Take Control in 1, 2, 3!

Make it a point in September to ensure you and your family are ready for a disaster by knowing the three steps to emergency preparedness – Assess, Plan, and Engage.  This year, National Preparedness Month focuses on equipping older adults with knowledge that could save their lives.

“We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas,” says Deanne Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

According to the American Red Cross, some of the factors that make older adults more vulnerable to disasters are:

• More likely to suffer from chronic conditions.
• Dependent on medications associated with chronic conditions.
• Have a greater reliance on assistive devices such as walkers or glasses.
• Have a greater reliance on support from caregivers and others.
• Have an increased likelihood of social isolation.

Assess Your Needs

Know what disasters can affect your area, which of them might result in an evacuation or a shelter in place, and plan what you need to do in both cases.  Older adults are especially vulnerable during all-hazard events, such as severe weather.

If you have medications that need refrigeration, rely on mobility or assistive devices, or have a pet, you’ll need to understand how these variables may affect what you’ll need to stay safe in a disaster or emergency.

Determine any special assistance you may need and include plans for that assistance in your emergency plan.

Make a Plan

• Plan for food, water, and essentials for you and pets or service animals.
• Plan for your transportation if you need help evacuating.
• Plan how you will have your assistive devices with you during an evacuation.
• Make copies of Medicaid, Medicare and other insurance cards.
• Make an emergency kit. Include items that meet your individual needs, such as medicines, medical supplies, batteries and chargers. Include a list of medicines you need, dosage instructions, and any allergies.  Make a contact list of important people and care providers.

Engage Your Support Network

Reaching out to family, friends, and neighbors can help you build a support network that can support you before, during, and after a disaster or emergency. Share each aspect of your emergency plan with everyone in your group, including a friend or relative in another area who would not be impacted by the same emergency who can help if necessary. Make sure everyone knows how you plan to evacuate your home or workplace and where you will go in case of a disaster. Make sure that someone in your personal support network has an extra key to your home and knows where you keep your emergency supplies. Practice your plan with those who have agreed to be part of your personal support network.

Stay Informed - Sign Up for MidlothianSafe

To alert people in the path of severe weather, the City of Midlothian uses MidlothianSafe, a mass notification system that includes automated weather warnings via phone calls, text messages, and emails to registered residents and businesses.  Sign up for MidlothianSafe today for notifications.

For more information about making a disaster plan and what to pack in an emergency kit, visit the Ready website.

To learn how to prepare for all types of disasters, visit the City of Midlothian's Emergency Preparedness webpage.