disaster preparedness for srs-english.revised 7-09

8/3/2019 Disaster Preparedness for Srs-English.revised 7-09

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DISASTER PREPAREDNESSFor Seniors By Seniors


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Dear Friends,

We are a group o older adults who experienced a

two-week power outage when a massive ice storm

hit the Greater Rochester, New York, area. We were

unprepared or such a disaster. I we had only takena ew simple steps to prepare ourselves or such

an event, we could have eliminated many o the

hardships we had to endure.

We are just like many o you. Some o us are in good

health but arent quite as agile as we used to be. Someo us have hearing or vision problems; others use a

cane or wheelchair. Whatever our limitations, we

still need to be prepared. We can be prepared!

o avoid getting caught unprepared, we urge you to

immediately review the enclosed inormation andll in the appropriate local emergency numbers. Be

sure to keep this helpul booklet in a handy place or

quick reerence.

Sincerely,

Vi Marion V. Fran

Melvin Q. Jam Roger H.

Julia L. Dorothy M. Mary S.

Nancy C. Janet H. LaVinia

Te Greater Rochester Chapter o the American Red Cross

developed this inormation.


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The Three Steps to Preparedness 1

DISASTER PREPAREDNESSFor Seniors By Seniors

Tk rponibiity to protct yor i!

Prpr NOW or ddn mrgncy.

Emergencies and disasters can strike quickly and without

warning and can orce you to evacuate your neighborhood

or be conined to your home. What would you do i your

basic serviceswater, gas, electricity or communications

were cut o?

Learn how to protect yoursel and cope with disaster by

planning ahead. Even i you have physical limitations, you can

still protect and prepare yoursel.

Local ocials and relie workers may not be able to reach

everyone right away. You can deal with disaster better bypreparing in advance and by working with those in your

support network: your amily, neighbors and riends as a team.

Knowing what to do is your responsibility. Tis booklet is a

guide to being more prepared.

n The Three Steps to Preparedness

1. Get a Kit

2. Make a Plan

3. Be Inormed

n When Disaster Strikes

n Emergency Contact Page

Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors


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Disaster Preparedness for Seniors by Seniors2


Disasters can happen at any moment. By planning ahead youcan avoid waiting in long lines or critical supplies, such as

ood, water and medicine and you will also have essential items

i you need to evacuate.

For your saety and comort, have a disaster supplies kitpacked and ready in one place beore a disaster hits.

Assemble enough supplies to last or at least three days. Store your supplies in one or more easy-to-carry containers,

such as a backpack or duel bag.

You may want to consider storing supplies in a containerthat has wheels.

Be sure your bag has an ID tag. Label any equipment, such as wheelchairs, canes or walkers,

that you would need with your name, address and phone

numbers.

Keeping your kit up-to-date is also important. Review thecontents at least every six months or as your needs change.

Check expiration dates and shi your stored supplies into

everyday use beore they expire. Replace ood, water and

batteries, and reresh medications and other perishable

items with rst in, rst out practices.

On the ollowing pages are some suggestions or building your

disaster supplies kit. Include any additional items that you eel

might be useul or your particular needs.

1. Get a Kit


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Basic Needs and Supplies (check off)

q Water one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply orevacuation and 2-week supply or home)

q Food it is a good idea to include oods that do not needcooking (canned, dried, etc.) (3-day supply or evacuationand 2-week supply or home)

q Flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs (do not use candles)

q Battery-operated or hand-crank radio

q First aid kit and manual

q Medications (7-day supply) and medical items

q Multi-purpose tool (several tools that old up into a pocket-sized unit)

q Sanitation and personal hygiene items (toilet paper, plasticgarbage bags)

q Copies o personal documents (medication list and pertinentmedical inormation, deed/lease to home, birth certifcates,

insurance policies)

q Cell phone with an extra battery and charger (s)

q Family and riends emergency contact inormation

q Cash and coins (ATMs may not be accessible)

q Emergency blanket

q Map(s) o the local area

q Whistle (to attract the attention o emergency personnel)

q One change o clothing

q Manual can opener

q Pet supplies (including ood and vaccination records)

q Extra set o keys (car, house, etc.)

q Pack o cards to provide entertainment and pass the time


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Cold Climate Supplies(check off)

q Jacket or coat

q Long pants and long-sleeve shirt

q Sturdy shoes

q Hat, mittens and scar

q Sleeping bag or warm blanket

It is possible that you will not have heat during or aer a

disaster. Tink about your clothing and bedding needs. Be sure

to include one set o the ollowing or each person:

Supplies or Your Vehicle(check off)q Flashlight with extra batteries and extra bulbs

q Maps

q First aid kit and manual

q Tire repair kit

q Jumper cables

q Flares

q Bottled water

q Non-perishable oods such as granola bars

q Winter: Blanket, hat, mittens, shovel, sand, tire chains,windshield scraper, forescent distress fag

q Summer: Sunscreen lotion SPF 15 or higher, shade item

(umbrella, wide-brimmed hat, etc.)


