Inclusive emergency preparedness plans launched in St. John's

Emergencyresponders and persons with disabilities in this provinceshould be familiar with a new emergency preparedness kit that was unveiled Wednesday by the provincial government and Coalition of Persons with Disabilities - Newfoundland and Labrador, groups say.

It is the definitive guide for dealing with persons withdisabilities.- Fire Chief Vince MacKenzie

An Inclusive Emergency Planning Guide: A Resource for FirstRespondersand Community Leaders, and the PREP kit were announced at news conference held at St. John's city hall Wednesday morning.

Jerry Weir, president ofCOD-NL, said the kit provides information tools to help people understand how to be inclusive in emergency planning.

"You have to complete the check list and personal assessment sheet at the end of this guide, remove itfrom the guide and keep it on thefridge so that it will be easily accessible for anyone to find," Weir said.

Fire chief VinceMacKenziesaid the emergency guide is a "definite guide for dealing with persons with disabilities."

"This guide, for me, is a must-read for everyemergencyresponderin the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and for every community,"MacKenziesaid.

"It is the definitive guide for dealing with persons withdisabilities."

The guide discusses the importanceof taking mobility devices with the person who's being evacuated andhaving accessible warming centres.

Weir said the new kit and guide weredeveloped after the province experienced severe weather, such as last January's power outage.

"More importantly, this project provided aplatform to talk about attitudes towards persons with disabilities, to talk about choice, respect, dignity and fairnessand people listened and people learned."