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Hurricane season began June 1st. Nor'easter season is from October through April. Tornados, flash floods, high winds and earthquakes all wreak havoc to property and interrupt the flow of everyday life. If a storm is bearing down on your home, it can be a major effort to simply get out of nature's way. When you have a mobility impairment or special medical needs, the hurdles may be even greater.
Don't say "it won't happen to me," because it could. So you might as well be ready for it! Dynamic Living has created a list of specific questions to help you consider your special needs. Use this list to personalize your preparations for the most efficient evacuation and recovery from anything Mother Nature can throw at you.
What is your evacuation plan?
How will you get out of your home? Can you get to safety unassisted? If not, what would you need? Do you need special transportation services? Where will you go? You need to know this in advance. Plan a short stay destination to handle the immediate danger and a long term location in the event you cannot return home for a while. Your community, for example might offer short term facilities for a few days, but you might need to stay with friends or relatives while services are restored to your home area. How will you get there? Can you team up with a neighbor or nearby relative to share a ride? You can also call a local senior citizens group, your church, or your community emergency management office for help. When is the right time to go? You can make a better decision in the event of an emergency if you understand what you will need and how long it will take. Be conservative and allow for lots of extra time. Remember that it's always better to leave earlier than you need than get into trouble by staying too long. What needs to happen for your pets? Do you have a leash, carrier or cage if a hasty departure becomes necessary?
What do you need to take with you?
Keep an adequate, labeled supply of any medicines you take (at least two weeks worth). If you are stranded in your home or go to a public shelter you may not be able to get more medication easily. You should also keep an extra pair of glasses (maybe the most recent old prescription will do) or hearing aid batteries. Do you need any specialized equipment, such as a respiratory system or a medical monitor? Can you pre-arrange for that to be available at the new location? If you are going to a public shelter, the most important items to take are your medications, a blanket, an extra change of clothing and a small supply of packaged foods like peanuts or protein bars. You might want a few of your personal toiletries as well. Keep these ready in a rolling suitcase or backpack. Take a little bit of cash, as you may not have access to an ATM machine.
Prepare an emergency information kit ahead of time so that everything you need is in one place in a waterproof container and can be grabbed as you leave.
Prepare a list with your physician's name and phone number and all medical information. This includes health insurance, Medicare or Medicaid numbers, specialists, pharmacies and other health care services with their phone numbers. In the event of a medical emergency, have a brief medical history available that indicates any serious diseases or surgeries you've ever had as well as any significant illnesses over the past 3 years. Include current conditions, allergies and reactions to medication. Prepare a list of what medications you take and when you normally take them. Check what geographic area your health insurance covers. If you travel beyond this area, you might require a temporary policy that handles medical emergencies. Determine how to get prescription refills, oxygen replacements, maintain dialysis regimens, etc., if all services in your area were interrupted.
Prepare a list with key financial information.
Include bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, trusts and retirement fund accounts. Include the name of each bank or firm and their phone number. List your insurance policies, their account numbers and what they cover along with phone numbers and contact names. This is also an excellent time to review your coverage to be sure your future needs will be met. You might also want to include copies of critical documents. Make sure the originals are stored in a safe location.
Who do you need to contact?
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Make arrangements with an out-of-state person, so all your family members have a single point of contact. Set a place where you can meet up with family members if you are separated.
Determine which agencies/organizations you might need to contact for assistance if you lose everything that helps you maintain your independence.
Even if you follow this list, it is likely you still won't have everything you need planned out. The next step is to add your own thoughts, develop your own list and rehearse what needs to be done to see if anything was missed. We also recommend that you review your plan from time to time as your condition may change. Once this task is completed, you will be prepared and have everything ready to go when Mother Nature blows into town!
© Copyright 2006 Dynamic Living, Inc.
Dynamic Living Newsletter may only be redistributed in its unedited form. Written permission from the editor must be obtained to reprint or cite the information contained within this newsletter.
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