Emergency Plans

We each need a Plan to inform our appropriate preparation, manage our involvement and gain/share know-how.  Do you/your household have an Emergency Plan?

In addition, your neighborhood, congregation, council area, or city may have an Emergency Plan. Find out. Take an interest; ask to see it. You are not asking for the purpose of challenging anyone, but to show genuine interest. 

Does the Plan address your needs as a senior or someone with Access & Functional Need?  Is the Plan regularly practiced?  If your needs are not included in the Plan, it is unlikely they will be practiced in a drill.  And if not practiced, how likely is it that your needs will be addressed in an actual emergency?  

If you are able, consider asking how you can help with the planning and the next practice.  Getting involved is a way to lend a hand and to assure your needs are included. 

Networking is Vital

Regardless of the type of emergency event, or what response it requires of us – On-Foot Evacuation, Auto Evacuation, or Sheltering at Home -- NETWORKING is vital for us.  It builds warm, wonderful relationships in our everyday life and in a crisis it saves lives.  

Do you have rapport with some of the younger, stronger neighbors on your street?  Neighbors you could approach about your vulnerabilities and concerns regarding a large-scale disaster or even a local emergency?

If you lack that rapport, now would be a perfect time to cultivate genuine neighborly friendships.  Do you bake?  Make soups?  Repair things?  Babysit?  Do you have a veggie garden that allows you to share your harvest?  Give it some thought.  How could you make genuine outreaches? 

Information Resources

I want to urge you to be a frequent visitor to the Utah Commission on Aging website.  It is weighted with marvelous information and resources that aid and inform every part of an aging life and it is useful for Access & Functional Needs matters.  You will want to go back to this resource time and time again.  The website is “Utahaging.org”.  

Our state has an extensive Emergency Preparedness library: “BeReadyUtah.gov”. They have a website and a You Tube channel.  Be certain to checkout their BUZZ series of very short (less than 90 seconds) and entertaining Tips.  

The American Red Cross also has Preparation, Response and Recovery information.  

Check out my BLOG for a variety of short, educational articles:  PrepareToRespond.blogspot.com

Personal Hygiene

PERSONAL HYGIENE: It can boost your morale to feel as fresh as possible but think twice before using much water for that purpose, if you have only brought 1 gallon per day. (This is a good reason for bringing extra water).  A large travel kit could work nicely for hygiene. Pre-moistened towelettes are so helpful in emergency conditions and don’t require “spending” your precious water supply. 

Medications and First-Aid

MEDICATIONS: In a serious disaster, it may be a while before pharmacies are open and stocked to meet refill needs. You must include an adequate supply of your medications in your kit, not merely enough for 96 or 120 hours. You can accumulate an emergency supply by re-ordering your 30-day meds after 3 weeks or your 90-day meds after 75 days (or as soon as your drug insurance will allow). However, some meds do require the full time period before refill. Pack extra eyeglasses and/or contact lenses.

The Challenge of Getting Safe WATER to a Gathering Place

Water is more vital than food, because our kidneys begin to shut down after a few days without it. At a minimum the experts tell us 6.5 oz a day will keep our kidneys working, but you will absolutely want more for comfort and healthy hydration.  You must bring your water supply with you to your gathering place.  This is a prime reason to have a kit on wheel—water is heavy -- 8.3lbs per gallon. 

Water Suggestions:  At a gathering place you will have needs for water in addition to drinking. One gallon of water/person/day is the absolute minimum.  Consider cooking, re-hydrating food, hygiene, sanitation, first aid. Place water packets or bottles in all components of your kit. 

Wheelies & Sanitation

In a previous article, I presented my basic 96-hour kit that was wearable.  But I cannot carry toileting supplies, sufficient water, sheltering, appropriate seasonal change of clothes, sleep gear, mess gear, etc., on my body.  So. . .

I have added “Wheels” to create the primary components of my sustainable kit for 2 aging adults with health limitations.  I will be including suggestions, but they are not meant to overshadow your own ideas of what you might want/need in your kit.

