief efforts, we will list the information on charitable organizations and tips on donating to disaster relief here on this guide. Bookmark our guide and remember to refresh the page on your browser each time you visit.

Give to Organizations that will directly serve Persons with Disabilities

If you wish to give directly to organizations for People with Disabilities, you may be eligible to get a tax exemption on your charitable giving. Check with local organization to see if they are offering disaster relief. For instance the The ARC of Texas: Hurricane Harvey has many resources for people with disabilities or those who wish to assist.

09/2017 - Hurricane Harvey - Hurricane Irma - Check out this report from, Portlight on what they have been doing to assist with Hurricane Harvey victims with disabilities and to prepare for Hurricane Irma. Visit their donation page at Portlight donate. - Hurricane Harvey and the subsequent catastrophic flooding have wreaked havoc in Texas and Hurricane Irma is expected to bring devastation to the Caribbean, US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Florida, South Carolina and other US states in it's path. The Partnership has set up a hotline (800) 626-4959 to refer people with disabilities who may be in the affected areas to locate services and resources they may need.

Children and adults with severe speech/language disabilities often use Augmentative and Alternative communication (AAC). If you are in need of assistance for communication because of Hurricane Harvey, visit this page. You will be able to describe your need and enter your contact information. If you wish to donate or volunteer, join this national effort to support individuals/family members/other AAC stakeholders directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey. AAC Relief: Hurricane Harvey. For more on this effort, visit Monterey couple launch online resource for the disabled affected by Hurricane Harvey

Love that Max: Hurricane Harvey: Disaster relief for children and adults with disabilities Love that Max has compiled a list of disability organizations and projects for disaster relief for people with disabilities of Hurricane Harvey.

Give to Disaster Relief Organizations

Make a donation or get involved from giving blood, food, water, and shelter.

• The American Red Cross is taking donations at its website, or you can call 1-800-red cross or text Harvey 90999 to donate ten dollars to the relief of Hurricane Harvey.
• The Salvation Army is also taking donations at its website or by text at storm to 51555 or you can call 1-800-sal-army for relief of Hurricane Harvey.

• Check with your local church. For instance United Methodist Church has national disaster relief services.


• To find out what UMCOR is doing to assist with Harvey and to see how you can help visit UMCOR Responds to Harvey.


• To find out what UMCOR is doing to assist with Irma and to see how you can help visit UMCOR Responds to Irma.

• Consider donating to a local food bank. Find the local food banks in the towns affected by the disaster. Donate money instead of food, as it allows a food bank to use your donation most efficiently.
• Consider donating to a local Community Foundation or United Way in the town affected by disaster. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner established a Harvey relief fund at The Greater Houston Community Foundation. The organization connects donors with a network of nonprofits and innovative solutions in the social sector.

What You Should Know Before You Give to National Disaster Relief

For information on safe giving, visit the Charitable Navigator to evaluate charities. Also visit Charity Navigator's "Tips For Giving In Times Of Crisis." Or visit The Better Business Bureaus' Wise Giving Alliance for monitored charities.

For more information on safe giving, providing assistance through charitable organizations, and tips on donating to disaster relief assistance, see the following resources:

Safe Giving Guide for Donors - Is Your Charitable Gift In Good Hands? By Joanne Fritz, About.com This guide offers some tools to help you find out if the charity you are giving to is legitimate.

Disaster Relief, Providing Assistance Through Charitable Organizations - This IRS publication clarifies the tax implications of donating to charities to help with a disaster. The bottom line is that to receive a tax-deduction you should donate to charities that are U.S. based and that are qualified as 501(c)(3) charities by the IRS.

Best intentions: When disaster relief brings anything but relief This article explains how sending clothing, or other items can actually hamper relief efforts and are a waste. Responsibly giving actually means a monetary gift which has much more flexibility for charity organizations to purchase supplies for exactly what people need and to buy locally so local economies get back to normal.

5 Dos and Don'ts of Helping During a disaster: Help Out in Emergencies but in the Right Way By Joanne Fritz Updated August 29, 2017 - Find out more about how to give. -Do send money not things, Don't self-deploy as a volunteer, Do donate to charities that are legitimate, Don't restrict your donations, and Do continue giving after the media go away.

Give to Internationl Disaster Relief Organizations for People with Disabilities

If you wish to give to general relief organizations, see this article: How To Donate to International Emergencies on The Balance.com.

If you wish to give to organizations in the U.S. specifically geared to help with international disaster relief for people with disabilities so that you may get a tax exemption for your gift, see the following organizations:

International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a certified 501c(3) charity and 100% of donations they receive for the relief effort in will be restricted exclusively for use in that region. All supporters will receive a receipt either via email or in the mail verifying their donation and the charitable status of their gift for their records. One of the organizations that the IRC is working through which is focusing on people with disabilities, on the elderly and on others who have difficulty accessing aid.

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