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Emergency Preparedness for Aging Texans

Aging in Texas ConferenceJune 17, 2013

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“Adults 65 and older are consistently the least

prepared of any subgroup of the population.”

Lisa Brown, PhDUniversity of South Florida

School of Aging Studies

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“What makes you at r isk isn’t that you’re 75. It’s that you have arthrit is that makes it diffi cult to

walk more than a block.”

Jennifer Campbell, PhDFormer Director, Hurricane Fund for

the Elderly

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Assess:What are you preparing

for?

Considering likely 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 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?

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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?

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Plan:How do you help people

prepare themselves?

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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• ?

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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

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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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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!

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Outreach

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

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Outreach

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

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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!

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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.

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!

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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/

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.

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

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

Connections matter.

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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

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Identify Your NetworkWho 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.

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Identify Your NetworkIf 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!

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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!• Many of the deaths during Hurricane Sandy could have been avoided had people heeded orders to evacuate.• Stupidity kills.

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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

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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 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

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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

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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, create a free account to store them digitally, or save to thumb drives to add to Go Kit

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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

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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:

Keep your pets safe by:• Post rescue alert stickers at your home.• Obtain information about hotels and shelters that accept pets before a disaster strikes.• Add your vet to your emergency contacts.• Keep a copy of shot records on hand.• Get your pet used to wearing a collar.• Consider micro-chipping your pet.• Make a kit for your pet.

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Psychological

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

psychological conditions (geriatric cascade)• Homebound people can experience heightened

anxiety both leading up to and after a disaster• 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. Same goes for volunteers who are affiliated with official response organizations.• 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

www.fda.gov

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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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Contact Information:

Keri Beth CainEmergency Preparedness Manager

Texas Association of Regional Councils kcain@txregionalcouncil.org

Melanie HarrisonAging Programs Coordinator

Texas Association of Regional Councils mharrison@txregionalcouncil.org