If you’re a senior living in Anderson County, SC, you need to know how to evacuate from a hurricane. Evacuating adults who are elderly and other vulnerable community members is important because it protects them from natural disasters. Learn more about evacuating for hurricanes and other emergencies by reading this guide:
Have a Family Plan
The first thing you should do is create a family plan. Make sure everyone knows what to do in case of a hurricane, including how to get out of the house and where to go during an evacuation. It’s also important for your loved ones to know what to bring along with them if they need to evacuate their homes, such as medications and other important documents.
You may want to designate one person as “the planner” so that he or she can make sure everyone has everything they need before leaving the house.
Set Up Out of Area Contacts
In the event of an evacuation, you should have contact information for out-of-area contacts. This can be family and friends who live in other states or even other countries. You may have a friend or relative who lives outside your home state who might be willing to take you in. If so, give them a call and let them know what is happening before it gets too bad. Tell them that you’d like their help, but also let them know about any special needs your loved one has that may make things more complicated for them if they could come to pick up your loved one.
Create an Emergency Kit
It is important to have an emergency kit prepared in advance of any hurricane or other natural disaster. You should include the following:
- A flashlight and spare batteries
- A battery-powered radio
- First aid kit, including bandages, antiseptic wipes, and gauze pads
- Manual can opener (or use a plastic one)
- Emergency food and water (one gallon per person per day)
Also, bring any medications you need regularly, as well as medical equipment such as oxygen tanks or portable ventilators. It’s also wise to keep any essential documents, such as birth certificates or marriage licenses in your car at all times so that you don’t lose them if your home is flooded or destroyed by the storm.
An excellent place to store them is in a waterproof container and a safe place. You should also make another digital copy so that if something happens to the original, you still have your copies stored somewhere else.
The reason why this is important for older adults living in Anderson, SC, and other places is that they’re more vulnerable during hurricanes due to age-related health issues or conditions like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If a storm hits and destroys their house with all those valuable papers, it could become really difficult for them later on when trying to get things sorted out again, such as replacing lost credit cards or passports, etc.
Get to Know Their Community Evacuation Plan
Next, you should familiarize yourself with the evacuation plan for your community. This may be called a mandatory or voluntary evacuation, and it will specify who is responsible for older adults and those with disabilities.
It’s also important to determine which evacuation route local officials recommend. If you have time before a hurricane strikes Anderson, SC (or if you live in a low-lying area), try driving these routes to see how long it takes from your house or retirement community to an emergency shelter or safe place.
Conclusion
Evacuating older adults from a hurricane can be a difficult decision to make. However, in the end, it is most definitely worth the time and effort. The safety of your loved ones should always be your number one priority. Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand how to evacuate your loved ones from a hurricane and prepare them for any emergency in Anderson, SC.
