Caring for the infirmCaring for New York’s elderly in a disaster

Given the recent spate of natural disasters that struck the United States and New York City itself, community leaders there are concerned about disaster preparedness particularly for the city’s elderly and disabled populations.

The Epoch Times reports that last Wednesday State Senator Adriano Espaillat and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez held a town hall meeting to discuss emergency preparedness in northern Manhattan, which is home to many of the city’s elderly residents.

“Community preparedness becomes especially important when it comes to special needs residents who may need additional support,” Rodriguez said. “The city should make it policy to ask every disabled New Yorker about their emergency response plan, and to offer assistance if that individual desires it.”

At the meeting, many elderly residents expressed their concerns about living in high-rise buildings in the event of a disaster. Without power elevators will not be functional, making it difficult, if not impossible, for the elderly and handicapped to get down many flights of stairs.

In addition deaf residents said closed captioning on emergency announcements was needed as they did not see them during the evacuation for Hurricane Irene.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, New York’s Division of Homeland Security, and several local organizations were present and said they will to incorporate the feedback from the meeting into New York City’s Office of Emergency Management as well as other agencies.