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Other Items You Might Needq

q

q

q

q

q

q

q

q


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Te next time a disaster strikes, you may not have much time to

act. Planning ahead reduces anxiety. Prepare now or a sudden

emergency and remember to review your plan regularly.

Meet With Your Family and Friends

Explain your concerns to your amily and others in your support

network and work with them as a team to prepare. Arrange orsomeone to check on you at the time o a disaster. Be sure to

include any caregivers in your meeting and planning eorts.

Assess yoursel and your household. What personal abilities

and limitations may aect your response to a disaster? Tink

about how you can resolve these or other questions and discussthem with your amily and riends. Details are important to

ensure your plan ts your needs. Ten, practice the planned

actions to make sure everything works.

Family Communications Plan

Carry amily contact inormation in your wallet.

Choose an out-o-town contact person. Aer a disaster, itis oen easier to make a long-distance call than a local call

rom a disaster area.

2. Make a Plan


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Escape Routes and Meeting Places

Community Disaster Plans

Ask about the emergency plans and procedures that exist inyour community.

Know about your communitys response and evacuation plans

(e.g., hurricane, nuclear emergency, severe weather). I you

do not own a vehicle or drive, nd out in advance what your

communitys plans are or evacuating those without private

transportation or make arrangements with a neighbor who

would drive you.

I you receive home care, speak with your case manager to see

what their plan is in times o emergency and how they can

assist with your plan.

qPlan the best and quickest escape routes out o your home andevacuation routes out o your neighborhood.

qDecide on a meeting place outside your neighborhood in case

you cannot return home.qI you or someone in your household uses a wheelchair,

make sure all escape routes rom your home are wheelchairaccessible.

q Know the sae places within your home in case you need toshelter during extreme weather events (e.g., tornado).

q Practice your escape drill every six months.

q Plan or transportation i you need to evacuate to a shelter.


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2. Make a Plan (cont.)Post Emergency Phone Numbers Near Your Phones

Post emergency numbers near all o your phones. Include thenumbers o those in your support network. Remember that

in some emergencies telephone lines might not be working.

Consider having alternative plans or contacting those in your

network.

Plan for Those With Disabilities

Keep support items like wheelchairs and walkers in a designated

place so they can be ound quickly. Tis step is essential or

those who have home-health caregivers, particularly or those

who are bed bound.

Plan for Your Pets or Service Animals

ake your pets with you i you

evacuate. However, be aware that

pets (except service animals)

are not permitted in emergency

public shelters or health reasons.

Prepare a list o amily, riends,

boarding acilities, veterinarians

and pet-riendly hotels that

could shelter your pets in an

emergency.


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Utilities

alk to your utility company about emergency procedures andknow how and when to turn o water, gas and electricity at

the main switches or valves. Share this inormation with your

amily. Keep any tools you will need nearby. urn o the utilities

only i you suspect the lines are damaged, you suspect a leak

or i local ocials instruct you to do so. (Not: I gas is turned

o or any reason, only a qualied proessional can turn it backon. It could take several weeks or a proessional to respond.

Heating and cooking would need alternative sources.)

Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Alarms

est your smoke alarms and carbonmonoxide alarms regularly. Consider

strobe or vibrating alert systems that

might meet your needs. Change the

batteries in all alarms at least once a

year or according to the manuacturers

instructions.

Insurance Coverage

alk with your insurance agent to be sure that you have

adequate insurance coverage. Homeowners insurance does

not cover food damage and may not provide ull coverage orother hazards.


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Vital Records and Documents

Keep copies o vital amily records and other importantdocuments such as birth and marriage certicates, social

security cards, passports, wills, deeds, and nancial, insurance

and immunizations records in a sae location, like a re sae or

sae-deposit box.

Hearing Aids/Cochlear Implants

I you wear hearing aids or assistive devices, consider storing

them in a bedside container that is attached to your nightstand

using Velcro. Some disasters (e.g., earthquakes) may shi items

that are not secured, making them dicult to nd quickly.


