By Shavonne Walker

shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

In an emergency situation, all you can think of is getting out of it — whether it’s high flood water, an ice storm, power outage or even a hurricane — often without any forethought.

But as I recently learned from the folks at Home Instead Senior Care, planning can make all the difference in how you fare during and after a disaster.

This week was Hurricane Preparedness Week and although Rowan County is in a low risk zone and there hasn’t been very many, if any, hurricanes in this area in recent years — it could happen.

In 1989, Hurricane Hugo was recorded as one of the largest to hit this area. The hurricane caught many off guard, some mostly because they weren’t prepared for the storm.

Home Instead franchise owner Jena Hare, and Teresa Dakins, a community education facilitator, recently sat down with me to discuss how seniors, their caregivers or anyone for that matter can prepare when disaster strikes.

The most important key is to have a plan for the family, caregiver and the senior adult.

“We want them to think ahead,” Hare said.

If a storm strikes and there’s a power outage, then there has to be a plan in place to provide electricity for those with oxygen and other systems that require power including cooling certain medications, Hare explained.

“A hurricane is pretty traumatic,” she said for the elderly, some of whom get frightened or panic in power outages or other such disasters.

Once a client joins this Home Instead branch, located at West Jake Alexander Boulevard, not far from the West End Plaza, they are given a disaster checklist that includes emergency contacts, medications, and a general emergency plan for themselves, caregivers or family and emergency personnel.

Home Instead has 150 to 250 ongoing clients and many others who may only need temporary services.

Hare and Dakins got me thinking about my emergency plan if a disaster strikes. I actually don’t have one, but now is a good time to create one.

Dakins said a kit is so important, especially since we are in a society where some seniors are taking care of elderly parents and others don’t live in the same area as their aging parents.

Preparedness Kit:

• Make a plan. Meet with neighbors, family, friends, professional caregivers or other key people who will be apart of the emergency plan. Also, don’t forget to compile a contact list, an escape route or secondary safe location, if necessary. Once the plan is in place, practice it at least twice a year.

• Pack a go kit. A go kit is a backpack, bag or waterproof container that has items that you can take if you had to evacuate for a day or two — non-perishable foods, water, toilet paper, toiletry/hygiene items, blanket, flashlights, cellphone chargers, extra medications, insurance documents, at least $20 in cash, at least one change of clothing, battery operated radio with extra batteries and a first aid kit. The list could go on based on a person’s personal needs.

Dakins recommends updating the kit often with new food/water, batteries and contact information. She suggests changing the kit when you change the batteries on your smoke detector.

Those seniors who are away from their families have staff like those at Home Instead who can make sure they are proactive and plan ahead.

Planning ahead can mean all the difference when disaster strikes.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care and how you can prepare for disaster, visit www.homeinstead.com or contact the agency at 704-212-2026.