Disaster Preparedness for the Aging Population

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Disaster Preparedness for the Aging Population

Texas Conference on AgingMay 9, 2012

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“People…are still responsible for personal emergency preparedness. Our job is to make it achievable.”

-Marcy Roth, Director, Office of

Disability Integration and

Coordination, FEMA

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You can steal this presentation.

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Really. We want you to.

Take out the slides that provide guidance to emergency planners or those working with aging

populations (hint: look for the blue border).Take out the hazards that do not apply to your area.

Put your contact information on it.

No sense reinventing the wheel.

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Assess:What are you preparing for?

Identifying the most likely hazards

Identifying Individual Capacity and LimitationsQuestions to Consider

Plan:How can people prepare themselves?

Outreach, Make a Plan, Preparedness Kits

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Assess:What are you preparing

for?

What are the potential hazards in your area?

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Assess:Identify Individual

Capacity andLimitations

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Some questions to consider:• Do you live alone?• Is your home geographically isolated?• Can you drive? Do you own a car?• Do you rely on a caregiver or other services such

as Meals On Wheels?• Do you have family or friends living nearby? Do

you have family or friends that live in a place that will not experience the same hazards?

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Some questions to consider: (cont.)• Do you have mobility issues or limitations?• Do you rely on supportive medical equipment?• Do you have cognitive limitations or trouble

remembering things?• Do you have a hearing or vision loss? If so, do

you use a hearing aid or wear corrective lenses?

• Is your native language something other than English?

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Plan:How do you help people

prepare themselves?

What you can do…

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Outreach – How do you spread the message?

Before an event During an event

After an event

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Outreach – Before An EventWhere do the seniors in your service area gather?• Congregate meals• Churches/Synagogues/Mosques• Adult Day Centers• Libraries• Community Centers• ?

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Outreach – Before An Event

How else you can reach people?• Meals on Wheels• Fraternal Organizations (VFW, Shriners, etc.)• Medical providers – both in office and home

health• Other caregivers• CERT Teams

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Outreach – Before An Event

How else you can reach people?County Fairs/Craft Shows/Other Public Events Join with CERT teams to host a booth Share hand-outs

Available from state and feds Create your own

Give away basic items

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Outreach – Before An EventConsider their trusted sources:•Will they trust information coming from a

government/religious/other source? • Are there language

and/or cultural barriers?• Beware of those with the “I survived the last one”

attitude

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Outreach – Before an Event• Tailor the message to the possible hazards of your

specific area• Try to let the audience do the work• People will be more convinced by their peers!

• Be ready to talk about pets• Bring props and/or giveaways• Conclude with a call to action!

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Outreach – During An Event

How will you inform people during an emergency?• Shelter-in-place• Evacuation• Other immediate concerns• Transportation• Lack of services

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Outreach – During An Event

How will you inform people during an emergency?• Local news (television and radio)• NOAA Weather Radio• Reverse 911• Direct contact• Registries

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Outreach – During An EventConsiderations if you choose to create a registry:• How will you populate the list? • Who will maintain it? How often will you update

it?• How will it be activated?• Beware of privacy concerns when sharing

information with external organizations.

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Outreach – After An Event

Do you plan to contact people after an emergency?• What services are available• When will other services are expected to

become available• Identify immediate needs

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How can people prepare themselves?

What to do…

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Make a Plan• Evaluate potential hazards• Identify your network• Decide what to do• Put it in writing• Share it!

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Evaluate potential hazards• Consider possibilities, but plan for probabilities.• What hazards would require evacuation versus

sheltering-in-place?• Ask the places you frequent about their

emergency plans.

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Identify Your Network• Family• Friends• Neighbors• Caregivers• People who attend your church/synagogue/mosque• Case/social workers• Others?

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Identify Your NetworkWho will you call under what circumstances?• Create a phone list:

• In case of _______, contact _______. • Keep a copy in an accessible place for you and others who

may come into your home. Keep a copy with you.• Make sure that person knows they are your contact.• Designate back-ups in case someone is unreachable.

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Identify Your NetworkIf you must evacuate, who are you meeting and where?• Designate a meeting place• Make a transportation plan

• Print maps/directions for multiple routes• Plan for failure

• Practice!

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Decide what to do:

How Will You Get Your Information?• In case of disaster, always follow instructions from

emergency management officials!• Plan for failure

• If relying on television news, have a battery-operated radio in case power fails

• Consider the source – not all sources are equally reliable

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Decide what to do:

How Will You Get Your Information?Make sure warning systems are in good repair.• Replace smoke detector batteries twice a year

• Special smoke detectors can alert the deaf or blind• Consider installing a carbon monoxide detector if you

do not already have one• Pre-program weather radios for your immediate area

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Decide what to do

How Will You Get Your Information?Is there a physiological barrier that impedes your ability to get and/or understand timely information?•For example: Hearing Impairment

• Adaptive smoke detectors/other alarms• Sticker for door• Visor card• Wallet card

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Decide what to do:

How Will You Get Your Information?• What other barriers could exist?• How can you overcome these?

