Disaster Preparedness Makes Sense for Seniors
With the dramatic increase in natural disasters and rising economic uncertainty, there hasn't been a more important time to be prepared. As one disaster after another comes to our attention via television and newspapers, we can readily see that being prepared is smart. Everyone needs to be prepared, but there are additional measures seniors need to take to prepare for emergencies before they happen.
The work it takes to become prepared for emergencies and natural disasters can seem overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time, knowing that the peace of mind that comes from preparing wisely is more than worth the time, money, and resources it may take to be prepared.
Evaluate where you are on that journey, so you can make progress from there. This article is in no way meant to be a complete guide, but my goal is to advise you of some of the best resources and give you an outline of basic preparedness. I propose four major steps to help you get ready. How many of these have you done?
Step One: Gather Information and Get Informed
Effective preparation of any kind requires a clear understanding of the goals you are trying to achieve. In the case of disaster preparedness, the primary goal is to minimize the impact of a crisis. At an absolute minimum, this means you want to survive. However, by preparing well, you may also expect to maintain a reasonable quality of life after the disaster.
A. Start with the Internet: One of the best places to begin to gather information is the Internet. There are many sites that provide emergency preparedness information, but many of them will want to sell you something. Therefore, three of the best are government sites that are not selling anything but simply dispensing information. They have the goal to help everyone in the country be prepared for any emergency. Those sites are:
1. www.fema.gov
B. Search for Key Terms: If you need more detailed information, search for key terms like disaster preparedness, survival kits, survival food, emergency essentials, water filtration, water purification, and survival sanitation which will give you additional knowledge and information to move forward in your preparation.
C. Don't Overlook Preparedness Books: There are also numerous books available to help you in the preparedness process. These can be acquired online, at book stores, or checked out at your local library. One of the best is prepared by FEMA and is titled Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness, which can be ordered free online from www.fema.gov. You may also call 1-800-BE-READY where you can order the information you are particularly interested in.
Step Two: Plan What You Will Do in an Emergency and Write It Down
Decide what you will do in a specific emergency, such as flooding, a fire, winter storms that put out the electricity, or an earthquake. During an emergency is no time to figure out what you should be doing. We don't know what type or when disasters and emergencies may strike, but there are specific preparedness steps you can take that are common to most disasters, such as having a supply of food and water on hand. You can plan for these needs and apply your plan to all types of hazards with only minor adjustments.
A. Use Preparedness Plans: Using one of the many Emergency Preparedness Plans available online can guide you as you develop your own plan. www.ready.gov is an excellent place to learn about potential emergencies that can happen in our area and how to prepare, and it offers specific plans for seniors. Most of us can easily identify basic needs in a disaster situation: food, water, shelter, light, heat, sleep, and hygiene/sanitation. Seniors, however, may have some additional needs, such as medications. The goal of preparation, therefore, is to be ready to meet all needs, regardless of the crisis.
B. Write Everything Down: Consider basic survival needs first and then additional needs that must be met, such as medications and medical supplies. Write down the actions that should be taken in the emergency. Keep a copy of your plan in your emergency supply kits and a list of important information and contacts in your wallet.
Step Three: Purchase the Necessities
After you know what you need, you can begin to determine what supplies you already have on hand and what you need to buy. Decide how you will finance buying the necessities, and make a plan for purchasing the items you need.
A. Cover the Basics First: What do you need to round out your supply of food and water? If you have not yet put together a Grab and Go Kit, as 72-hour kits are now being called, you may want to make this a priority because this is a vital component of your emergency preparedness. Check your supplies to see if anything needs to be rotated or replaced. Discard and replenish items past the expiration dates.
B. Stock Up on Medications and Medical Supplies: Seniors have other essentials such as medications and medical supplies that they should stock up on. If you take medicine or use a medical treatment on a daily basis, be sure you have medical supplies on hand to last for at least a week. Talk to your doctor about getting extra medications to have available in an emergency.
C. Stock Up on Consumables: Candles (or better yet, light sticks and flashlights), batteries, generator fuel, hygiene items might end up in short supply in an emergency. In addition, consider items specific to your personal needs. If you use eyeglasses, have an extra pair; if you use hearing aids, stock up on hearing aid batteries.
D. Gather Specialized Items: Seniors who have special health needs should keep specialized items ready, such as extra wheelchair batteries, oxygen, catheters, medication, food for service animals, and any other items you might need. Keep a list of the type and model numbers of the medical devices you require. Make provisions for medications that require refrigeration, such as ice in the freezer and a cooler to put it in. Make arrangements for any assistance to get to a shelter if that should become necessary.
Step Four: Create a Personal Support Network
Preparing for and responding to disaster begins with preparing yourself and your family. However, if you create a network of like-minded individuals committed to working together to survive dangerous events, your chances for survival are much better.
A. Get to Know Your Neighbors: The first people you will turn to for help when a large disaster strikes will be your neighbors. Since first responders will probably be overwhelmed, building good relationships with your neighbors is the best way to extend your personal safety net.
B. Turn to Family Next: Make a list of family, friends, and others who might be able to help during a disaster. Talk to these people and ask them to be part of your support network. Share your emergency plan with everyone in your group. Preparedness is everyone’s responsibility. We all need to work together!
C. Make a Communications Plan: Pick one out-of-state relative or friend who would not likely be impacted by the same emergency, and one local contact person to call in case of a disaster. Share this information with every member of your family. Your family may not be together when disaster strikes, so plan how you will contact one another and review what you will do in different situations. For more information on how to develop a family communications plan, visit vww.ready.gov.
Start now!
Over the next few months, keep your step-by-step plan handy to refer to often. Work to adapt this information to your personal circumstances, and make every effort to complete all aspects of the plan.
One step at a time, one item purchased or one piece of the plan put into effect will give you the incentive to keep going until you have a comprehensive plan, a Grab and Go Bag, and a personal support network in place. When you have completed your preparations, you can have the peace of mind that you have done all you can to be ready for the unexpected.
- By Arlene Bascom