Be Ready. Be Empowered.

I got interested in emergency preparedness volunteering with the Red Cross after Hurricane Katrina. In May 2010, being ready became desperately personal.

My family and I had lived in our home for 20 years without so much as standing water in the yard. So, when flood warnings came, we ignored them. Past safety felt like proof of future safety.

Unfortunately, when the water came, it came fast. Within hours, we had more than five feet of water in our home.

I use a wheelchair. When the water rose, my access to independence was swept away with it. I had a life jacket, but I couldn't swim, and I couldn't access our attic. My mother held my life jacket as we climbed higher on the attic steps and the water kept rising. We held on for four-and-a-half hours, not knowing if we'd make it.

The rescue boat wasn't accessible. The church shelter they carried me to wasn't, either. I sat on a pew in soaking wet clothes, unable to move. We escaped with only what we were wearing. No medications. No emergency contacts; my phone was lost. No backup wheelchair.

I thought I was prepared. That day taught me what it feels like to lose everything - including your ability to move independently - in a matter of hours. I never want to feel that terrified or helpless again.

That fear taught me what to do differently. Not to stay afraid, but to take back control.

Don't Assume Safety Based on the Past

Twenty years in the same home felt like proof that we'd be safe. It wasn't. Ignoring warnings almost cost us our lives. Now I pay attention to every warning, even the ones that seem unlikely. Especially the ones that seem unlikely.

Have More Than One Way to Get Alerts

I am signed up for Tennessee Alert at tnalert.gov, county alerts, and weather apps. I keep Wireless Emergency Alerts on, and I have found local resources I trust. When severe weather is in the forecast, I start paying attention early.

Keep a Go-Bag Ready

I rotate my supplies every six months. My go-bag includes:

• Extra prescriptions,
• Written emergency contacts,
• Important documents in a waterproof bag,
• A headlamp and batteries,
• A phone charger and backup battery,
• Water and snacks,
• A change of clothes,
• And personal care items.

When severe weather forecasts come, I fill an extra weekly medication container.

Build a Personal Support Network

The worst part wasn't just fear. It was feeling completely helpless. Now I have people who know my needs and check on me. They know where I shelter, where my go-bag is, and how to reach me after storms.

This is not only practical. It is the difference between feeling abandoned and feeling connected. It can save lives. It can also protect your sense of safety.

Plan for Your Specific Needs

Generic emergency plans don't account for disability. Think about YOUR needs:

Ask yourself:

• Medications: Do I have at least a week's supply in a waterproof container?
• Mobility equipment: Where can I shelter without stairs? What will I do if power equipment fails?
• Communication: Do I have important contacts written down on paper?
• Service animals or pets: Do I have supplies ready for them?

I still don't have a backup wheelchair. Durable medical equipment is expensive, and insurance doesn't (usually) cover backups. That's a sad truth, but it doesn't make me powerless.

I've prepared every way I can. I know my routes, my shelter spot, and I have people checking on me.

Preparedness Is Taking Back Control

That day in 2010, I lost everything that made me independent. I sat in that shelter soaking wet, unable to even change clothes, feeling more helpless than I'd ever felt.

The fear hasn't left me. But I've turned it into determination. Preparedness isn't about never being afraid. It's about refusing to be that helpless again.

I can't predict emergencies. I can't afford backup equipment. I can't control weather or fix systems that don't prepare for people like me.

But I can pay attention to warnings. Keep my go-bag stocked. Build a support network. Have a plan. Protect my independence and dignity as much as humanly possible.

Preparedness is self-determination. It's saying: I matter. My life matters. My independence matters. I will do everything in my power to protect it.

Twenty years of safety didn't protect us. But a go-bag, a plan, and people who know my needs gives me back power. That's what I want for you, too.

Resources to Help You Get Started

• Your local Center for Independent Living can help you create a plan and advocate for your needs.
• Sign up for statewide emergency notifications.
• Visit FEMA Ready.gov for national emergency preparedness guides and resources.
• Download the Red Cross Emergency App at redcross.org for real-time alerts and shelter information.

Questions? Contact Empower Tennessee at empowertn.org or reach out to your local Center for Independent Living to create your emergency preparedness plan.

Kasondra Farmer is Director of Engagement at Empower Tennessee, a Center for Independent Living serving Middle Tennessee. She coordinates volunteer programs, accessibility consultations, and community engagement. She keeps her go-bag in the bathroom closet, always ready.