Emergency Preparedness for Aging Texans

1. Emergency Preparedness for Aging Texans Aging in Texas Conference June 17, 2013

2. “Adults 65 and older are consistently the least prepared of any subgroup of the population.” Lisa Brown, PhD University of South Florida School of Aging Studies

3. “What makes you at risk isn’t that you’re 75. It’s that you have arthritis that makes it difficult to walk more than a block.” Jennifer Campbell, PhD Former Director, Hurricane Fund for the Elderly

4. Assess: What are you preparing for? Considering likely hazards in your area

14. Assess: Identify Individual Capacity and Limitations

15. 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 mobility issues or limitations? • 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?

16. Some questions to consider: (cont.) • 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? • Do you have dietary restrictions?

17. Plan: How do you help people prepare themselves?

18. Outreach – Where to go to spread the message Where do the seniors in your service area gather? Congregate meals Churches/Synagogues/Mosques Adult Day Centers Libraries Community Centers Bingo halls ?

19. Outreach 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

20. 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

21. Outreach – Before An Event Consider 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

22. OutreachWhat to say? Tailor the message to the probable hazards of your specific area Try to let the audience help 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!

23. Outreach What will you tell people DURING an emergency? Shelter-in-place Evacuation Other immediate concerns Transportation Lack of services

24. Outreach How will you reach people during an emergency? Local news (television and radio) NOAA Weather Radio Reverse 911 Direct contact

25. Outreach – the Aftermath Why should you plan to contact people after an emergency? What services are currently available? When are other services expected to become available? Identify immediate needs!

26. How can people prepare themselves? What to do…

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

28. 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.

29. What to consider when talking to facilities? If emergency resources are in the same area, they may be unavailable in a disaster. Contracts are agreements, not guarantees. Plans need to be updated. Local emergency managers can provide valuable guidance when crafting a plan. Practice makes perfect!

30. Planning Saves Lives “Green Oaks took a direct hit from one of several tornadoes ripping through the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area. Astonishingly, all 131 residents and nearly 40 workers in the facility emerged alive and relatively unscathed. Luck played a role, surely, but so did good planning and quick responses. Without exception, employees moved patients safely out of their rooms and away from windows, and rapidly triaged residents’ injuries once the tornado had moved on. Within five hours, all residents were evacuated to other nursing homes or a nearby hospital, most with bags on their laps containing medical records and medications. “This event vividly illustrates why it’s so critical that nursing homes have well-trained staff and updated and detailed emergency procedures in place,” said Allison Lowery, media relations manager for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services. “It quite literally saves lives.” http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/10/when-disaster-strikes-the-nursing-home/

31. Dozens of facilities, many with no pre-laid plans, scrambled to secure buses, supplies and shelters. Others, with detailed preparations, were forced to make hasty arrangements when promised buses or beds in other nursing homes fell through amid the demand for resources. - Houston Chronicle Nursing home and hospital patients were placed in a baggage carrier before being put on a plane at the Southeast Texas Regional Airport near Port Arthur as Jefferson County prepared for Hurricane Rita’s projected landfall.

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

33. Connections matter. “Findings show that ambulances and fire trucks and government aid are not the principal ways most people survive during — and recover after — a disaster…data suggest that while official help is useful…it is the personal ties among members of a community that determine survival during a disaster, and recovery in its aftermath.” http://www.npr.org/2011/07/04/137526401/the-key-to-disaster-survival-friends-and-neighbors

34. Identify Your Network Who will you call under what circumstances? Create a personal contact 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.

35. Identify Your Network If you must evacuate, who are you meeting and where? Designate a meeting place – out of range of hazard Make a transportation plan Print maps/directions for multiple routes Plan for failure Practice!

36. Decide what to do: How Will You Get Your Information? In case of disaster, always follow instructions from emergency management officials! Many of the deaths during Hurricane Sandy could have been avoided had people heeded orders to evacuate. Stupidity kills.

37. Decide what to do: How Will You Get Your Information? Plan for failure If relying on television news, have a battery-operated radio in case power fails Apps and other sources of cellular data can be overwhelmed during disasters Consider the source – not all sources are equally reliable

38. 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

39. Decide what to do How Will You Get Your Information? Is there a physiological or other barrier that impedes your ability to get and/or understand timely information? How can you overcome these barriers? For example: Hearing Impairment Adaptive smoke detectors/other alarms Sticker for door Visor card Wallet card

41. What to do: Documents Have copies on hand Birth, marriage, death certificates Social security card, passport, driver 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

42. What to do: Documents Consider hosting a “SCAN IT” day in your area Scan documents and either email to trusted family member, create a free account to store them digitally, or save to thumb drives to add to Go Kit

43. What to do: Financial Arrange for direct deposit or pre-paid debits for all income Social Security already must be paid electronically Veterans benefits Pensions Royalties Rental incomes Other sources

44. What to do: Financial Protect 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.

45. What to do: Financial Insurance 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

46. 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.

47. 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

48. 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.

49. 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

50. 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.