Hurricane Season Begins June 1 – Are YOU Prepared?

Toni,

In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey absolutely devastated me and my wife. Now, my 88-year-old mother-in-law is living in an assisted living facility, and we live over 10 miles away from her.

 What can we do to be prepared for another hurricane, tornado, or a simple emergency, should it happen in this area to protect the elderly? 

We are concerned the assistant living facility does not have an evacuation plan and I cannot find one online.

Thanks,

Mark from Houston, TX

Mark,

Hurricane season officially starts on Thursday, June 1, and will not end until Thursday, November 30. The deeper the season goes; the stronger the storms are.

Everyone should have a family disaster readiness plan for hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and all other types of natural disasters. For seniors or those that are disabled, this is especially important since many are energy or technologically-dependent, whether it’s for life support or ongoing medical treatments.

Here are a few questions to help you prepare for hurricane season (or any other natural disaster):

Should I stay or should I go?

This will depend on where you live, either in the city or in the country. When living in the city, leave early because during many storms there have been massive traffic jams which took 36-48 hours of waiting on the highway to get out of that area. Please leave early to avoid serious delays and running out of gas on the highway.

If you’re packing up to go, remember:

• Pack a sufficient supply or prescriptions and always bring your list of current prescriptions for yourself or any family member.
• Have a copy of medical records for those with critical medical conditions, such as your mother-in-law’s. Keep the medical records in a safe place that you can get to immediately when evacuating.
• Bring all legal documents, such as medical power of attorneys and living wills.
• Make sure you have a backup plan in case you are not in town for the emergency and another family member must take care of your elderly loved one.

Do I have access to clean water?

If you do not have access to clean water, then any crisis becomes extremely critical in a couple of days. Remember, you may not have access to a grocery store and supplies may be depleted.

Do I have an adequate food supply?

Most households have a few days of food already available, but the best way to stock up on additional food and supplies is to add a little bit extra each week. Remember, during a crisis, the power may be out, so cook your frozen & refrigerated food first.

Hear more from Toni King: Listen to Medicare Moments

Do I have enough cash on hand in case the ATMs are not working?

Take your checkbook too, because ATMs may not be operating.

Does my family know where to meet?

It is important that all family members and loved ones know where to meet in a disaster.

Are you prepared?

Since Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas and the Pandemic “Covid-19” impacted our lives, we do not take storms or any natural disaster for granted. Limited access to grocery supplies such as water and baby formula has affected us all. I remember the news during Tropical Storm Allison in June 2001 when 18-wheelers were floating sideways down I-10 because the water was so high. It is at that time I learned how to get prepared!