Allison Walker, Generation to Generation

Seniors can do 10 things right now that will help them get through a hurricane or an unexpected disaster.

Home Instead Senior Care" and the "American Red Cross" have come up with 10 more ways for seniors to prepare for a natural disaster. Here are a few of the biggies:

It all begins with a single sheet of paper -- your emergency contact sheet.

The contact sheet is something you fill out, fold up and give to everyone in your house and family.  It asks you to fill out more numbers than you'll probably ever use, but they're there in case you can't seem to reach anyone.

• Print Out a Red Cross Contact Card
  
• Complete a personal assessment:  Maybe you can't move as fast as you used to.  Take note of what you can or can't do before, during and after a disaster. Then, write down who can help you meet those needs.
• If someone asked you if you had a plan of action would you answer yes? If not, chat with whoever you are close with to come up with one, including professional caregivers.
• Don't forget your pets
• Know where to get information during an emergency. News 13 is on the air 24 hours a day and we have a section on our Web site dedicated to the most recent Hurricane information.
• If you are hearing impaired, ask local emergency management about getting a strobe alarm. 
• Make at least two escape routes -- one out of your home and another out of the area in case you need to evacuate the community.
• Remember your medications In your disaster supply kit. Throw in copies of your prescriptions, extra eyeglasses and hearing-aid batteries.

A group of older adults who went through a 2-week power outage in New York realized they were not prepared, so they got together with the Red Cross and wrote up a plan for other seniors to read so that no one is caught off-guard. 

To see more Generation to Generation stories, go to News 13 On Demand, Digital Cable Channel 313.

 
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