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Maintain Your Kit and Practice Your Plan

Every six months:

Review your plan with all o your riends and amily.

Check your disaster supplies kit and reresh all expiringitems (e.g., ood, water, medications and batteries).

Conduct re and emergency evacuation drills on a regularbasis with your amily. Make sure all your plans work.

At least once a year:

Change the batteries in all essential devices at the same

time each year. (e.g., smoke alarms).


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Community Hazard Assessment

What hazards threaten your community and neighborhood?

Make a list o how they might aect you. Tink about

both natural (e.g., hurricanes, fooding, winter storms and

earthquakes) and human-caused (e.g., hazardous materials

and transportation accidents) and about your risk rom those

hazards.

Which o these hazards are most likely to happen in your

community?

qEarthquakes q Flooding

qHurricanes

qoxic Spills

qWinter Storms q Home Fires

qornadoes q Wildres

qTunderstorms

Preparing or a hazard that is most likely to happen in your

area will help you be prepared or any disaster. Remember,disasters can happen at any time.

Do you live alone? Do you drive or own a car? How good is your sense o smell? Do you have any physical, medical, thinking

or learning limitations? Has your sense o hearing or vision decreased? Are you reliant upon any medical equipment? Are you reliant upon a caregiver?

3. Be Inormed


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Community Warning Systems

How wi yo b notifd o poib mrgncy?

Know how local authorities will warn you o a pending

or current disaster situation and how they will provide

inormation to you beore, during and aer a disaster.

Frind, Fmiy Crgivr nd NighborBeore a disaster happens it is a good idea to have a conversation

with those in your support network: your riends, amily

and neighbors. Let them know your needs in an emergency

situation; ask them how they could assist with your plan and

whether they would be willing to help. Consider that during

some emergencies travel is severely limited and they may not

be able to get to you.

Local Neighborhood Emergency Teams

Connect with a group in your local neighborhood. Some o

these could include CER (Community Emergency Responseeam), neighborhood watch, community block associations,

aith-based organizations, etc. Even i you eel you cannot

become a member, let them know your needs and ask them

how they could assist with your disaster plan. I available, take

advantage o advance registration systems in your area or

those who need help during community emergencies.


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Local Volunteer Fire Departments

Connect with your local volunteer re department orambulance and let them know your needs (especially i you

live in a rural area). Discuss with them how they might be able

to assist in your disaster plan.

Local EAS (Emergency Alert System)

Certain television and radio stations will broadcast emergency

messages rom local authorities. Find out which stations

broadcast on the Emergency Alert System (EAS).

NOAA Weather Radio/All-Hazard Alert Radio

Tese special radios provide one o the

earliest warnings o weather and other

emergencies, and can be programmed to

alert you to hazards in your specic area.

Call your local National Weather Service

oce or visit www.nws.noaa.gov or moreinormation.

Door-to-Door Warning

From Local Emergency Ofcials

In some emergencies local responders may come door-to-doorand deliver emergency messages or warnings. Listen careully

and ollow their instructions!


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Senior Living and Assisted Living Communities

I you live in a senior community become amiliar with anydisaster notication plans that may already exist. alk to your

community management or resident council about how you

can all be more prepared together.

Be AwareHelp Inorm Others

Tere may be people in your community that need extra

assistance when a disaster occurs. Consider how you can

assist them in their preparedness planning and during an

emergency.


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Sheltering In Place vs. Staying at Home

In some emergencies such as a chemical emergency, you wouldneed to know how to seal a room or saety on a temporary

basis, called shelter in place. In the case o a winter storm,

you may be told to stay at home. Tis means stay where you

are and make yoursel as sae as possible until the emergency

passes or you are told to evacuate. In this situation it is saer

to remain indoors than to go outside. Stay in your home andlisten to instructions rom emergency personnel. Listen to your

television or radio or emergency messages. Be prepared to be

on your own and have additional ood and water or seven to

ourteen days.

If You Need to Evacuate

Coordinate with your amily and home care provider or

evacuation procedures.

ry to carpool,

i possible.

Wear appropriate clothingand sturdy shoes.

ake your disaster supplies

kit go bag.

Lock your home.

Use the travel routes specied or special assistance providedby local ocials. Dont take any short cuts, they may be

unsae.


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When you arrive at a shelter, notiy the shelter management

o any needs you may have. Tey will do their best to

accommodate you and make you comortable. Let your out-o-town contact know when you le and

where you are going.

