When I lived in Florida, I had a neighbor named Ms. Carmen. She was very independent in the late 1970s and lived alone with her two dogs and a cat, her closest companion.

Every hurricane season, she would anxiously ask me if I would check her when the wind started to rush. She once told me: I am more afraid of being forgotten than the storm itself. Her fear is not just the weather. It's about facing one person.

When hurricanes hit, we often measure damage to folding power cords, flooded roads and folding chambers. However, some of the worst consequences are difficult to see, especially for older people who may be with mobility, chronic health problems and cognitive decline.

Emergency preparation programs often overlook the specific needs of the elderly in the U.S. senior population, many of whom live alone. For someone like Ms. Carmen, resilience needs to start for a long time before the storm.

I study disaster preparation and response. To prepare for hurricane season and any other disasters, I encourage families to work with their seniors now to develop emergency plans. Preparation can help keep seniors safe, be able to contact relatives or others for help, and will have the medications, documents and supplies you need, as well as a peace of mind to know what steps to take.

Recent hurricanes show the gap

In 2024, Hurricane Helene and Milton Focus attract attention.

These storms forced thousands of people to evacuate, often on the floor food supplies and mattresses, and to meet medical needs.

The flood isolated many rural houses and left the elderly. Power supply in some areas has been running out for weeks. The emergency system is overwhelmed.

During Milton, a tornado ripped a high-level community in Port St. Lucy, Florida, killing six people. Some long-term care facilities lost power and water during Helen.

Meanwhile, some older people choose to stay at home in hazardous ways because of fear that they will be separated from their pets or that their homes will be damaged.

These events are not only tragic, but also predictable. Many older people cannot evacuate without assistance, and many evacuation centers are not ready to meet their needs.

Preparation method: 5 key steps

Helping seniors prepare for emergencies should involve the entire family so that everyone knows what will happen. The best plans are personal, practical and proactive, but they will contain some common elements.

Here are five important steps:

1. Prepare an emergency folder for important files.

Disasters can leave older people without the basic information and supplies needed, such as prescription lists, financial records, medical equipment and - importantly - contact information to contact with family, friends and neighbors that can help them.

Many older people rely on pre-programmed phone numbers. If their phone is lost or the battery dies, they may not know how to contact a friend or loved one, so having a hard copy of their phone number is useful.

Consider encouraging people with memory loss to use medical ID bracelets or cards.

Key documents such as wills, family covenants, powers of attorney and insurance records are often kept in physical form and may be forgotten or lost during a sudden evacuation. Use easy-to-carry waterproof storage and share copies with trusted caregivers and family members in case these files are lost.

2. There are spare medicines and equipment.

Consider the person’s auxiliary equipment and health needs. It’s important to have an extra battery on hand, remember to bring a charger and personal mobility aids such as walkers, canes, mobile scooters or wheelchairs. Don’t forget to support mobility in the service animals, so it will be important to have food supply during hurricanes or evacuation.

Doctors are asked to provide a set of emergency medicines to prevent low supply in disasters.

If the person stays at home, prepare for at least 72 hours of self-sufficiency in case the power goes away. This means there is enough bottled water, extra pet food and human food that does not require refrigeration or cooking.

3. Map evacuation routes and shelter options.

Identifying nearby shelters may be able to support mobility and cognitive challenges for older people. If the person has a pet, plans are also made for them - many areas have at least one pet-friendly shelter, but not all shelters will bring pets.

Figuring out how the person will get to the shelter and make a backup plan in case of their usual transportation. and determine where they are going and how they will get there if they can’t return home after the storm.

If your loved one lives in a care facility, check out the facility’s hurricane plan.

4. Create a multi-person check-in system.

Don't rely solely on a caregiver or family member to check on older people. Participate in neighborhoods, faith communities or local services such as home dining, transportation assistance, support groups and senior centers. When the system is broken down, redundancy is crucial.

5. Practice plan.

Perform the evacuation steps ahead of time so everyone knows what to do. The implementation plan should be second nature, not a fight during a disaster or crisis.

Plan not only for the elderly

Emergency planning is not something for older people - it is what they do.

Elders bring not only vulnerability, but also wisdom. Their preferences and autonomy will have to guide the decisions that plan to succeed in a crisis.

This means listening to their needs, respecting their independence, and ensuring that caregivers have realistic plans. This is an important shift from merely responding to storms to purposeful preparation.