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.

Disasters Don’t Take Their Turn.

They Can Come One Upon Another, Reports Tennessee

On March 2nd, overnight into March 3rd, while the US health and first responders were gearing at a community level to battle the COVID-19 Crisis - now a Pandemic - a violent tornado struck Nashville, TN and a 4-county area.  A You Tube has been posted showing the vast devastation of some areas.

The tornado came on the heels of a severe storm that dropped golf ball-sized hail.

The death toll is reported as 25 at this time along with about 100 injuries.  Volunteers helped day and night to search and rescue any survivors who were trapped.  The American Red Cross set up shelters for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed.  Faith-based volunteers gathered locally, then arrived from other states to meet the needs of the people suffering this horrific disaster.