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Seniors

Before disaster strikes, Seniors should consider additional preparedness actions, depending on their state of health and what they would need in the event of a disaster.

Those seniors with disabilities should take extra precautions to prepare in advance. Emergency kits for seniors and those with disabilities should last for seven days, and a strong support network is critical.

• Make a list of prescription medicines including dosage, treatment and allergy information. Talk to your pharmacist or doctor about what else you need to prepare.
• Consider other personal needs such as eyeglasses, hearing aids and hearing aid batteries, wheelchair batteries, and oxygen.
• Identify the items you use daily and think about what you might do if they became limited or unavailable.
• If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital or if you receive regular services such as home health care, treatment or transportation, talk to your service provider about their emergency plans. Work with them to identify back-up service providers and incorporate them into your personal support network.
• Make sure everyone in your support network knows where you keep your emergency kit and plan. Plan in advance for a temporary place to stay, in case you are forced to evacuate.
• Know the safest places in your home for each type of emergency. Determine the best escape routes from your home.
• Pets are typically not allowed in evacuation shelters for health reasons. If you own a pet, plan ahead to make arrangements. Contact Orange County Animal Care for alternative pet evacuation options.
• Create an emergency preparedness buddy plan (include attendants, readers, interpreters, family, friends, neighbors) with people who know about your medications, how to operate assistive technology devices and the location of your emergency supply kits.
• Know where all of your medical, insurance and other emergency documents (link to Emergency Documents section) are located, and make sure they can be accessed quickly.

Take Action!

• Use the ReadyOC Family Emergency Plan Template to create your own family emergency plan.
• Create a personalized Comprehensive Family Emergency Plan at Ready.gov.
• Download FEMA’s Emergency Financial First Aid Kit to prepare for your financial future in case of disaster.
• Subscribe to AlertOC, a mass emergency notification system for Orange County residents and businesses. Voice or text messages can be sent to your home or cell phone, e-mail account and hearing impaired receiving devices.