How Older Adults Should Prepare for Floods, Hurricanes and Other Emergencies

The danger of sheltering in place

Older adults may be more likely to live in older houses, mobile homes or manufactured dwellings that are not able to withstand storms as well as newer homes can, Walker says. Have a plan for where you might go if necessary — whether that means a shelter, a hotel or staying with a friend or relative — even if evacuation isn’t required.

“If you’re evacuating, do it early versus later,” Walker says. “You don’t want to be driving in the rain or through high water or on a road experiencing flooding.”

Make sure you have contact information for people you might need to notify if you leave home. “You don’t want to leave them guessing,” he says.

In 2022, Russ Dunn, 55, of Bradenton, Florida, spent days getting ready as Hurricane Ian approached. He cleaned his home’s gutters, fixed window leaks, got hurricane shutters ready to go up, put gas in the cars and made sure the grill was ready in case of a power outage.

He got out the flashlights, bought batteries, stocked up on nonperishable food, bought ice, made sure his family had all their medications and charged his portable cellphone batteries. He bought extra pet food for the dog and checked that all his nonelectric and gas-powered tools were functioning. 

“An electric chain saw doesn’t do you any good if you don’t have power,” Dunn says.

He also helped his parents prepare for the storm. He repeated most of his to-do list at their home, bringing in patio furniture and potted plants that could get blown around in high winds. He set out flashlights, stocked up on food and bought them portable cellphone chargers.

Checklists for disaster planning

Though most older adults think they’re prepared for an emergency, fewer than 3 in 10 have a plan in place for when disaster strikes, a 2023 AARP survey found.

For more information on what to do to prepare for an emergency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a list of information created specifically for older Americans. Among the items the agency recommends you have on hand:

• A minimum three-day supply of medications, along with a cooler and ice packs if your medications require refrigeration. Also, if needed, medical supplies such as syringes.
• Contact lens solution, glasses and/or hearing aids and extra batteries for people who need them.​
• An identification band with your full name, a list of any allergies and a family member’s contact number.​
• Information about your medical devices, including oxygen, walkers and wheelchairs. The information should include model numbers and the vendor of the products.
• Documents in a waterproof bag. They should include a personal care plan; contact information for family members; a medication list including the dosage, exact name, pharmacy information and the prescribing doctor for each medication; a list of food or medical allergies; copies of photo IDs and medical insurance cards; and durable power of attorney and/or medical power of attorney documents.​
• Cash to be used if automatic teller and credit card machines are not working.

The CDC recommends people include additional supplies based on individual needs, such as soap, hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes, over-the-counter medicine, and pet food and extra water for your pet.

The complete list is here. ​

The Department of Homeland Security’s Ready.gov site offers emergency resources, including a list of items to pack in a basic emergency kit. Among those suggested:​

• 1 gallon of water per day per person for at least three days.​
• At least a three-day supply of nonperishable food.
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio, along with a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio that sends an automatic tone in case of an emergency alert.​
• A flashlight and extra batteries.​
• A cellphone with chargers and a backup battery.
• A whistle to signal for help.

Consider signing up with your state or local special needs registry if you think you’ll need special assistance. In many states and localities, people with medical or mobility issues can sign up to alert first responders.

AARP’s Create the Good program offers a do-it-yourself project to help prepare for hurricanes. The guide for individuals is here.​If you’re taking care of a loved one, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) this year created a disaster preparedness guide for caregivers to help you make a plan together. FEMA also has a disaster planning guide for older adults.

This story, originally published Sept. 9, 2020, has been updated with new information.

Contributing: Natalie Missakian, AARP

​Michelle Davis covers home, family and multicultural stories and is a features editor for AARP. Previously, she was the senior writer and social media strategist for EdWeek Market Brief and a senior correspondent at Education Week.