I have pre-loaded 4 “wheelies”.  In a walking evacuation, we would each pull 2 carts pre-packed ready to roll.  They are intended for on-foot use only, not for lifting into a vehicle. I have practiced walking to my nearest gathering place dressed in my emergency outfit and pulling 2 carts along flat roads.  

Evacuation on Foot

On-Foot Evacuation is my primary concern for those of us who are aging; there is not much instruction for us on how to prepare to evacuate our home and walk to our nearest community gathering places WITH enough appropriate and essential supplies. 

Do you know the location of you gathering place?  As an example, the community of Canyon Rim in the city of Millcreek will gather at/on the grounds of Rosecrest Elementary or the Canyon Rim Academy grounds. 

Sheltering at Home or on Your own Property

(Excerpt from the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" post.)

Many of us would strongly elect to remain in our home, or at least on our own property in the event of a disaster. The key point: Is it safe?

A natural disaster or man-caused event could make us feel it is unsafe to leave our home unattended.  If it comes to a choice between safe-guarding your life or well-being, or protecting your home, please protect yourself. 

Evacuation by Auto

(Excerpt from the "PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking" post.)

The most likely emergency that will prompt auto evacuation is a wildfire or quickly out of control series of house fires near you.  I saw that happen in Tooele just a few years ago.  

You must consider that flames could reach your home before firefighters could extinguish them. Your focus in such circumstance it to GET OUT IMMEDIATELY.

Sometimes, entire parts of cities get consumed so quickly, residents cannot safely exit with any belongings.  

PRESENTATION: Three Response Strategies and Networking

The information herein is useful to all ages, but is directed toward seniors -- because our age group suffers disproportionately more injuries and fatalities in disasters.

I can attest to this from personal experience in 3 Earthquakes and 3 Civil Riots AND from searching out Lessons Learned from each national disaster. 

In all disasters I have studied, missteps -- primarily, communication breakdowns -- were made among the professionals that cost senior lives. The most dramatic is the final report about the Maui fire, made public in October 2024, revealing that 75% of fatalities were age 64 or older.  It is heartbreaking.

However, the primary reasons our age group suffers disproportionately comes down to US.  First, many of us older people are often NOT prepared at all; or, second, if we have of a kit, it is likely insufficient and inappropriate for our aging needs; and third, most seniors are not networked with younger, stronger neighbors who care, living on their same street, or connected to community or religious groups committed to include them.

Avoid the Pain & Inconvenience of Power Outages

While You and I can’t prevent sustained electrical outages, we can Prepare to limit our pain/Inconvenience the next time it happens. 

For the most part, the three days my household was w/o power were not extremely “painful” because of preparation. This emergency was my opportunity to test gear and know-how and see if I could stand up to this challenge with my physical limitations.  I’m including my Lessons Learned in the topics below.   

Sensible Preparation and Response

Refrigeration:  We kept fridge and freezers closed to conserve cold.  I waited too long to save many refrigerator items, (foodsafety.gov says 4 hours) but acted quickly enough (48 hours) to save frozen meats/fish, etc., with bags of ice in well-insulated coolers.  This was a high stress item for me.  I’ll do better next time.  

I now keep 10 bags of ice in my freezer units, along with pre-frozen packs, that I can transfer to coolers early enough to save refrigerator items as well as frozen food.  

Hurricane Force Winds: Some Without Power for a Week

Has your usual experience with electrical outages been like mine – power is restored within minutes or a few hours at most.  Rarely power interruptions last into the next day.  

Who could have predicted an Arctic cold front hitting Utah, Idaho and Wyoming at the end of a very hot Summer?  Especially one that brought not only early winterish temps but sustained high winds, some of hurricane force surging to 112 miles per hour? 

What is the Utah National Guard Doing at our Long-Term Care Facilities?

• Governor Herbert and General Burton of the National Guard announced after nearly a week of reduced risk (from Red to Orange) that “Utah is performing well. What we are doing is working, stay strong.”  Here are some highlights starting with National Guard (NG) news.

• 120 NG are being deployed to expand our state’s capacity to: test at long-term facilities and other COVID-19 hot spots; provide needed support to labs; and, do case tracking.  

