OIDD - Emergency Preparedness Information

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.

Emergency Preparedness Hotlines

During an emergency, if you are:

An individual receiving OIDD services, an advocate, a support coordination agency, or a provider needing additional assistance for emergency preparations,
A person with a developmental disability, an advocate, a 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 governing entity directly.

You can also contact the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disability Supports (OIDD) from 8 a.m to 4:30 p.m., toll-free at 866-783-5553.

Important Numbers

For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, please call 211 to receive information and services, resources, or shelter information. You can also visit Louisiana211.org. For travel-related information or road closures, please call 511 or 888-Road-511 (888-762-3511) or visit 511la.org.

State Employee Information

If you are an employee of OIDD and need to obtain information regarding a state office closure and/or reopening during a hurricane or other emergency, please call the following hotline numbers to access information: 225-342-0498, toll-free at 800-360-9660, or LDH Human Resources toll-free at 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, or 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).

Related Files

Direct Waiver Services Provider Emergency Instructions
Emergency Preparedness Best Practice Guidelines for Providers
Emergency Preparedness Best Practice Guidelines for Support Coordinators
Emergency Preparation Resource Guide 2017-2018
Get a Game Plan For Special Needs
The Take and Go Emergency Preparedness Book