Hurricane Earle requires emergency planning for elder care client families in eastern Massachusetts
Hurricane Earl’s will keep us guessing for another 24/48 hours about when and where landfall will occur. But Friday is a possibility, and it’s also possible that we are right in its track. Or not!
I spent 10 years with the Concord, MA Emergency Management Agency as a leader in preparedness planning and training for citizens as service to my community. Luckily, I’m able to bring that experience to Caring Companion. Believe me – it’s far better we think these things through now than to be surprised at the last minute! And we’ll just hope we don’t have to use our plans.
I want to talk about everyone’s own personal and household protection, as well as how CCC serves our clients. It’s been a very long time since we’ve had a hurricane pass directly over us, and we don’t have the practiced “chops” for preparing for one or weathering it safely. And with the strangely warm ocean waters, there’s a lot of unknowns here.
Loss of electricity and communications, food and water supply contamination, and an inability to move from Point A to Point B due to downed trees and other debris are the usual problems encountered during and following a hurricane. Please talk with your loved ones about the upcoming possibilities. Let them know that there are people working to keep them safe and sound. Think through the kinds of things you need to make sure are on hand to keep the household running through at least through the weekend. Food, water, a battery-powered radio, new batteries in the flashlight, enough medication to last until next week (eliminate pharmacy runs if possible), enough pet food, etc. In my experience, advanced discussions and planning help people feel more calm and secure, not more upset. (And the stories about other hurricanes our elders have been through that will no doubt be evoked can teach us a lot. This can be a GREAT way to engage someone in conversation if you have trouble connecting with Mom or Dad – try it!)
As for Friday and Saturday caregiving schedules: if it looks on Thursday like this thing is really going to hit here on Friday, we may need to deploy caregivers early to the households where they are needed the very most, where clients really are not able to spend a day or two without care. Since traveling to/from shifts is not advised during the hurricane, we would try – depending upon everything’s timing – to get caregivers in place before it becomes too dangerous on the roads, staying on site until it’s again safe to travel. We would ask caregivers who wait to be relieved by next shift personnel to be prepared to stay longer, even overnight if it’s unsafe to leave. I will be in direct contact with families and individuals who cannot manage without care – and their caregivers – to do some specific planning. Which I hope we will not need to use!
In cases where clients can go up to a couple of days without care, if it really looks like this thing is coming right to our doorstep, I will want to reschedule our visit if it is expected right during prime hurricane time.
Please see the info below from MEMA on 8/31 about having a go-bag and preparing your household, etc. I will be in touch again as the weather picture clarifies. Let’s cross our fingers that this is just a drill and – as they say so often about predicted New England weather that didn’t happen – it just goes out to sea!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Peter Judge, MEMA PIO
August 31, 2010 (508) 820-2002
PREPAREDNESS IS KEY FOR HURRICANE SEASON
Threat of Hurricane Earl Reminds Families of Importance of Preparedness
FRAMINGHAM, MA – The potential threat of Hurricane Earl reinforces the importance that everyone take the proper preparedness steps. Now is a good time to take to heart the three steps being reinforced by the President, as he proclaimed September as ‘National Preparedness Month’: Prepare a Kit, Have a Plan and Be Aware.
“Every home and business should have a stocked basic emergency supply kit that could be used for any emergency, regardless of the time of year,” states MEMA Acting Director Kurt Schwartz. “Everyone should keep certain items around the house and workplace in the event you are isolated for three to five days without power” Each kit will be unique to each family, but should include a portable radio, flashlight, extra batteries, a supply of non-perishable foods, along with bottled water, a first aid kit, extra prescription medication, and extra food and supplies for infants and pets.
“All families should develop a ‘Family Emergency Communication Plan’ with an ‘outside the area’ contact to help ensure everyone is safe. You should reach out to your local authorities to learn about your community’s potential evacuation routes and the location of possible emergency shelters,” said Schwartz. “It is always important to familiarize yourself with your Community’s Emergency Plans before an emergency situation occurs.”
Also, develop a Disaster Supply Kit ‘Go Bag’, with essentials in case you must evacuate quickly.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is the state agency responsible for coordinating federal, state, local, voluntary and private resources during emergencies and disasters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEMA provides leadership to: develop plans for effective response to all hazards, disasters or threats; train emergency personnel to protect the public; provide information to the citizenry; and assist individuals, families, businesses and communities to mitigate against, prepare for, and respond to and recover from emergencies, both natural and man made. For additional information about MEMA and National Preparedness Month, go to <http://www.mass.gov/mema>www.mass.gov/mema and <http://www.ready.gov/>www.Ready.Gov. Continue follow MEMA updates on Facebook and Twitter.
-30-
Peter W. Judge
Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency
400 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702-5399
Direct: 508.820-2002
24 hr.: 508.820.2000
Fax: 508.820.2030
<mailto:peter.judge@state.ma.us>peter.judge@state.ma.us
