In South Florida, hurricane season is part of life. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, which means preparation is not a one-time task – it is a yearly routine.
For older adults and caregivers, that routine can feel especially overwhelming. AARP Research found that while 59% of adults ages 50 and older feel confident navigating a natural disaster, fewer than one-third have created a comprehensive emergency plan.
If you are aging in place, managing chronic conditions, using mobility aids, or caring for a loved one from a distance, hurricane preparedness is not just about bottled water and batteries. It is about making sure health needs, medications, transportation, communication, and support systems are ready before a storm is on the way.
The good news is that a practical plan can make emergencies feel less chaotic. Here is where to start.
Why Seniors Need a Different Kind of Emergency Plan
For older adults, a basic hurricane checklist is usually not enough. Seniors face elevated risks during and after a storm that require extra planning:
- Medications and medical routines: Missed doses, refrigerated medications, oxygen therapy, dialysis, wound care, and other time-sensitive medical needs can quickly become urgent when pharmacies close, mail-order supplies are delayed, or the power goes out.
- Mobility and transportation: Limited mobility makes it difficult to evacuate quickly, carry heavy supplies, or navigate public transportation during an emergency.
- Cognitive changes: For individuals living with dementia or cognitive impairment, the confusion and anxiety that accompany a storm (or an unfamiliar shelter environment) can worsen symptoms.
- Social isolation: Older adults who live alone may not have someone nearby to check on them before or after the storm.
- Heat risk: In the Florida humidity, the loss of air conditioning after a storm can quickly lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
By planning for these risks ahead of time, you can significantly reduce the danger and stress when a storm is on the horizon.
Building Your Emergency Plan
A strong emergency plan answers three basic questions: What is my risk? Will I shelter in place or evacuate? Who will help me communicate and follow through?
Know Your Risk
The first step of planning is understanding the risk for your home address, not just Florida in general. Use the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s Evacuation Zone Lookup Tool to find your zone. Zone A properties face the highest risk and are typically ordered to evacuate first; zones B through F represent progressively lower risk. It is also important to remember that flooding is often a greater threat to life than wind damage. For older adults who may need extra time or assistance to evacuate, knowing your zone and its risk for flooding is essential.
Plan Whether to Evacuate or Shelter in Place
The decision to stay or leave should be based on several factors: evacuation zone, flood risk, the structural safety and elevation of the home, whether the person relies on electricity-dependent medical equipment, and whether a caregiver or family member can be present. Broward County also reminds elderly residents and caregivers that emergency plans should fit each person’s unique circumstances, including medical equipment, caregiving needs, transportation, and communication support.
- If Sheltering in Place: This is only appropriate if local officials have not ordered an evacuation and your home is safe enough to remain in. Follow Miami-Dade County’s shelter-in-place guidelines: stay in a safe area of the home (such as an interior room with few or no windows), keep your emergency kit within easy reach, bring pets and communication devices into the safe area, and stay indoors until officials issue the all-clear. Broward County’s emergency preparedness guidance for elderly residents also recommends arranging for a family member, friend, or neighbor to check on you after an emergency and making sure they know how to operate any necessary medical equipment to assist you.
- If Evacuating: Decide before the storm where you will go – a family member’s home, a hotel, or a specialized shelter. Confirm your transportation, pack a go-bag of needed supplies, and review evacuation guidelines ahead of time. Always leave when the evacuation order is given, rather than waiting for conditions to deteriorate. To help you prepare, review Miami-Dade County’s evacuation guidelines and, for Broward residents, Broward County’s evacuation information.
Create a Communication Plan
Seniors aging in place should not rely on a single contact. Before hurricane season, establish a support network of at least three people:
- a nearby family member, friend, or neighbor
- an out-of-area contact who can relay updates during local outages (out-of-town contacts may be easier to reach because they are outside the affected calling area)
- a healthcare or care coordination contact, such as a primary care office, home health agency, or pharmacy
For caregivers, assign responsibilities in advance – decide who will make phone calls, who will do in-person visits, who will provide transportation, and who will check in after the storm. If you are coordinating from another city or state, set realistic expectations about communication during and immediately after a storm since phone service may be intermittent for hours or days. For additional guidance on long-distance caregiving during emergencies, see our post on how to support an aging parent from afar.
Register for Help Before You Need It
Florida’s Special Needs Registry is a free state program that flags individuals with medical needs or disabilities that would make independent evacuation difficult to local emergency management. Anyone who relies on electricity for medical equipment, has a physical disability, or needs help accessing medication during a hurricane should register. But keep in mind that registration does not replace a personal plan and does not automatically qualify someone for a special needs shelter. It is one layer of preparedness, not a complete solution.
Miami-Dade County also offers the Emergency & Evacuation Assistance Program (EEAP), which provides evacuation assistance to eligible residents who need specialized transportation, specialized sheltering (i.e. shelters are designed to accommodate medical equipment and mobility limitations), medical monitoring, or wellness checks after a disaster. Pre-registered residents receive priority, and registration closes before an evacuation order is announced – so do not wait until a storm is approaching to sign up.
Broward residents should also review the county’s Special Needs Shelter and Evacuation Transportation Assistance Program. Broward County’s Special Needs Shelters may be appropriate for residents who need a greater level of care than a general population shelter can provide, but who do not require hospitalization or a medical institution. These shelters offer basic medical assistance and monitoring, are staffed by qualified medical personnel, and have backup electricity for limited lighting and essential medical equipment.
If you are outside of Miami-Dade or Broward County, check with your county’s emergency management department to see what assistance or resources are offered.
Building a Senior-Specific Emergency Supply Kit
While every kit needs water and flashlights, a senior-specific kit focuses on the essentials that maintain health and comfort. Miami-Dade’s baseline checklist is a great start, and Broward County also offers an emergency checklist that includes general supplies, shelter supplies, special needs shelter items, and pet preparedness. Use these county checklists as a foundation, then personalize the kit for medical needs, mobility, memory, and comfort.
- Medications: Keep at least a seven-day supply of prescription medications, plus a written list of medications, dosages, prescribing physicians, and pharmacy information. Remember that Medicare Part D often allows for “emergency refills” before a storm. Check with your pharmacist early in the season.
- Medical equipment backups: Ensure you have battery packs or a generator for oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, and other electricity-dependent devices. Add extra batteries for hearing aids to your kit as well.
- Important documents: Store copies of photo ID, insurance cards, Medicare or Medicaid information, physician contacts, emergency contacts, advance directives, and care instructions in a waterproof bag or folder.
- Comfort items for individuals with dementia: Pack a familiar blanket, photo album, simple activity items, noise-reducing headphones, and favorite snacks. In an unfamiliar shelter or family home, these items can help reduce anxiety, agitation, and disorientation.
Special Considerations for Chronic Conditions and Memory Loss
Managing health during a power outage requires additional planning. If you or a loved one uses refrigerated medication like insulin, keep a small cooler and fresh ice packs ready. Consult with the pharmacy now to ask how long the specific medication can safely remain at room temperature.
For individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, routine disruption can increase confusion and agitation. Unfamiliar environments like emergency shelters also heighten wandering risk. Helpful strategies for caregivers include:
- Stay calm: Calm is contagious. Your tone and body language can help regulate the person you are caring for. Avoid overexplaining storm details if doing so increases anxiety.
- Keep routines: Try to stick to normal mealtimes and sleep schedules as much as possible.
- Use distraction and redirection: Music, photos, or simple tasks can help occupy and ground your loved one.
- Plan for wandering: If evacuating, keep identification on the person and tell shelter staff about cognitive needs upon arrival.
Post-Storm Recovery
The aftermath of a hurricane can still pose risks for seniors. For example, heat-related illness during extended power outages poses a danger for older adults with chronic conditions. Watch for signs of heat exhaustion including heavy sweating, cool or pale skin, weakness, a fast or weak pulse, nausea, and dizziness. To help cool down, keep blinds closed during daylight hours, stay on the lowest floor of the home, use battery-powered fans, and stay hydrated.
If your neighborhood loses power, discard perishable food that has been unrefrigerated for more than four hours, and check for any boil-water notices before resuming normal water use. If using a generator, remember that they must always be used outdoors and away from windows and doors to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning (one of the leading causes of morbidity and death in the aftermath of a hurricane).
Ultimately, successful emergency management is about making the most difficult decisions long before the first clouds arrive. By taking these proactive steps now, you are ensuring that safety and peace of mind remain at the center of your home, no matter what the weather brings.
