Be a Senior Scout - Be Prepared

The popular motto, Be Prepared, taught millions of youth across the country to do just that - be prepared. It’s a slogan that is probably most well known for its application in cases of emergency, although it extends far beyond that to teaching participating boys and girls to be prepared for life. That’s a lot of preparing.

There are so many instances for which to prepare and emergencies come in all shapes and sizes. Some are applicable to individuals or families like a house fire. Some hit neighborhoods or towns like tornadoes or other weather-related events and some come with absolutely no warning. If we’ve not given these events any advanced thought, we can be caught completely off guard. And unprepared. 

The preparedness checklists can be endless, and it can be overwhelming and difficult to know where to begin. Although there is a lot of overlap among various groups, here, we will focus on preparations for our senior population who can be especially vulnerable to disaster circumstances. Whether forced to evacuate or be confined to home perhaps without basic services, preparation is crucial. It’s time to have the conversation with family, friends, neighbors and anyone in the senior’s support network and put a readiness plan together.

Preparing for the Worst

The American Red Cross offers lots of practical advice, information and resources to help prepare for the worst. The main categories include:

1. Get informed

1. Learn about the types of disasters that may occur in your area.

2. Sign up for alerts and become familiar with community resources and response plans. This includes senior centers, neighborhood groups, and faith-based organizations who may collect information in order to conduct outreach when necessary.

3. Understand your own needs and how well you may be able to respond to an emergency by completing a personal assessment. Determine what kind of helpers or supplies you would need in case of an evacuation or a shelter in place order. 

2. Make a Plan 

1. There’s no way of knowing how long a disastrous event will affect you, so it’s best to have a plan in place. The American Red Cross suggests your plan cover at least a three-day span. 

2. Include multiple people in your communication plan. During a disaster, it may be easier to make a long distance call vs. a local call, so include an out-of-town contact and be sure to share all contact information with everyone in your personal support network. 

3. Don’t stop at having a plan in place. Share it, practice it, and periodically refresh supplies as needed. 

3. Create a Kit

1. Create your own kit referring to this checklist and adjust to accommodate your specific circumstances. Think about potential temperatures or climates and include applicable clothing. 

2. Consider the needs of other household members when preparing the kit. Everyone involved should be familiar with the contents and know where it is stored. Don’t forget about the needs of pets.

3. Choose easy to carry containers like a wheeled bag. Label individual components as needed and include an ID tag.

There is so much to consider when preparing for a potential disaster. It can be overwhelming especially ensuring the medical and social needs faced by many seniors are met.  But it is well worth the investment of time. Beyond a trusted personal support network, there are many community support agencies ready to help. Be sure to reach out for assistance and take advantage of these valuable resources.