Make arrangements or your pets. ake them with you i

you leave.

Public Shelters

Relie organizations, like the American Red Cross, may open

shelters i a disaster aects a large number o people or the

emergency is expected to last several days.

Be prepared to go to a shelter i Your area is without electrical power.

Floodwater is rising.

Your home has been severely damaged.

Police or other local ocials tell you to evacuate.

When Disaster Strikes


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Services Provided at a Red Cross Shelter

Food

emporary shelter Basic rst aid

All American Red

Cross emergency

services are provided

ree o charge.

o learn about Red

Cross shelters that have been opened in your area, listen to

your local media, check with your local American Red Cross

chapter or visit www.redcross.org.

Immediately After a Disaster

I the emergency occurs while you are at home, check

or damage using a fashlight. DO NO light matches

or candles or turn on electrical switches. Check or res,

chemical spills and gas leaks.

Shut o any damaged utilities.

Check on your neighbors, especially those who are elderly

or have disabilities.

Call your out-o-town contacts and let them know you are

okay.

Stay away rom downed power lines.

Do not drive through fooded roads.

Monitor local broadcasts or inormation about where you

can get disaster relie assistance.


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If Electrical Power Is Lost

Use a fashlight or battery-operated lantern. DO NOT use CaNDles.

urn o or unplug all major appliances (e.g., stove,

rerigerator, dryer). Tey could be damaged by the

electrical surge when the power is restored.

Keep rerigerator and reezer doors closed as much as

possible.

Use portable generators cautiously. Make sure they are

operated only out-o-doors in a well-ventilated area.

Reuel a generator only aer it has cooled. Do not connect

a generator to your homes electrical system except though

an approved transer switch installed in compliance withthe local electrical code.

Financial Exploitation/Scams

Unortunately, aer a disaster there may be some people who

will try to take advantage o your vulnerability. Beware o

high-pressure sales, disclosing personal nancial inormation(account numbers and credit card inormation) and services

provided with no written contract. For inormation on scams,

go to www.fc.gov.



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Before a Fire

Plan two escape routes out o each room. Choose a place to meet

outside afer escaping rom a re. Practice your re escape with

everyone in your home every six months.

Plan to use the stairs during a re evacuation, even in buildings

with elevators. I you cannot use stairways, make special

arrangements or help in advance.

Sleep with the bedroom door closed. Install smoke alarms inside

and outside sleeping areas to give you warning o toxic umes.

est your smoke alarm every month. Change batteries on the

same day each year. Vacuum it occasionally to remove dust.

Replace smoke alarms every ten yearsthey lose sensitivity

over time.

In Case of Fire

Remain calm. Drop

to the foor and crawl.

Most re atalities are

due to breathing toxicumes and smoke. Te

cleanest air is near the foor. Breathing toxic umes and

smoke is more dangerous than the risk o injury in getting

to the foor quickly.

Feel any door beore you open it. I it is hot, nd another

way out.

I your smoke alarm sounds, never waste time to get

dressed or collect valuables or pets. Get out o your home

immediately.


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Do not try to ght the re! Call or help rom a neighbors

phone.

Nv bck b bl f .G !

I your clothes catch on re, drop to the foor and roll to

suocate the re. Keep rolling (running rom the re only

ans the fames and makes it worse).

I you are in a wheelchair or cannot get out o your home,stay by the window near the foor and signal or help.

Grandparents and Grandchildren

Many children visit their grandparents oen; they may even

live with you. Te ollowing saety advice or children can

help grandparents prepare a sae environment at home orchildren:

Store matches and lighters up high in locked cabinets,

away rom children.

Install plastic covers over all exposed electrical outlets.

Move cleaning chemicals like cleansers, soap, drain cleanerand other poisons to high cupboards OR install a child-

proo lock i you must keep these items in low cabinets.

Store prescription medicines and over-

the-counter drugs like aspirin, cough

medicines and stomachache remedies in

a cabinet out o reach o children.

I children are playing outside or in a

pool when skies grow dark or you hear

thunder, have them come indoors right away.



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Children Can Help Grandparents, Too

Have children test each smokealarm in your home to make sure

it is working by using a broom

handle to push the test button.

Ask children to draw a foor plan

o your home and show two ways

out o every room in case o re.

Ask your grandchildren to help you assemble your disaster

supplies kit and get them to assemble one or their amily at

the same time.

Home CaregiversSpecial Considerations

Prepare a disaster supplies kit or any amily member who

cannot do so on their own. I this person receives home care,

speak with the case manager to see what the agencys role would

be in case o emergency at home or i evacuation is indicated.

