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Disaster Preparedness for Older Adults in Arkansas
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Don’t wait to prepare for a disaster
March is the beginning of storm season in Arkansas, and no matter where you live, from Little Rock to Pine Bluff, Fort Smith to Jonesboro, you’ve experienced some form of severe weather.
The National Weather Service has declared the first week of March Severe Weather Awareness Week in Arkansas, and citizens are urged to be prepare for the inevitable. Whether flood waters rise, a tornado tears through or a heat wave lingers, older adults—especially those living alone or in rural areas—can be hit hard when power, roads, or medical care are disrupted.
You don’t need an elaborate system to be safer. A few simple steps, done over time, can make a real difference.
Know your local risks.
Different parts of Arkansas face different hazards:
- River communities: Flooding
- Ozarks: Ice, steep hills, downed trees
- Central Arkansas and the River Valley: Tornadoes and severe storms
- Eastern and southern counties: Extreme heat
Check your county emergency management website or the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, sign up for alerts, and keep a battery-powered or NOAA weather radio for power outages.
Build a right-sized emergency kit.
Plan for a few days without power or a quick evacuation. Include:
- Prescription medicines and a list of doses
- Extra glasses, hearing aid batteries, medical supplies
- Shelf-stable food and bottled water
- Pet food and leashes
- Flashlight, batteries, small first-aid and hygiene items
- Sturdy shoes, warm layer, change of clothes
Pick one date each year to refresh your kit.
Write down a simple plan.
In an emergency, stress makes it easy to forget details. On one sheet of paper, note:
- Two ways out of your home and neighborhood
- Where you’d stay if you had to leave
- Names and phone numbers of people who will check on you
- How you’d travel if you use mobility or medical equipment
Share copies with family and a trusted neighbor or friend.
Protect money, documents, and your home.
- Keep a small emergency fund, if you can.
- Review your insurance. Flood damage requires separate flood coverage.
- Walk through your home and record a video of each room.
- Store IDs, insurance papers, Medicare cards, wills, and medical info in a fire- and water-resistant box and/or secure digital storage.
Before storm season, clear gutters, trim dead branches, and secure items that can blow away. After a disaster, be wary of contractors who appear uninvited, want big payments up front, or won’t provide written estimates.
Start small.
Add one item to your kit, jot down emergency contacts, or talk with a neighbor. Step by step, you can be better prepared for whatever Arkansas weather brings.
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