Emergency Preparedness Is Everyone’s Business

The Administration for Community Living notes that September is National Preparedness Month, bringing a renewed focus to disaster planning and getting ready for emergencies. This year's theme is "Prepared, Not Scared." While emergency preparation is important for everyone, older adults and people with disabilities often face additional challenges during emergency situations due to health issues, mobility challenges, and use of devices that depend on power. In those cases, having a plan is absolutely critical. A number of questions need to be asked, including: "What kinds of disasters are most likely to affect your community?" and "What problems would you experience if you did not have power for 8 hours? 24 hours? A week?" Other things to think about when putting together an emergency plan include: which shelters are able to accommodate your individual needs; for those dependent on dialysis or other life-sustaining medical treatment, note the location and availability of more than one place; and don't forget to include your service animals and pets in your planning.