Cape Cod Seniors Are Well Aware of Storm Safety

Written by Jessica Bernstein, Redcross.org

Executive Director Dee Yeater shows a Well Aware class a vintage Red Cross nurse's uniform.

The peninsula of Cape Cod seems like an idyllic setting for an American Red Cross chapter. Extending off the coast of Massachusetts, the Cape is comprised of a string of seaside communities. A popular resort for much of the east coast, the population of the Cape more than triples in the summer. Of the 205,000 year-round residents, a quarter to a third are retired seniors. And year-round residents know that the Cape's weather isn't always as hospitable as during the summer season.

The peninsula is prone to nor'easters and hurricanes — coastal storms that can pack winds as high as 110 miles per hour. Maritime influences also bring heavy wet snow that weighs down and breaks power lines. The Cape is linked to the mainland by the Sagamore and Bourne bridges, which carry automotive traffic, and one railroad bridge. When winds exceed 74 miles per hour, these bridges are closed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, preventing ground transportation from entering or exiting the Cape during storms. Although the Cape has a history of severe weather, the worst storms occur infrequently, leaving residents inured to dire weather predictions. Sometimes these predictions do come true, as happened in 1991 when Hurricane Bob left the Cape powerless for eight days.

The American Red Cross Cape Cod Chapter is doubly challenged with assisting a large population of seniors and remaining completely self-reliant during and after a disaster when the peninsula may not be accessible from the mainland. Chapter staff are well aware of the challenges facing them in serving Cape Cod communities. They wanted local residents to be well aware too, so they created an emergency preparedness program by that name. In January 2001, the chapter began the Well Aware program to provide information and practical skills that seniors need to know in the event of a disaster.

Chapter representatives offer Well Aware sessions at senior centers, houses of worship, police stations, congregate meal sites, retirement homes, and other community locations. They talk with residents about sheltering at home versus at a Red Cross shelter; making arrangements for pets in the event of a disaster; preparing and storing home emergency supplies; winter survival tips; food and water safety in an emergency; and what to do in a hurricane. The chapter works with senior centers, long term care facilities and local organizations to develop and practice evacuation procedures. Some sessions also include health and safety topics, such as preventing and responding to choking, recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, and staying safe during a heat wave.

Well Aware sessions are tailored to the needs and interests of particular groups. At one senior center with a World War II era group, chapter representatives brought in Red Cross uniforms dating back to that era. This sparked the interest of participants and helped to break the ice. On Nantucket, a nearby island where many residents own pets, the chapter added a Pet First Aid and CPR program.

Tailoring the programs also helps the chapter to connect with other community groups, enhancing the readiness of the entire community to respond in the event of a disaster. Collaborating groups include the Massachusetts SPCA, senior centers, skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the local chapter of AARP, and local councils on aging. In a unique community partnership established through the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office TRIAD Program, seniors, senior service agencies, law enforcement and public safety providers work together to enhance the delivery of public safety and law enforcement services to senior citizens. Since the program's inception, 732 people have participated in Well Aware sessions; many more have received information disseminated through the program. In the coming months, the chapter expects to distribute 3500 packets to homebound seniors through the Elder Services of Cape Cod Meals on Wheels program.

Dee Yeater, the chapter's Executive Director, and Sandi Porter, the Emergency Services Director, came up with the idea of the Well Aware program and have been part of the program ever since. Yeater explains that their goal is to prepare Well Aware participants, not to scare them. "This is an important service we can provide to seniors on the Cape," Yeater explains. "They're our neighbors, our parents and grandparents, and they need to learn these skills to help them stay safe."

For more information about this chapter, visit their Web site.

For more information about programs offered in your community, contact your local American Red Cross.

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