In the event of a disaster, people with disabilities may need special assistance in preparing for the event or during their stay in an emergency shelter. The information and resources are intended to provide guidance during emergency situations. Additional disaster-related information can also be obtained from various media outlets, such as television, radio, newspaper, and the Internet.
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Please go to the bottom of this page to access related Files and Links
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Emergency Preparedness Hotlines
During an emergency, if you are an:
- individual receiving OCDD services, an advocate, support coordination agency, or a provider needing additional assistance for emergency preparations,
- if you are a person with a developmental disability, an advocate, support coordination agency, or a provider needing assistance in evacuation and/or emergency preparedness information, or
- need relocation assistance for a loved one receiving waiver services or a developmental disabilities program, or in a public facility, please first contact a local District or Authority directly. For a complete listing of these agencies and their phone numbers, please click here.
You can also contact the Office for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities during the hours of 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m., toll-free at 1-866-783-5553.
Important Numbers
For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergency, please call 211 to recieve information and services, resources, or if you need information about shelters. You can also visit www.louisiana211.org. For travel-related information or road closures, please call 511 or 1-888-Road-511 (1-888-762-3511). You can also visit 511la.org.
State Employee Information
If you are an employee of OCDD and need to obtain information regarding a state office closure and/or re-opening during a hurricane or other emergency situation, please call the following hotline numbers to access information: 225-342-0498 or toll-free at 1-800-360-9660 or the LDH Human Resources toll-free at 1-866-518-1630.
Volunteer to Help People with Disabilities in Emergency Shelters
People with disabilities and the elderly need your help during their stay in emergency shelters. You can help in many ways. You can read to someone who is blind, help orient someone to the shelter’s layout, assist with dressing, eating, getting in and out of cots, getting to the restroom and other things that make sheltering much easier for an elder or a person with a disability. With your help, an already difficult experience can be a little less stressful. To volunteer, please visit Louisiana Volunteers in Action (LAVA) at www.lava.dhh.louisiana.gov.
