Director's Message
December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies?I am sitting down to write this a week after the October snowstorm that surprised everyone and reminded us how much we rely on electricity. It has not been very long since Hurricane Irene blew through the area, adding flooding to the season’s collection of natural disasters.It seems that many residents here do not see it as a disaster-prone area, unlike those who experience frequent tornados or earthquakes. Those communities regularly practice response drills, from elementary school to professional responders. Yet recent weather changes indicate that we should be prepared for major events, particularly those that interrupt power. The current advice is that we must be prepared to “shelter in place” for at least three days. This means having enough water, food, light, heat and medication for at least three days without electricity. Don’t wait for the snow to start to fall this winter before you restock batteries, water and no-cook food. Don’t wait for the last day to refill prescriptions. Make sure you have a battery powered radio and a phone that will work without electricity (cordless phones do not work—sometimes “old tech” is best). Get a car charger for your cell phone. If it is cold and you do not have an alternate safe source of heat, go somewhere that does before the storm hits. We had several days warning for Hurricane Irene. Emergency management personnel got the word out that it had the potential to be very serious. People had time to stock up or go to stay with relatives. Our case managers were able to call the people we work with to ensure they had the supplies they need. The American Red Cross Meals on Wheels program got “blizzard bags” out to their participants, including several no-cook items. The Halloween snow storm caught everyone by surprise, and this could happen again this winter. We may not be able to get to you. “Independent living” really means you are on your own. Call 911 if you have a true emergency. These crises illustrated areas for improvement. Emergency responders from neighboring communities and levels of government need clear channels of communication with each other. Register Ready (the area registry for people with special needs) did not work as intended. There were not enough personnel to respond to non-emergent issues. I have heard many wonderful stories about the creative ways you responded to these challenges. Adversity can bring out the best in people. Neighbors pooled all their perishables into a large “stone soup” for the neighborhood, cooked on a gas grill. Someone recharged a medical device in her car. Neighbors checked on each other and caregivers stayed for multiple shifts. Police and emergency responders went out of their way to help with an astonishing array of requests. The Library opened its doors after Irene for recharging devices. Recreation opened the pool locker rooms for showers. McCaffrey’s gave food away before it spoiled. PSRC welcomed people this week to our heated building. I really hope we are not tested again this winter. But don’t wait to find out. Please prepare your emergency supplies and plan now. Apply what you learned about your needs during these storms and create a strategy to address them. Line up your support team. Create a telephone tree for family communication. PSRC staff will be happy to help you make plans so we know you are OK. Susan Hoskins |
Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |