Keeping Seniors Safe During Hurricane Florence in North Carolina
Keeping Seniors Safe During Hurricane Florence
Currently 5 named storms are lashing out across the Atlantic and with Hurricane Florence arriving to the east coast, seniors are one of the largest groups of people at risk. With limited mobility and medical concerns, seniors are not as actively aware of the impending weather event and are unable to act quickly. Many seniors may not be able to gather their belongings quickly and may need extra help.
National Hurricane Center said “Florence is about 10 miles east of Wilmington and about 80 miles east-northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Florence's maximum sustained winds early Friday are at about 90 mph.”
By the time Florence — now a Category 1 hurricane — reaches Asheville, Sandy LaCorte, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service, said it will have transitioned from a storm to a tropical depression, defined by maximum sustained winds below 39 mph.
Stay up to date with the latest news on Hurricane Florence
"Unfortunately, the best wake-up call is when a tragedy occurs," said Dara Lieberman, senior government relations manager at the Trust for America's Health, a nonprofit.
At Visiting Angels we hope that all of your loved ones are safe during this Hurricane and we would like to provide a few tips to help you now and plan in the future for weather events.
3 things you can do if you have a loved one in the path of a hurricane
- Check in with them right now to see what their immediate needs are regarding the weather event. Work with them to determine if they are in the direct path and need to evacuate.If they do need to evacuate, call the local emergency office to find help, especially if the senior is not mobile or does not have a car.
- Plan to visit your loved one/s before the storm to help them collect their belongings and feel safer. Or contact friends and local neighbors around them to ensure that someone is looking after them during the storm event.
- Ensure that the medical equipment or medical needs are being taken care of with your loved ones. More than 2.5 million Medicare recipients — including 204,000 people in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina — rely on home ventilators, oxygen concentrators, intravenous infusion pumps and other electrically powered devices, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Also consider a supply of batteries and a generator to ensure against power loss.
"I think the good news is, for a state like South Carolina or North Carolina, they have strong, seasoned leadership in place who are capable of not only managing a complex logistical challenge, but who are good humans," says Dr. Karen Salvo, a New Orleans Native, "It takes both."
At Visiting Angels, we are ready to provide help and support for your loved ones before, during and after a hurricane or natural weather event occurs. Hiring a regular caregiver from Visiting Angels is one of the best ways to be prepared for hurricanes and other seasonal events.
If you are interested in using our services on a regular basis, call at 828-222-7459.
Information provided by Visiting Angels, located in and serving Asheville, North Carolina and surrounding areas.