PREPARE: Personal Readiness, Emergency Packs and Recovery Essentials: Emergency Preparedness for Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Older adults, living within the community, are often left on their own to prepare for wide-spread disasters or emergencies. An abundant amount of emergency preparedness information is available; however, it is rarely tailored to older adults. The purpose of this project is to create awareness in the older adult population and provide information that is relevant at the community level. A questionnaire was utilized and distributed at two congregate meal sites with the purpose of collecting personal preparedness data. A seminar was subsequently presented that included a brief presentation, as well as, a visual demonstration of portable emergency packs. Local, county, state and federal resources tailored to older adults was also provided. The information provided was designed to encourage self-sufficiency and sustainability in a large-scale emergency.