Emergency and Disaster Planning for Seniors

Disaster preparedness is important for everyone, but especially for those who reside in Florida and experience the hurricane season. For seniors, it is imperative that they create plans with family members and know who to contact during times of emergency.

A good first step is to discuss the risks in the area where you reside. Depending on your location, it may be necessary to make multiple plans for different emergency situations.

Make arrangements with family, friends, and neighbors before an emergency. Make sure to exchange important keys, phone numbers, and addresses. Also, share copies of emergency documents, evacuation plans, and health information.

For families offering assistance to their elderly loved ones, show them where their emergency supplies are located. In addition to showing them, periodically check with them to see if they remember the location. Your supplies should include items like water, nonperishable food, important medications, extra glasses, hearing aids, and batteries. It is also a good idea to store documents and information on a flash drive to have access to digital copies.

See the attached form from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to fill out a family plan: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/Family_Emegency_Plan.pdf. The form includes spaces to fill out relevant phone numbers, insurance information, and social security information.