Your aging parent is more vulnerable during floods since they are more likely to live alone, be physically immobile, or have specific requirements. Therefore, having an emergency plan in place before a tragedy happens will help your loved one know what to do. Here is a guide to helping your loved ones during a flood in Boynton Beach, FL.
Have a Communication Plan
During a flood, it’s common for the power to go out or the phone lines to be damaged. As a result, it may be difficult to contact your relatives to let them know you’re safe or whether you need assistance.
You should ensure that your loved ones keep a cell phone charged, and only use it when necessary. In case their cell phone dies, have backup battery packs on hand. Install a weather app on your smartphone to follow the storm. If modern mobile phones are too complicated for your loved one, many more basic portable flip phones function exactly like a landline. Ensure that their phone carries the phone numbers of every member of the family. It’s also good to have a contact outside the area you can call since local contacts may be affected by the flood.
You should also ensure that they maintain a battery-operated radio to hear the local news.
Have a Medical Plan
When a flood happens, you may not have access to a hospital or pharmacy. You should consult your doctor about an emergency backup plan if you have a serious condition that necessitates routine doctor appointments such as dialysis or chemotherapy. You should always keep your loved one’s medical history, including medical prescriptions, dosages, and doctors, up to date. Include it in your emergency kit and ensure that it is protected from moisture by laminating it or placing it in a plastic bag.
Prepare a Disaster Relief Kit
It’s crucial to put together a disaster relief bag with everything you might require if the situation worsens. A few things to add to your kit are:
- 72 hours’ worth of water and food. Before the flood, you should fill bathtubs with water in case you run out of drinking water.
- Batteries for hearing aids, eyewear, and meal replacements such as granola bars, or shakes.
- Medical records, insurance cards, home and auto insurance, power of attorney, a list of relatives’ contact information, and other crucial documents. These documents can be laminated or stored in a dry container or plastic bag.
Plan to Evacuate
If your loved one’s neighborhood or town issues an evacuation order, follow it right away. You should determine your evacuation plan by getting in touch with your local government to find out where to go. Find the closest authorized shelter through The American Red Cross website.
Discovery Village At Boynton Beach Has an Experienced Team to Handle Flood Disaster
Looking for a retirement community with experienced team members that can assist their residents during a flood? Choose our Assisted Living community! Our retirement community has a team of experienced members to help with everything you need during a disaster, and not only. We provide residents with a relaxing and comfortable stay, from resort-style amenities and exclusive senior living programs. We have two other senior living options, Memory Care and Independent Living. For more information, contact us today!
