Hurricanes are massive, whirling storms that form along coasts and can travel up to a hundred miles inward. Storm floods, torrential downpours, and deadly winds are all dangers that come with hurricanes. In a two-year timeframe, the US shoreline gets hit by three hurricanes on average during hurricane seasons, which lasts from the 1st of June to 30 November annually.
Anyone who lives near coastlines must think about storm preparation, but elderly adults face additional difficulties. Isolation, mobility impairments, and health restrictions are significant problems. During storm preparations, not living with family members, roommates, or an assisted living community usually means going without access to extra support and safety.
Helping your elderly loved one who’s living in Tampa, FL with disaster preparations is unquestionably a top concern, especially if they reside alone. If you’re preparing for the Tampa, FL hurricane season, here are five ways to help your senior loved one minimize dangers in this trying time of year.
Gather Contact Details of a Nearby Support Group
Establish a support group nearby who will be ready to help at the first sign of trouble, and compile their contact details. Look at relatives, friends, and neighbors living close by as your senior loved one could be physically incapable of boarding up windows. Also include details on where to find the most recent hurricane updates, including local radio and television news channels, and the national meteorological service. Ensure that the contacts are in your smartphone and theirs, and maintain a hardcopy list as well.
Help Prepare Their Property Ahead of Season
Your elderly loved one’s property would be far less damaged by hurricanes if preemptive landscaping is done. It’s important to get their estate ready well in advance of hurricane season, including getting trees pruned and adding storm shields. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides a comprehensive checklist for securing a property during hurricane season that would be good to follow.
Create an Action Plan for At-Home Sheltering
If it’s advised that they take refuge at home, help your loved one develop an action plan for what they should do in the event of strong winds. The general guideline is to avoid glass windows and doorways, and hide behind as many walls as you can to block from the powerful winds outside. The optimum location to hole up is normally a small bedroom or a cupboard or corridor on the bottom floor.
Prepare an Emergency Evacuation Bag in Advance
A packed emergency bag can enable your elderly loved one to remain healthy and safe if they must leave their house for a nearby refuge or flee their whole neighborhood. The emergency supply kit should contain their medical necessities, along with bottled water, canned foods, torches, and any other items needed to survive for a couple of nights.
Organize Their Medical Records for Easy Reading
In the frenzy of a hurricane evacuation, having organized your senior loved one’s medical information prevents prescription mistakes and keeps them safe. Think about using a straightforward organizing method they can simply carry with them, such as a medication tracker log. Wearable medical alert devices are also helpful for those with chronic illnesses, allergies, and disabilities because it informs first responders on how to care for your loved one if they are unable to speak.
