Pathways to Preparedness: Helping People with Disabilities Build Safety, Confidence, and Independence Before Disaster Strikes through Emergency Preparedness

Progressive Center for Independent Living – Mercer & Hunterdon County, NJ 

When emergencies or natural disasters hit New Jersey, the impact isn’t felt equally. For many people with disabilities a nd older adults living independently in Mercer County and Hunterdon County, NJ, evacuation, sheltering, transportation, and access to medical equipment become immediate challenges that can’t be solved with a one-size-fits-all plan. 

This is especially important in our region. According to the New Jersey Department of Health, 11.3% of Mercer County residents and 9.4% of Hunterdon County residents live with at least one disability — roughly 44,000 people in Mercer County and 12,400 people in Hunterdon County. These numbers highlight why disability emergency preparedness is essential to independent living. In recent years, Mercer County has faced tornado activity strong enough to flip cars and uproot trees, while Hurricane Sandy left parts of New Jersey without power for nearly two weeks. Even everyday events like winter storms or localized outages can quickly become life-threatening for anyone relying on electricity for well water, medical devices, or mobility equipment. 

Emergency response times add to the urgency. Public data shows the 90th percentile EMS response time in Mercer County is 13 minutes, which can feel much longer for someone who cannot evacuate without assistance or who depends on power-based medical supports. 

Emergencies strike without warning, and for people with disabilities, the consequences can escalate quickly. One real example from New Jersey shows just how important early planning can be. A local resident with a disability had created an evacuation plan that relied on paratransit transportation. When a real emergency occurred, paratransit services were reassigned to evacuate a nursing home and couldn’t assist him. Because he had already planned ahead, emergency personnel knew exactly what support he needed, and a neighboring county’s Office of Emergency Management quickly dispatched an accessible vehicle. His preparation allowed responders to act fast — proving why early planning, and having more than one option, is essential for people with disabilities and for anyone building an individualized emergency plan. 

That reality inspired the Progressive Center for Independent Living (PCIL) to create its Pathways to Preparedness Workshop—a hands-on, accessible emergency preparedness training program for people with disabilities, older adults, caregivers, and support professionals. Participants leave with practical tools, a personalized checklist, and a certificate of completion. More importantly, they leave with confidence. 

About PCIL’s Emergency Preparedness Training for People with Disabilities 

Pathways to Preparedness was designed to make disability-inclusive emergency planning easier, more practical, and more relevant to the everyday needs of people with disabilities and older adults living independently in New Jersey. The curriculum for this training was developed using materials originally created through the partnership of the NJ Statewide Independent Living Council, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and Guide Developer Jamie Arasz Prioli, B.Sc., RSNA, ATP. Their collaboration helped establish the foundation of the Pathways to Preparedness Guide on which this condensed training is based. As one instructor shared, “preparedness is part of independent living,” and this training empowers individuals to take safer, more confident control of their plans. 

Instead of delivering generalized advice, the workshop helps participants think through real-life needs—mobility, assistive technology, power-dependent devices, communication supports, backup transportation, and accessible sheltering. Another instructor emphasized that “it’s not easy to just get up and go” during an emergency for many people with disabilities. That’s why the training covers both evacuation strategies and shelter-in-place planning. For some, staying home may be the safest option—but only when a disability-ready emergency plan is in place. 

During the workshop, participants learn how to: 

• Identify safe evacuation routes and accessible shelters 

• Prepare for transportation or paratransit disruptions 

• Plan for assistive devices and medical equipment that require electricity 

• Build a practical disability-inclusive Go Bag with essential items 

• Create multiple evacuation or shelter-in-place plans 

• Establish a reliable support network 

• Decide when staying home is safer than leaving—and how to do so safely 

• Break emergency planning into simple steps rather than an overwhelming task 

Each participant receives a workbook, printed checklists, and a certificate of completion to support ongoing readiness. 

Real Feedback from a Workshop Participant 

One participant from the November training attended because she wanted to better support PCIL consumers, but her personal history with natural disasters made the workshop especially meaningful. She lived through Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, one of New Jersey’s most destructive disasters. Sandy knocked out power to more than 2.6 million New Jersey residents, washed out major roadways, and left some communities without electricity for up to two weeks. 

For her, the impact was immediate. Her home relies on a well system powered by electricity, and when the storm hit, she was left without running water or power for 11 days. The experience made clear just how quickly an everyday situation can turn into a serious crisis for people living independently, especially if they rely on electricity for basic needs or use mobility or communication supports. 

During the workshop, she found the information about safely sheltering during severe weather particularly important, including the reminder to move to an interior room away from windows during high winds. She also appreciated seeing a fully packed accessible Go Bag and how each item served a purpose. The demonstration helped her visualize what emergency-ready supplies should look like and reinforced how essential it is to maintain one. 

After the workshop, she discussed the training with a friend who survived the 1994 Northridge, California earthquake and became trapped between a collapsed ceiling and floor with only 18 inches of room to move. Their conversation underscored a shared belief: 

“The best advice is to pay attention to warnings and evacuate—have a plan and be prepared.” And that’s exactly why this training is so critical. 

Attend or Host Pathways to Preparedness 

PCIL offers this New Jersey emergency preparedness workshop for: ✔️ People with disabilities ✔️ Older adults ✔️ Caregivers ✔️ Support coordinators & professionals ✔️ Community groups 

Sessions can be: 

• Hosted at PCIL 

• Delivered at community sites across Mercer County and Hunterdon County, NJ 

• Scheduled privately for groups and organizations 

• Adapted for disability service agencies, senior centers, and housing communities 

To learn more or schedule a session: 📧 info@pcilnj.org 📞 609-581-4500 

PCIL proudly serves individuals throughout Mercer County, Hunterdon County, and surrounding New Jersey communities, helping residents build safer, stronger, and more accessible emergency plans. 

Emergency Preparedness Resources 

(All verified public sources) 

• Ready.gov – Disability Preparedness: https://www.ready.gov/disability 

• New Jersey Office of Emergency Management: https://www.nj.gov/njoem 

• FEMA Emergency Management: https://www.fema.gov/emergency-management 

• American Red Cross Preparedness Guides: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies 

Preparedness Builds Independence 

For people with disabilities in Mercer County and Hunterdon County, NJ, having a personalized emergency plan is more than a safety measure—it’s a foundation for confidence, independence, and safety. PCIL’s Pathways to Preparedness program gives individuals, caregivers, and professionals the tools they need to stay ready for whatever comes next.