What Are Access and Functional Needs (AFN)

Access and Functional Needs (AFN) refers to community members who may need additional support before, during, or after an emergency. This includes individuals who have:

• Physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities
• Chronic health conditions or injuries
• Limited English proficiency
• Older adults
• Children
• Low income or are experiencing homelessness
• Limited access to transportation
• Are pregnant or may need extra support during an emergency

Our goal is to plan for the whole community. We work to ensure that people with mobility, communication, disability, or transportation needs have access to assistance and emergency information—regardless of age, language, or background.

Be Prepared for Emergencies: Make an All-Inclusive Plan

When creating your family’s Emergency Plan, remember to include the needs of anyone who may require additional assistance, such as:

• People who are hard of hearing
• People with vision impairments
• People with physical disabilities
• People who use mobility devices
• People who rely on specialized medical equipment or medication
• People who may need communication support (interpretation, ASL, simple‑language materials)

Planning helps everyone stay safe and ensures that the needs of all community members are met.