'Persons with Disabilities Guide' unveiled by city to help with emergency preparedness

The city has put together a booklet with information to help people with disabilities prepare themselves for emergencies and disasters.

The Persons with Disabilities Guide has practical advice on how to get prepared, a personal assessment sheet, and a checklist that can be used to tell others about any special needs for a person with a disability.

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"We know that persons with disabilities can be impacted more severely by an emergency or disaster more than others," said Tom Sampson, chief of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA), in a release.

"A minor inconvenience to most of us, like a power outage, can be much more serious for people who rely on power for mobility or medical needs."

The city launched the guide on Thursday to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Jack Smart, who is on the city's advisory committee for accessibility, says being in a wheelchair, he knows how a few things can make a big difference.

"Being ready, you know, with medications and supplies and battery and contact lists, seems like common sense, but we sometimes forget that in our busy lives," he said.

More than90,000Calgarians have a disability, the city says.

The Persons with DisabilitiesGuideis available onlineor by calling 311.