American Red Cross | Philadelphia & Southeastern Pennsylvania

The Golden Age of Preparedness: Disaster Planning for Seniors and their Families

The time is now: Last summer’s devastation in the Gulf Coast as a result of Hurricane Katrina raised our awareness of how quickly the forces of nature can take our loved ones from us. The vulnerability of the nation’s elderly was truly showcased by this storm. Our living rooms were filled with the horror stories of the hospitals and nursing homes in Louisiana, whose residents had been stranded and later consumed by floodwaters. However, there are great lessons to learn from this tragedy and the hope is that with better preparation we can prevent a similar fate here in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Different Needs: The elder population in general has many different needs regarding disaster response and preparation than an average adult. Many seniors are unable to re-locate quickly, or have specific medical conditions that require attention. As a result, evacuations for the elderly are not simple matters of jumping in the car and driving to safety. Furthermore, the great need for medication and nursing services complicates the situation and leaves the Southeastern Pennsylvania elder population extraordinarily vulnerable. Simple power-outages can be life threatening to someone who is dependent on a nebulizer or oxygen supply. According to the Washington Post of September 13, 2005, health officials in the Gulf Coast region reported that majority of the deaths related to Hurricane Katrina were not a result of drowning but rather from lack of medicine and treatment for people with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease and hypertension. It was an inability to access medication that mostly affected the poor and those unable to evacuate.

Simple preparation can make all the difference in the safety and security of our older family members. Follow these steps:

Choose a contact:

Decide how you will communicate with your loved ones in the event of a disaster. Choose a family contact that each person knows to call. Make sure everyone carries the number in his or her wallet or purse.

Have an Evacuation Plan:

Make arrangements in the event of an evacuation. How will you or your loved one be transported to safer ground? Remember: many shelters do not have air-conditioning or other items necessary for those with health concerns. Think about hotels or family members’ homes that would be outside of the affected area.
Consider purchasing special equipment for evacuations such as evacuation chairs. Remember you will not be able to use elevators in many emergencies.

Plan for Home Fires:

Draw a home escape plan in the event of a fire. Remember it will be dark and some exits may be blocked. Have two ways to get out of each room.
Keep shut-off valves for oxygen machines near your bed. In the event of a fire, you will need to turn off the flow quickly.
Test smoke alarms once each month. Replace batteries annually.
Smoke alarms should be outside each bedroom, on every level and placed on the ceiling.
Keep curtains away from stoves or other heating devices
Never smoke inside.

Establish a Personal Support Network:

Put together a list of individuals who can assist you or your loved one in the event that there is a disaster. Suggestions include: neighbors who can check in or deliver food, or relatives who are close by and able to provide aide.
Create a system for letting neighbors know that you need help.
Notify neighbors and friends when you are going out of town and when you will return.
Practice your plans.

Learn ways to give quick information:

Have a way to give first responders critical information so they know how to care for you or your loved one. Consider a medical alert bracelet or practice telling someone what you need.
Be clear, specific and concise with written directions and always carry emergency health information on your person.
Remember to list allergies, conditions, reactions or symptoms. Example: I may become dizzy or confused when my blood sugar is low. I need _____ medication, which is in my purse.

Learn ways to get information:

Have a battery-operated radio in the event of a power outage.
Watch or listen to news or weather reports when you notice the sky darkening.
Follow the weather report daily to learn of impending weather disasters.
Find out how the community will be informed of mandatory evacuations.

Create a personal survival kit:

Make a list of what you or your loved one would need to survive for three days.
Have one gallon of water for each day
Store non-perishable foods and a manual can-opener
First aid kit
Extra medications and copies of prescriptions
Extra sets of glasses, dentures or hearing devices
Blanket or sweater
Photocopy essential documents such as identification, social security cards, and Medicare cards.
Sanitary supplies such as toilet paper or facial tissues

Assess your risk and ability: It is most important to sit down with your family and determine what are the major risks in the event of an emergency and then what are the capabilities of each person. Preparedness is different for every person based on his or her own needs. The most important thing you can do is practice all of your plans so that you learn where there is a need for improvement. Planning in an ongoing process.

The Golden Age of Preparedness: Disaster Planning for Seniors and their Families

Simple preparation can make all the difference in the safety and security of our older family members. Follow these steps:

Choose a contact:

Decide how you will communicate with your loved ones in the event of a disaster. Choose a family contact that each person knows to call. Make sure everyone carries the number in his or her wallet or purse.

Have an Evacuation Plan:

Consider purchasing special equipment for evacuations such as evacuation chairs. Remember you will not be able to use elevators in many emergencies.

Plan for Home Fires:

Draw a home escape plan in the event of a fire. Remember it will be dark and some exits may be blocked. Have two ways to get out of each room.

Keep shut-off valves for oxygen machines near your bed. In the event of a fire, you will need to turn off the flow quickly.

Test smoke alarms once each month. Replace batteries annually.

Smoke alarms should be outside each bedroom, on every level and placed on the ceiling.

Keep curtains away from stoves or other heating devices

Never smoke inside.

Establish a Personal Support Network:

Put together a list of individuals who can assist you or your loved one in the event that there is a disaster. Suggestions include: neighbors who can check in or deliver food, or relatives who are close by and able to provide aide.

Create a system for letting neighbors know that you need help.

Notify neighbors and friends when you are going out of town and when you will return.

Practice your plans.

Learn ways to give quick information:

Have a way to give first responders critical information so they know how to care for you or your loved one. Consider a medical alert bracelet or practice telling someone what you need.

Be clear, specific and concise with written directions and always carry emergency health information on your person.

Remember to list allergies, conditions, reactions or symptoms. Example: I may become dizzy or confused when my blood sugar is low. I need _____ medication, which is in my purse.

Learn ways to get information:

Have a battery-operated radio in the event of a power outage.

Watch or listen to news or weather reports when you notice the sky darkening.

Follow the weather report daily to learn of impending weather disasters.

Find out how the community will be informed of mandatory evacuations.

Create a personal survival kit:

Make a list of what you or your loved one would need to survive for three days.

Have one gallon of water for each day

Store non-perishable foods and a manual can-opener

First aid kit

Extra medications and copies of prescriptions

Extra sets of glasses, dentures or hearing devices

Blanket or sweater

Photocopy essential documents such as identification, social security cards, and Medicare cards.

Sanitary supplies such as toilet paper or facial tissues

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