COVID-19 NEWS in REVIEW: NATION & UTAH

Resuming Life:  

• US plan released April 17, calls for three phases of reduced social and economic restrictions, each with 2-weeks in between to review COVID-19 transmission rates. Guidelines will allow easing of restrictions in low transmission areas, while keeping current, stricter guidelines for harder-hit areas. Ultimately, decisions will rest with governors/county leaders for reopening schools, businesses and other matters. 

• It is now clear our path to normalcy will be a longer process than first envisioned. Health officials warn some social distancing measures may need to remain through the end of the year.  

Organizations Continue to Work ‘Round the Clock’ to Help

These are notes I took from the April virtual meeting of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), reporting on the projects on-going in Utah.

Organizations of faith, working hand in hand, side by side, joined by the American Red Cross, a senior VOAD partner, bring volunteers and treasure to the aid of Utahns fighting the CONVID-19 crisis and earthquake recovery for in need.

VOADs do not self-deploy.  They react to the requests that come from Governmental organizations.

Just a few highlights of VOAD responses:

COVID-19: Update April 10th, 2020

From VIDEO by Suzanne Vernon, Ph.D., Virologist, Research Director, Bateman Horne Center   

COVID-19 Screening:  

• Apps have been developed for self-screening. Search for Free Covid-19 Tracker, Screening Tool or Symptom Tracker.   (1)

Treatment:

• Several trials are underway to test the efficacy of Hydroxy-Chloroquine, a medication long used for treating Malaria, Lupus and other auto-immune illnesses.  Efficacy results should be available within a few weeks.  (2)

Some COVID-19 Protection Tips that May be New to You

Because this reached me with no source noted, I submitted it to two scientists – one a virologist -- for their opinions.  Neither praised it, nor did they find anything wrong with the data.  See if you find something new that is helpful to you – as I did.  -LDM

*The Covid-19 virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule (DNA) covered by a protective layer of lipid (fat), which, when absorbed by the cells of the ocular, nasal or buccal mucosa, changes their genetic code, (mutation) and convert them into aggressor and multiplier cells.

Faith-based Volunteers Stepping Forward and Working Tirelessly for Us

You may not have even heard of Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster – VOAD. Read what they are doing for us right now.  

March 26th, 2020. This is an update on the work of the 5-county VOAD Region 2 members servings since the earthquake (March 18) and the request last Tuesday (March 17) for VOAD partner help from Salt Lake County (SLCO) isolation/quarantine shelters.

*LDS Charities:  Donated pallet (#560 basic hygiene kits) to Salt Lake County for 5 Isolation/Quarantine Shelters (COVID-19)

*Salvation Army and Southern Baptists have been helping with meals since the earthquake (might be helping with Isolation/Quarantine Shelters also). The Salvation Army is opening rental and mortgage relief tomorrow (Wednesday) for the State to be managed out of the SLC office.

Keeping you Informed about Food Supply

Organized and provided by Glenn Beck at Blaze TV, March 16, 2020

• Food producers and supply chain managers say there is generally enough nonperishable food on shelves, in warehouses and on the production line to last several months. But labor shortages due to a shut-down, illness or travel restrictions could create localized supply disruptions.
• The challenge could soon be getting that food to the right places once local distribution centers are wiped out.
• In addition, millions of Americans, who previously got food at restaurants or in school or at work cafeterias, will have to serve themselves at home, with food bought from grocery big-box enterprises.
• "The replenishment cycle is going to be the real test here," said Sean Maharaj, a supply chain expert and managing director at AArete, a consulting firm in Chicago. "Manufacturers don't sit on a lot of extra inventory, so what do you do when everything you have is depleted?"
• Beyond that, industry officials acknowledge some uncertainty about how exactly they will be able to replenish their stocks if factories and ports worldwide are short-staffed.
• Over the past decade, retailers have moved aggressively to become more efficient by slimming down on inventory instead of stockpiling in warehouses.
• "Turns out Just In Time delivery systems have a downside," said Maharaj.