Are The Seniors In Your Life Prepared For Hurricane Season?
In his Senior Beat column on IndependentRI.com, Larry Grimaldi reminds us how important it is for seniors to be prepared during hurricane season (which lasts from June 1st to November 30th). If you are a senior yourself, or care for one, this article is well worth the read.
According to Grimaldi, one critical thing to do is make sure you’re on the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency’s Special Needs Registry. This registry was put in place to make sure people who may require special assistance during an emergency — namely, seniors, adults with disabilities, persons with chronic illnesses, limited mobility or special medical needs — are known to first responders in the event of an emergency.
Enrolling in the Registry doesn’t guarantee extra assistance, but it “allows first responders to appropriately plan, prepare for, and respond to the needs of the community.” This is especially important for anyone with chronic conditions or disabilities requiring insulin, dialysis, oxygen or a ventilator, a walker, wheelchair or prosthesis, or for people with vision or hearing impairments, or speech, cognitive, developmental or mental health disabilities.
Grimaldi also suggests having the following items on hand to prepared for a hurricane:
- a battery powered radio with extra batteries
- an emergency kit with first aid items, flashlight, water, food, etc. (plus food for pets)
- evacuation kit with medications, contact info for loved ones, ID, money, clothing, personal comfort items, etc.
Please read the article for more tips and actions seniors can take to be prepared during storm season: Be prepared for hurricane season by Larry Grimaldi.