Disaster Information for Seniors
Take responsibility
Prepare NOW; disasters can strike quickly and without
warning. Even if you have physical limitations, you can
still protect yourself. Local officials and relief
workers will not be able to reach everyone right away,
so take responsibility. Keep in touch with your
neighbors; look out for each other and be aware of
anyone who may need special help. Knowing what to do is
your best protection.
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How you may be notified of a possible emergency
-
National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather
radio—These special radios provide the earliest
warning with an alarm that will alert you in case of
anticipated bad weather. To learn more, call your
local National Weather Service office.
-
Commercial radio
and television stations—Know your designated Emergency
Alert System stations (EAS). My EAS Radio Station
is:__________ My EAS Television Station:__________
-
Door-to-door
warning from local emergency officials—Strictly follow
their instructions.
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Family Disaster Plan
By
planning ahead, you can avoid waiting in long lines for
critical supplies, such as food, water and medicine.
Remember to review your plan regularly. Use the
following checklist to get started:
-
Assemble a
disaster supplies kit
-
Arrange for
someone to check on you
-
Plan and practice
the best escape routes from your home
-
Plan for
transportation if you need to evacuate to a Red Cross
shelter
-
Find the safe
places in your home for each type of emergency
-
Have a plan to
signal the need for help
-
Post emergency
phone numbers near the phone
-
If you have home
health care service, plan ahead with your agency for
emergency procedures
-
Teach those who
may need to assist you in an emergency how to operate
necessary equipment; be sure they will be able to
reach you
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Medical Emergency Supplies
For your safety and comfort, have at least three days'
worth of emergency supplies (both medical and general)
packed and ready in an easy-to-carry container, such as
a backpack or duffel bag. Make sure your bag has an ID
tag and label any equipment, such as wheelchairs, canes
or walkers that you need. Use the following checklist to
get your emergency supplies started:
-
First-aid kit
-
Prescription
medicines, list of medications and dosages, list of
allergies
-
Extra eyeglasses
and hearing-aid batteries
-
Extra wheelchair
batteries, oxygen
-
List of the style
and serial numbers of medical devices, such as
pacemakers
-
Medical insurance
and Medicare cards
-
List of doctors,
relatives or friends to notify if you are injured
-
Battery-powered
radio and flashlight with extra batteries for each
-
Change of
clothing, rain gear, and sturdy shoes
-
Blanket or
sleeping bag
-
Extra set of keys
-
Cash, credit
cards, change for the pay phone
-
Personal hygiene
supplies
-
Phone numbers of
local and non-local relatives or friends
-
Insurance agent's
name and phone number
It
may not be necessary to evacuate, or you may be ordered
to stay in your home. If this happens, you will need in
addition to the above items:
-
One gallon of
water per person per day. Remember, plan for at least
3 days. Store water in sealed, unbreakable containers
that you are able to handle. Identify the storage date
and replace every six months.
-
Non-perishable
food supply (including any special foods you require).
Choose foods that are easy to store and carry,
nutritious and ready-to-eat. Rotate them regularly.
-
Manual can opener
you are able to use
-
Non-perishable
food for any pets
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Shelter In Place
In
a chemical emergency, you may be told to "shelter in
place." This means staying where you are and making
yourself as safe as possible until the emergency passes
or you are told to evacuate. In this situation, it is
better to remain indoors than to go outside where the
air may be contaminated. If you are told to shelter in
place:
-
Close all windows
in your home
-
Turn off all
fans, heating, and air conditioning systems
-
Close the
fireplace damper
-
Go to an
above-ground room (not the basement) with the fewest
windows and doors
-
Take your
disaster supplies kit with you
-
Wet some towels
and jam them in the crack under the doors
-
Tape around
doors, windows, exhaust fans and vents, preferably
with duct tape
-
Use plastic
garbage bags to cover windows, outlets and heat
registers
-
If you are told
there is danger of explosion, close the window shades,
blinds or curtains. To avoid injury, stay away from
the windows
-
Stay in the room
and listen to your radio until you are told all is
safe or you are told to evacuate
Red Cross shelters may be opened if a disaster affects a
large number of people, or if the emergency is expected
to last several days. All American Red Cross emergency
services are provided free of charge, including food,
temporary shelter and basic first aid. To learn about
Red Cross shelters serving your area, listen to your
battery-powered radio or check with your local Red Cross
chapter.
Be prepared to go to a shelter if
-
Your area is
without electrical power
-
There is a
chemical emergency affecting your area
-
Flood water is
rising
-
Your home has
been severely damaged
-
Police or other
local officials tell you to evacuate
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If you need to evacuate
-
Coordinate with
your home care provider for evacuation procedures
-
Try to car pool
if possible
-
If you must have
assistance for special transportation call the
American Red Cross or your local officials
-
Wear appropriate
clothing and sturdy shoes
-
Take your
disaster supplies kit
-
Lock your home
-
Use the travel
routes specified or special assistance provided by
local officials. Don't take any short cuts, they may
be unsafe
-
Notify shelter
authorities of any needs you may have. They will do
their best to accommodate you and make you comfortable
In
some communities, people who need help or transportation
during an evacuation are asked to register that need
with their local government. Call your local emergency
management office for information and suggestions about
what to do during an evacuation.