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What to do:Documents• Have copies on hand• Birth, marriage, death certificates• Social security card, passport, driver’s license• Immunization and other medical records, prescriptions• Account numbers for bank and credit accounts• Insurance policies, deeds, titles• Health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid

• Store originals in safe-deposit box or other secure, water-proof location

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What to do:DocumentsConsider hosting a “SCAN IT” day in your area• Scan documents and either email to trusted family

member or create a free account to store them digitally

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What to do:Financial•Arrange for direct

deposit or pre-paid debits• Social Security must be

paid electronically starting March 1, 2013• Alternative is a Direct

Express Card• www.ssa.gov/deposit

• Consider making similar

arrangements for other sources of income• Veterans benefits• Pensions• Royalties• Rental incomes• Other sources

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What to do:FinancialProtect your credit•Arrange for automatic withdrawal of major payments

•A disaster does not exempt you from making payments• Mortgages• Car loans• Insurance

• Consider getting a locking mailbox or P.O. box• If something that may contain personal information is

late, contact the sender immediately. Do not assume delivery is delayed due to the disaster.

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What to do:FinancialInsurance• Make sure you have the right amount and kind

of coverage• Flood insurance (and some other policies) must be

purchased 30 days before an event to be valid• Meet with your insurance provider to make sure

you are adequately covered• Keep additional copies of insurance policies in

a safe location

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What to do:Utilities• Have a list of contact information for your utility

providers in an accessible location• Learn how to safely shut off water or gas• If you are not physically capable of doing so yourself,

learn where the shut-offs are located so you can direct someone else to them in case of an emergency.• We recommend keeping flashlights and batteries on

hand instead of candles due to fire risk.

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What to do:Medical• Always have at least a week’s supply of

medications• Have copies of prescriptions• Get in the habit of wearing your medic-alert

bracelet or necklace at all times• Create a file that includes serial numbers and

operating instructions for any assistive medical devices

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What to do:“Go Kit” • You may be directed to evacuate in a variety of

situations• Always follow the instructions of emergency

management officials• If you are ordered to evacuate, it is because they

believe that your life may be in danger if you remain.

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What to do:“Go Kit” • Should be portable and accessible• Consider using a duffle bag, backpack or plastic

bin with wheels• You must be able to lift and carry it• Make sure it is labeled with your name and

contact information

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What to do:“Stuck Kit” • You may be directed to shelter-in-place in a

variety of situations.• Sometimes it is best to stay put and avoid uncertain or

dangerous conditions outside.• In case of a disaster, be prepared to survive for at

least 72 hours without assistance.• A “Stuck Kit” should include all the items in your

“Go Kit” plus more.

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What to do:

“Go Kit” and “Stuck Kit” What should you put in them?

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What to do:

You can keep your pets safe by:• Posting rescue alert stickers at your home.• Obtaining information about hotels and shelters that accept pets before a disaster strikes.• Adding your vet to your emergency contact list.• Keeping a copy of shot records on hand.• Make a kit for your pet.

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PUT YOUR PLAN IN

WRITING!

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SHARE YOUR PLAN

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Psychological• Fine line between fear and motivation• Knowledge is power• Disasters can exacerbate chronic medical and

psychological conditions• Beware of transfer trauma• Practice helps

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Prevent Scams •Unfortunately, disasters often bring out criminals

who prey on the needs of survivors by offering fraudulent services.

• Educate yourself before a disaster strikes.

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Prevent Scams• There is never a fee to apply for or receive FEMA disaster

assistance or property damage inspections.• Government workers will never ask for a fee or payment.

They will wear a photo ID.• Beware of those who promise benefits but ask for an

upfront payment.• Get three written estimates for repair work. Check

credentials. • Always get a detailed, written contract BEFORE work begins.• Pay only by check or credit card. Do not pay anything

without a signed contract.

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Prevent Scams• What can you do after a disaster to protect yourself? • Talk to your insurance agent.• Do not make rash decisions. Sleep on it.• Report suspected fraud to FEMA at:

1-866-720-5721.

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ResourcesTexas Association of Regional Councils

www.txregionalcouncil.orgwww.texascitizencorps.org

Otherwww.ready.gov/seniors www.texasprepares.org

www.redcross.org www.aspca.org

www.fema.gov/pdf/about/odic/fnss_guidance.pdf

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Contact Information:

Keri Beth CainEmergency Preparedness Planner

Texas Association of Regional Councils [email protected]

Melanie HarrisonAging Programs Coordinator

Texas Association of Regional Councils [email protected]