Severe Weather and Alzheimers

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Paul R. Bennett - 12 Sep 2004 02:02 GMT

Just something to learn from.
Has not been a handfull of weeks when Hurricane Charley ripped through
the State.
Last weekend Hurricane Frances followed close.
Now we are facing Hurricane Ivan.
So, Well...
How many of you have taken into account severe weather, or natural
disaster, and the need to evacuate your loved one, or the loss of power
and the most basic utilities we all take for granted?
You should.
I don't care where you live, the elements can reach up and slap you when
you least expect it.
Learn where the special needs shelters are in your area. Think about
what you need to take with you. Seriously consider the advisablity of
evacuation.
When all was said and done, though Frances came through our area on
sunday/monday, it was mid morning thursday before I got power back.
Do please consider your loved one, try, if you can, to imagine what it
would be like to lose general services for several days or more.
Paul

Reply to this Message

Evelyn Ruut - 12 Sep 2004 01:09 GMT

> Just something to learn from.
> Has not been a handfull of weeks when Hurricane Charley ripped through
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> would be like to lose general services for several days or more.
> Paul

Paul, I sincerely hope that all of you in Florida are spared this one.......
I have a lot of family and friends there.

Signature

Regards,
Evelyn

(to reply to me personally, remove 'sox")

Reply to this Message

Paul R. Bennett - 12 Sep 2004 02:43 GMT

Evelyn
What comes upon us, comes upon us.
Let us meet it, and let facing the worst that can be bring out the best in us.
Chuckles... For Ivan I am already tasked for at least one shift as a volunteer
in the Emergency Operations Center.
I do not say this for me, but as one who has been a care giver, and as an
emergency services volunteer, I ask that folks please take most seriously what
nature can dish out. I ask that they consider the limitations of their loved
ones and please, please take that into account. We had an incident in Frances
where a gentleman with a disabled wife did not evacuate. He wound up begging
for help over the air.
Heartbreaking.
As for me.
Thursday morning I got power back.
Ever listen to the old Shaker Hymn "Simple Gifts"?
Simple Gifts, a hot shower, hot food, being home with light and water. But
then, I waited out Frances with friends, their silly dogs, and nutty birds, and
it was fun, from Peaches, the Super Male Cockatoo, to Buster the Paranoid
Canine.
Anyway, I do ask of the group to consider that Nature might well rear back and
get their attention. And do, please, think, as a caregiver, of your loved one.
Do please be aware of the special needs shelters, do please balance the
possibility of being without water, power, road access vs your loved ones
comfort at the familiar surrounding.
I know it is not an easy equation, but I hope folks will think about it. And
please be prepared.
As for me, at present I am tasked to pull at least one shift at the EOC.
But, chuckles, I am going to find a silver lining. I was finally motivatied,
needed, to clean out and disinfect the fridge and freezer.
Paul

> > Just something to learn from.
> > Has not been a handfull of weeks when Hurricane Charley ripped through
[quoted text clipped - 24 lines]
>
> (to reply to me personally, remove 'sox")

Reply to this Message

Trish Knight - 12 Sep 2004 02:21 GMT

Very good advice, Paul.
Trish

Reply to this Message

Robert E. Lewis - 12 Sep 2004 16:14 GMT

> How many of you have taken into account severe weather, or natural
> disaster, and the need to evacuate your loved one, or the loss of power
> and the most basic utilities we all take for granted?

I live with my father in a beach house on the Gulf Coast. We've been
through lots of storms, lots of evacuations together. What's changed with
his physical and cognitive decline is that it takes me longer to prepare and
that we have to leave earlier.

It takes longer not only because my father's unable to help with
preparations, but because he is unable/unwilling to understand that he can't
help. The attention a person with low-level dementia demands doesn't seem
great, until you're short of time and sorting what needs to be taken away,
what needs to be brought up above flood waters, what's disposable. I've had
some success assigning him a make-work task, such as 'keep the cats out of
the way so I can come in and out of the house,' but it's as likely to result
in him standing in the open doorway, waving his cane at the cats, who come
to see what he's doing, while I have to maneuver around all of them every
trip inside.

Our old standard of time to leave was when rising tides covered a low spot
down the street; now he is physically too frail to walk through four inches
of water in the driveway. He is an old Navy captain and still insists he's
got to be the last one to 'abandon ship,' so I have to plan ahead enough to
get him out early, when otherwise I could have five or six more hours to
prepare and then wade out to my car parked high and dry up the road. At
this point, I don't have anyplace I could park him while I came back (no
local family), but even if I did, suggesting it to the Capt. would mean
early storm clouds, with him furious at me for hours.

So, yeah -- evacuate, and plan on doing it earlier than you once would have.

Reply to this Message

Charlene Donahue - 07 Oct 2004 01:36 GMT

Hi All,

Well, once again I've been really out of touch---When Ivan was
threatening the direct hit on Biloxi, I did all to get prepared---my
worry was not flooding---we are high but rather the big trees around
us--- Thankfully, we have hurricane shutters so I can close the house up
by myself in little time---takes longer to secure everything from the
yard---By myself, I would have left---I really didn't see anyway I could
with John---I would have been a very dangerous
driver in bumper to bumper traffic with John's agiatation that the car
brings. I decided there was no choice but to ride it out. Having been
through Georges in PR as a strong 2, weak 3, I knew it could get bad
especially since Ivan was a 4. Anyway, we lucked out. All in all, I
still think that without the house falling on us, we would have been
better here even if we had been hit. It does take a lot of
preparation---stocking water, etc. Next year, we are investing in a
generator! This year we would have used propane small fridge (from
living on the boat) & propane everything else.

Remember the uproar when Frederick talked aboiiut putting June back in
the camper so he could safely drive? I can relate to that!!

Always,

Char

>>How many of you have taken into account severe weather, or natural
>>disaster, and the need to evacuate your loved one, or the loss of power
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> So, yeah -- evacuate, and plan on doing it earlier than you once would have.

Reply to this Message