If you are sure you have enough time
-
Shut off water,
gas, and electricity if instructed to do so and if you
know how. Gas must be turned back on by a professional
-
Let others know
when you left and where you are going
-
Make arrangements
for pets. Animals other than working animals may not
be allowed in public shelters
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Residential Fires
One emergency we could all face at any time is a home
fire. Despite any physical limitations we may have,
there are some things we can do to improve our safety.
Plan two escape routes out of each room. If you cannot
use stairways, make special arrangements for help in
advance. Never use elevators. Sleep with the bedroom
door closed, as this gives you extra minutes of
protection from toxic fumes and fire. Vacuum your smoke
detector occasionally to remove dust, and test the
battery regularly. As a reminder, change batteries on
the same day each year.
In case of fire
-
Remain calm.
-
Drop to the floor
and crawl. Most fire fatalities are due to breathing
toxic fumes and smoke; the cleanest air is near the
floor.
-
Feel any door
before you open it. If it is hot, find another way
out.
-
If your smoke
detector goes off, do not waste time getting dressed
or collecting valuables or pets. Get out of the house
immediately.
-
Do not try to
fight the fire. Call for help from a neighbor's phone.
-
Never go back
into a burning building for any reason.
-
If your clothes
catch on fire, drop to the floor and roll to suffocate
the fire. Do not run; this fans the flames and makes
them worse.
-
If you are in a
wheelchair or cannot get out of your house, stay by
the window near the floor. If you are able, signal the
need for help.
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Grandchildren's Safety
It
is estimated that 3.4 million children live in a
household headed by grandparents. Many children visit
their grandparents often. To prepare a safe environment
at home for children:
-
Store matches and
lighters up high, away from children.
-
Move cleaning
chemicals like cleansers, soap, drain cleaner, and
other poisons to high cupboards OR install a
child-proof lock if you must keep these items in low
cabinets.
-
Store
prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs like
aspirin, cough medicines, and stomachache remedies in
a cabinet out of reach of children.
-
If children are
playing outside or in a pool when skies grow dark or
you hear thunder, ask them to come indoors right away.
-
Install plastic
covers over all exposed electrical outlets.
Children can help grandparents, too
Have children test each smoke detector in your home to
make sure it is working by using a broom handle to push
the test button. See that the battery is changed in each
detector that doesn't work. Ask children to draw a floor
plan of your home and show two ways out of every room in
case of fire.
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For More Information
If
you would like more information on disaster planning or
on the disasters likely to happen in your area, the
following information is available:
-
Emergency
Preparedness Checklist
-
Your Family
Disaster Plan
-
Your Family
Disaster Supplies Kit
-
Food and Water in
an Emergency
-
Are You Ready for
a Tornado?
-
Are You Ready for
a Flood?
-
Are You Ready for
an Earthquake?
-
Are You Ready for
a Fire?
-
Are You Ready for
a Hurricane?
-
Are You Ready for
a Winter Storm?
The following may be ordered free from
the U.S. Fire Administration:
Smoke Detectors and Fire Safety: A Guide for Older
Americans
Pub. #L-126
FEMA/U.S. Fire Administration
P.O. Box 2012
Jessup, MD 20794-2012
NOAA Weather Radio information
NOAA Weather Radio
Stock #: NOAA PA 76015
Contact your local National Weather Service office for
frequency information, type of information broadcast and
where to obtain a NOAA Weather Radio.
The following may be ordered from FEMA:
Preparedness for People with Disabilities (earthquake)
Pub. # FEMA-75
Hurricane Awareness-Action Guidelines for Senior
Citizens
Item #8-0440
FEMA
P.O. Box 2012
Jessup, MD 20794-2012
Emergency information may also be
obtained from your utility company.
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Emergency Phone Numbers
Local emergency services number:__________
Ambulance:__________________________
Nearest relative:________________________
Local contact:__________________________
Out of state contact:_____________________
Doctors:____________________________
Local Red Cross Chapter:__________________
Insurance Agent:________________________
Other:______________________________
Production of this information was funded by a grant
from the Special Projects Fund of the American National
Red Cross to the Rochester-Monroe County Chapter of the
American Red Cross and was developed in cooperation
with:
Monroe County Office of Emergency Preparedness
Monroe County Community Home Health Agency
Monroe County Office for the Aging
Visiting Nurse Service
Catholic Family Center
Rochester Gas and Electric
Rochester Telephone
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