Angelman Today November / December edition 2013 | Page 9

Emergency preparedness for children with
specials needs following a therapeutic diet.
By Sybille Kraft Bellamy
How to Gather Emergency Supplies
When Hurricane Sandy hit the East coat in
2012 we lost electric power for 5 days and
were under a curfew for a week with limited
access to our regular food sources of supply.

I decided I had to learn what it would take
for me to be prepared. Here is what I have
discovered and would like to share with
you:

My son Max celebrated his 11 birthday with
candles, a lot of candles! Candles were the
main source of light in our kitchen. We have a
generator and we used it most of the day to
recharge our laptop, phone and fridge and to
keep our furnace going.

Our angels are extremely sensitive to stress;
a new situation, new environment and a
new routine can be challenging. If we had
to evacuate for any reason it would be
quick, with no warning, and most likely in a
panic mode.

We had known for days that our area would be
on the storm’s path. We were not particularly
concerned by the flooding because we are
located on a hill, but we knew we might lose
power and we did.

As a result, Max would be exposed to a
different environment, to noise and light in
a shelter, and to new people. Most likely he
would also become sleep deprived and I
would not be able to prepare his usual
meals and follow his special diet. All theses
factors can trigger seizures, as we know.

It made me realize how quickly life can
change and disaster can strike. Sandy did not
affect us too much. Max was safe in our house
and I had enough food stored for him. Still, I
became aware of how unprepared I was to
cope with the needs of a child like Max if
things had been worse. What if we had had to
evacuate? Would I have had time to pack
everything I needed for him: his rescue
medication, his food, his clothes and diapers?
In the middle of a crisis, would I have
remembered everything I needed to take
along?

Most of the time when a hurricane or a
snowstorm hits you will receive a warning.
But if an unpredictable natural or manmade disaster strikes you will have no time
to plan and you will have to leave.
Every situation is different and each child
may have different and very specific needs
but here is a list of basic things you will
need and a list of websites where you can
get information to help you be better
prepared.