How seniors can prepare for a natural disaster and evacuation

May 25, 2022

When a natural disaster such as a wildfire or flood strikes, people are often forced to stay at home or evacuate immediately. It’s crucial to prepare yourself for an evacuation in advance. This preparation is particularly important for seniors, who may need extra assistance in evacuating from their residence.

“Vulnerable people, including seniors, need to have a solid plan for assistance and evacuation,” says Colin Swan, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with Interior Health. ”Don’t rely on family or supports who live out of town. It needs to be a sure thing: someone who can drop everything to assist.

“Many people feel that they can make it on their own, but the reality is that the stress of the event, their own needs for care, and the collapsing timeline may overwhelm them and put them in a dangerous situation.”

“Caring for yourself and/or for a loved one can be hard - don’t let a natural disaster and evacuation add to this. Let’s be prepared,” adds Joanna Harrison, Executive Director of Seniors Specialized Care Services with Interior Health.

Read on to learn how seniors can prepare for a natural disaster or emergency evacuation. Some of the information listed below comes from Prepared BC, British Columbia’s emergency preparedness education program.

In this Story…

Build an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag

Make your emergency plan

Create a trusted support network

Plan what to do with pets

Access additional resources for seniors

Build an emergency kit and grab-and-go bag

Prepared BC recommends building two types of kits to be prepared in the event of a natural disaster.

An emergency kit is helpful if you’re forced to stay at home during a disaster. It consists of supplies in one or two containers, such as plastic bins or duffel bags. Learn what supplies you should include in an emergency kit. Store your emergency kit in an area of your home that’s easy to get to, such as a hall closet, spare room or garage.

A grab-and-go bag is a small emergency kit that's easy to take with you, in case you need to leave right away. It's a good idea to make grab-and-go bags for your home, workplace and vehicle. Learn what supplies you should include in a grab-and-go bag.

Prepared BC’s webpage has a lot more information, including tips on packing water and helpful videos.

Make your emergency plan

Prepared BC notes it’s important to build a fill-in-the-blanks emergency plan, which records important information you'll need to stay safe, and helps you find out how to contact others if you get separated. There are extra considerations seniors may need to think about:

If you rely on a prescription, talk to your primary care provider about how to keep an extra supply or valid prescription in your emergency kit or grab-and-go bag
A whistle or personal alarm to call for help
Written instructions for special medical or mobility equipment
Extra eye glasses, hearing aids and hearing aid batteries
Spare footwear with any special orthotics

Prepared BC's website has information on other emergency plans, such as hazard-specific guides like wildfires and floods.

Create a trusted support network

Prepared BC notes it’s important to take time to create a trusted support network of at least three people (such as friends and family) to assist during an emergency. Add their contact information to a shared emergency plan.

Ensure you have your neighbours’ names, phone numbers and email addresses written down and have given a copy to your main contact person. Inform your main contact of a potential emergency destination, like a personal muster station: it could be a geographic location or a safe space (e.g. friend’s place in another community).

You should also advise members of your support network of any health conditions or medications, and show them how to operate specialized medical or mobility equipment.

Plan what to do with pets

Don’t forget your beloved furry friend in your natural disaster planning! Ensure you have a plan in place and prepare a list of items your pet would need:

Leash
Bed
Crate
Food
Medication

Determine if there’s a place where you can go and take your pet with you. Careful planning can ensure you do not have to abandon your animal during an emergency.