Most of the people that died during Katrina were Elderly, how important is social infrastructure..

    How important is "Social Infrastructure" to our society? Reading some disaster reports it seems when it comes to elderly people in emergency situations it is quite important. Over 1/2 of the deaths from Hurricane Katrina were elderly, most died in their own homes due to drowning or lack of medications for pre-existing conditions such as heart disease. Many elderly are isolated, in the homes they have lived in for decades by the fact they don't drive, rarely go to the grocery store, have few visitors and absent family. Neighbors have a tendency to not really ignore them but to assume if they are up and in their yards they are doing fine. We must remember the scenes from Japan during the Tsunami, groups of people running to higher ground followed by older people walking slowly up the hill, we have to do better. (Click here for advice.)

Elderly really do need our help during an event. These guy's
are good neighbors. 

    We can do better as neighbors and relatives. Before a storm is to strike our area make a trip to their house to check if they need anything from the grocery. Help them if there is a problem in their house, arraign to have a broken window repaired, or locks put on a door. Make sure the stove works and there are no gas leaks, make sure phones, heater and water systems are in working order. Ask them if they would be prepared to evacuate if need be, help them make an evacuation plan. Write it down and put it on the refrigerator making sure to include a list of medications and their doctors name, address, and phone number. (Print a plan checklist here.) Many older residents call their doctors by their first name only "Doctor John" and normally have not committed phone numbers or addresses to memory. Ask if they would like assistance in preparing an evacuation set of clothes, set up an emergency pack with them. It's just being neighborly, if a few preparatory steps are not taken before an event occurs there is a likely hood emergency actions will be resisted during an event. Older people have a tendency to trust a relatively few people, a relative or close neighbor are among the accepted. Distrust is big, they have been isolated, from choice or circumstance, for a very long time and are very independent. That independence is a thin veneer,

Our reality is a little different than how
we sometimes see ourselves.

at one time they very independent however during an emergency event their stamina is not able to keep up with the demands of the Catastrophic occurrence. We would be doing a service to them to prepare their pets needs as well, many will refuse to evacuate without them. Help to find a safe place for their pet in the chance they may have to spend an extended time in a relief center. If damage occurs to their home, they may be out for many months or even years. A very important aspect is to be certain that the feeling they have of independence is not compromised, they do not want to appear weak and dependent. That is a big reason to be neighborly before, during and after a disaster event.  (Survival kits are available click here.) Help them contact their relatives, meet their relatives either on phone or in person prior to the event occurring, get their contact information. During the event make a call to them if possible to keep them appraised of the situation and the location of their relative.

Older citizen's and Children are affected
the most in a natural disaster. 

    The effects that natural disaster's have on Cities, County's and Humans is obvious most of the time. There is however a disproportionate toll taken on the elderly, 65 years and older will need some sort of assistance during a natural event. To shore up the "Social Infrastructure" is not a massive government program or organized by the state, it's simply being neighborly. Take an interest, be compassionate and interact with your elderly (indeed all) neighbors it will make our communities stronger and make times easier if we are faced with a confusing evacuation disaster.
    Thanks for reading my blog, I welcome comments and suggestions. Do you think I'm on the money with this or am I soaking wet? Let me know.

jimandkate  EmergencyKitsPlus.com    emergency kit supplies