JOIN US IN PREPARING OLDER ADULTS FOR EMERGENCIES DURING NATIONAL
PREPAREDNESS MONTH
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230901/join-us-preparing-older-adults-emergencies-during-national-preparedness]


Release Date: 
九月 1, 2023 

PHILADELPHIA – What steps are you taking to be prepared? This
September, join the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during
National Preparedness Month in preparing yourself, your family, your
neighbors, and your communities for disasters and emergencies.

National Preparedness Month is an annual opportunity to reinforce the
message that taking a few simple steps can go a long way in being
ready for all kinds of hazards that are common to our region,
including hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, fires, and more.

Preparedness is for everyone, but this year’s National Preparedness
Month campaign is focused specifically on preparing older adults and
their caregivers. Older adults may have specific needs after a
disaster. According to AARP
[https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/tool-kits-resources/info-2022/disaster-risks-to-older-adults.html],
several factors make older adults more vulnerable to the impacts of
disasters, which include, but are not limited to:

	* Increased likelihood of mobility difficulties;
	* Increased lack of access to cell phones and internet access; and
	* An increased lack of financial means to prepare or relocate.

“A growing body of evidence shows that older adults are
disproportionately impacted by weather-related emergencies and natural
disasters,” said FEMA Region 3 Regional Administrator MaryAnn
Tierney. “Now is the time to consider what you can do to be
prepared, or help a friend, neighbor, or loved one take steps to get
prepared too.”

FEMA’s Ready campaign has resources, including simple, low-cost
tips, to help older adults and their caregivers address these
challenges. Some of these tips include:

	* Plan for your transportation if you need help evacuating.
	* Include items that meet your individual needs
[https://www.ready.gov/disability#kit], such as medicines, medical
supplies, batteries and chargers, in your emergency supply kit
[https://www.ready.gov/kit].
	* Make copies [https://ready.gov/get-tech-ready] of Medicaid,
Medicare, and other insurance cards.
	* Make sure at least one person in your support network has an extra
key to your home, knows where you keep your emergency supplies, and
knows how to use lifesaving equipment or administer medicine.
	* If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or
hospital, find out their emergency plans and work with them to
identify back-up service providers.
	* If you have a communication disability, consider carrying printed
cards or storing information on your devices to inform first
responders and others how to communicate with you.
	* Don’t forget your pets or service animals. Not all shelters
accept pets, so plan for alternatives. Consider asking loved ones or
friends outside of your immediate area if they can help with your
animals.

Visit ready.gov/older-adults [https://www.ready.gov/older-adults]
and ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores
[https://www.ready.gov/es/adultos-mayores] for more information.

FEMA Region 3 will be sharing more tips on how to prepare throughout
the month of September on our social media. Follow us on X
(@FEMARegion3) or find us on LinkedIn or Nextdoor and share your tips
and actions you’re taking to prepare with the hashtag
#PreparewithR3.

### 

_FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after
disasters. FEMA Region 3’s jurisdiction includes Delaware, the
District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West
Virginia. _ 

_Follow us on X at __twitter.com/femaregion3_
[http://www.twitter.com/femaregion3]_ and on LinkedIn
at __linkedin.com/company/femaregion3_
[http://www.linkedin.com/company/femaregion3]