Seniors: Don’t be Left Behind When Disaster Strikes

Disasters impact aging adults.  But there are things you can do NOW, to reduce your risk of being left behind when everyone is evacuating:

1. Consider joining a group of like-minded people and become a valuable member.  Going it alone is not a safe or practical disaster preparedness or response strategy.  That is true for people of any age, but especially for seniors.

2. Has your community identified gathering places?  If your home is no longer safe after a catastrophic disaster or you want to be with others, a gathering place is your best refuge destination.  If you don’t know of such a location, contact your city’s emergency manager and find out if there are gathering places that have been designated.  If you live in Salt Lake County, UT, you have the S.A.F.E. Neighborhoods program with its pre-selected gathering hubs.

3. Connect now, with younger, stronger families on your street.  Contact more than one family to increase the chances you will looked after.  Ask them: “Following a major disaster, once you have taken care of your family’s immediate needs, would you be willing to check on me and help me to our community gathering place?  If my needs are too great, will you give that information, along with my address, to those in charge at our gathering place or give my information directly to the volunteer rescue teams there?”

4. Assure these families that you are prepared with your own supplies and provisions and they will not have to be responsible for your needs.  Express your gratitude for their willingness to help you reach a community gathering place with your 96-hour emergency kit -- already set up in a cart or wagon.  (See topic "96 Hour Kit")