Develop home re escape and evacuation plans

and practice them every month in case o re

and other disasters particular to your area.

Enlist the assistance o other amily members

i possible.

Find out what provisions are available in your area in caseevacuation is needed, especially i your amily member requires

an uninterrupted power source or survival.


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Know that you may be directed to a hospital or a medical or

unctional support shelter and you may need to continue caring

or that person during the emergency situation.

Be sure to make your back-up assistants and amily members

aware o all emergency plans.

Emotional and Psychological Effects

Disasters oen cause emotional distress. Being prepared willlessen your anxiety. When an emergency occurs, know that

you may experience some emotional, physical, mental and

spiritual reactions.

S pcl phcl c:

Stomachaches Diculty sleeping/fatigue

Headaches

Appetite disturbances

A worsening of chronic medical conditions like

arthritis, diabetes or high-blood pressure

S pcl l c:

Sadness Depression

Excessive anxiety Irritability and anger

Emotional numbness

S pcl l c:

Confusion Disorientation Memory problems Lack of focus and concentration

Diculty making decisions



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S pcl pl c:

Anger with God

Questioning ones spiritual beliefs An increase in prayer

A need to nd spiritual reasons for the disaster

A need to be comforted by spiritual leaders

When a disaster occurs, it can remind you o previous events in

your lie. Remember what you did then to help you get throughit and see i it works now.

Sometimes this new disaster seems like the nal straw! I you

nd memories bring up old grie, sadness, ear and anger, it

can be distressing. ry to separate your reactions to previous

events rom what is happening now. Remember that you wereable to cope last time and remind yoursel you can cope now.

Everyone Is Affected by DisasterNot Just Seniors

Emotional and other kinds o responses

are expected. Tats okay. In a disaster,

many people have problems taking careo routine tasks. Be encouraged by a

positive attitude, remind yoursel o your

strengths, and tasks can be more easily

done.

Support is most important. And gettinghelp is important. Ask or what you need.


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I there are amily or riends nearby, let them support you.

Let the Red Cross or other agencies assist you. Dont worry

about not appearing independent. Everyone needs help whendisaster strikes.

Preparation Makes a Difference

When youre upset or conused, already having your disaster

plan in place will allow you to do what needs to be done to

take care o yoursel. Its much easier to remain calm when you

know what to do. Use this booklet to help you prepare.

Summary and Reminders

ake responsibility by planning now.

Listen or inormation on the radio and V about hazardous

weather and other events, and heed the advice o local ocials.

Leave right away i told to do so.

In some communities, people who need help or transportation

during an evacuation are asked to register that need with their

local government.

Call your local emergency management oce or inormation

about what to do during an evacuation. It is important to have

alternative plans in case circumstances change.

Gather essential supplies, and be sure to keep a list o medica-tions and their dosage, a copy o your eyeglass prescription

and other important papers to take with you i you have to

leave your home.



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n Useul Web Sites

American Red Cross www.rdcro.org

Department o Homeland Security www.rdy.gov

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administrationwww.no.gov

Federal Emergency Management Agency www.m.gov

Homeland Security Management Institutewww.monrocc.d/dpt/hmi

AARP www.rp.org

For more inormation, please contact your local emergencymanagement oce, American Red Cross chapter or www.redcross.org.

Te American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led

by volunteers, guided by its Congressional Charter andthe Fundamental Principles o the International Red CrossMovement, will provide relie to victims o disasters and helppeople prevent, prepare or, and respond to emergencies.

Acknowledgements

Te Greater Rochester Chapter o the American Red Crossand the Homeland Security Management Institute at MonroeCommunity College developed this material in cooperationwith the ollowing organizations:

Congressman om Reynolds

Monroe County Oce o Emergency Preparedness

Monroe County Community Home Health AgencyMonroe County Oce or the Aging

Visiting Nurse Service or Rochester, N.Y.

Liespan o Greater Rochester, N.Y.


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n Other Local Inormation and Web Sites

Emergency Contact Page


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n Additional Specifc Inormation You

Might Need

Emergency Contact Page28


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n Important Numbers

Police:

Fire department:

Ambulance agency:

Family doctor:

Poison Control Center: 1-800-222-1222

For more inormation, visit: www.rdcro.org

n Emergency Contact Inormation

Name:

Home address:

Family members contact inormation:

Out-o-town contact inormation:

Family meeting place outside the neighborhood:

Emergency Contact Page


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