AARP Fights For Tougher Laws On Hurricane Shelters
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2005-12-28 13:40:40
Hundreds of thousands of older Floridians usually cope just fine with their special medical needs—as long as they have supplemental oxygen, intravenous drugs, or close supervision for those with dementia. During a hurricane emergency, Florida law requires special needs shelters to help keep these ill or frail Floridians safe.
But who staffs these shelters?
Under current law, it could be an acupuncturist—or even an optician. Even with good intentions, such health-care professionals might lack training needed to oversee a special needs shelter during a major hurricane.
During hearings in January and February, AARP Florida volunteers and staff will work with key legislators to draft a stronger special needs shelter law. AARP wants the law to require that a special needs shelter have at least a registered nurse on hand.
In addition, AARP wants to strengthen the standards and review process for nursing home evacuation plans. While nursing homes must have evacuation plans in place, the review process lacks specific standards, and poor coordination could create a crisis.
For example, during recent Gulf Coast hurricanes, several nursing homes had unknowingly planned to use the same ambulance service to evacuate residents—creating the possibility of potentially deadly delays as the big storms bore down on coastal communities.
"Florida has one of the strongest emergency-preparedness systems in America," said Bentley Lipscomb, AARP Florida state director. "But we still need to shore up this system and make it better. Older peoples' lives are at stake."
Other Resources
- Special Needs Shelter
Gives information on current statutes and more regarding special needs shelters
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