In this powerful episode of The Blind Chick, John Romano from Disaster Central joins Penn and Moses to explore emergency preparedness through a lens of accessibility, technology, and community resilience. John shares the heart behind the Be Ready app and how it helps people with disabilities plan ahead for disasters — not only with gear and gadgets but with mindset and connection. The episode features raw stories of past emergencies, including how one blind man refused to leave his guide dog behind during a flood. Listeners are encouraged to participate in upcoming pilot programs and advocate for inclusive planning in their own cities. The message is clear: preparedness isn’t just about surviving a storm, it’s about building strong community ties before the storm ever hits. ⏱️ Chapter Markers 00:00 – Welcome to The Blind Chick 00:27 – Jonathan introduces John Romano & previews Code Orange 01:30 – The mindset of preparedness and the role of battery banks 02:30 – Customizing the Be Ready app for your household 04:50 – Real stories: flood evacuations, guide dogs, and being left behind 07:00 – Planning on the community level: Colorado Functional Needs Conferences 09:25 – 70% of first responders are your family and friends 11:40 – How to bring this program to your city 13:55 – Funding models & donor support for Be Ready 15:55 – Future features: AI & GIS integration 18:15 – Predictive tech and where emergency preparedness is heading 20:35 – The real call to action: Get involved! 22:55 – The power of preparation and community kindness 25:15 – Let's not admire the problem — let’s solve it 27:40 – Closing thoughts and thanks 📞 Contact Info & Resources Disaster Central: https://disastercentral.org Be Ready App: Included in pilot discussions via Disaster Central Interested in the pilot program? Contact Curtis Garrett or Atlantis Community to request local training and preparedness offerings. 🗣️ Key Quotes “70% of your first responders are your family and friends.” — John Romano “Let’s not just admire the problem. Let’s work the problem.” — John Romano “This isn’t about doing it for us — it’s with us.” — Penn Street 📲 Other Shows by Aftersight Blindsight – Mental health and blindness Blind Level Tech – Accessible tech reviews and interviews Navigating Life with Vision Loss – Weekly show coming back this fall with a 16-week safety series Code Orange – Coming soon! Focused on disability-inclusive emergency preparedness