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Behind every sunny day is a good storm plan. Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) works year-round to prepare for hurricane season, while encouraging its customers to prepare as well.
As retirees continue to move to Florida, many new residents may not have been through a hurricane before. No energy grid is hurricane-proof, so it’s important to be prepared for outages in the event of a major storm and to have an evacuation plan if a hurricane approaches. Make sure to contact your local social service agencies as early as possible if you need assistance. Here are four potential plans along with relevant tips for senior citizens.
Plan A: Stay Home
If you don’t live in an evacuation zone or a manufactured/mobile home, you can stay home if you take these precautions:
Gather supplies early, including flashlights, medication, food and drinking water.
Establish a “safe room” in an interior room with no window.
Make sure that your home is secure and shuttered. Ask neighbors to assist with preparations, if necessary.
Make sure that a neighbor or loved one knows your whereabouts.
Plan B: Stay with Local Friends
If you plan to stay with family or friends during a hurricane:
Call them in advance. Make sure they will be ready for you.
Have a backup plan in case they are out of town.
Bring extra clothes, medications and important papers.
If you’re evacuating with a loved one who has dementia, ask to have a room just for the two of you. Remember to take the same safety precautions you have in your home (e.g., hide sharp objects and poisons, limit access to exits, cover mirrors).
Notify a neighbor or loved one of your evacuation plans.
Plan C: Relocate Outside the Area
If you relocate because you live in an evacuation zone and/or a mobile/manufactured home:
Leave early and let others know where you are planning to go.
Have a full tank of gas and make sure your phone is fully charged.
Know where you are going and have directions, if necessary. If you are going to a hotel, make sure that you have a reservation, as many hotels, even 100 miles away, will fill up quickly.
Remember to bring important papers, medications and extra clothing.
If you live in a condo building, remember to shut off the main water valve before you leave.
Plan D: Go to a Shelter
When going to a shelter, prepare for an extended stay by taking these precautions:
Make arrangements for your pets before hurricane season starts. Red Cross shelters do not allow pets. Check online to see if there are pet friendly shelters in your area.
Prepare supplies that you can bring with you; e.g., important papers, food, water, medications, a change of clothes, snacks, personal hygiene supplies, etc. You may also need to bring a sleeping bag/air mattress.
Make sure that the shelter is available.
Bring your cell phone and charger.
Notify a neighbor or loved one of your evacuation plans.
In addition, Special Needs shelters can provide assistance to citizens with certain medical problems during a major emergency. To be eligible, you must pre-register and meet established criteria. You may need to complete the form with your doctor or health care professional. Contact your county emergency management office or call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-963-5337 to learn how to obtain details on Special Needs shelters in your community. You can also call directory assistance or go online to FloridaDisaster.org/shelters.
For more storm and safety tips, including how to report outages, keep your pet safe during a storm and prepare your home, visit FPL.com/storm.
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