Daytona Beach Senior AdvisorWhy does hurricane season matter so much for seniors here?
Much of the population lives on barrier islands and along the Halifax and Indian River lagoons, where evacuation orders come first, and long power outages after recent storms have shown how quickly heat and lost medical equipment endanger older adults.
Beachside condominiums in Daytona Beach Shores and Ormond Beach, and low-lying neighborhoods along the rivers, need an evacuation plan worked out before June.
What should a senior living at home do before the season?
Know the evacuation zone, register with the county special needs program if the person depends on electricity or needs help to evacuate, refill prescriptions early when a storm threatens, and arrange where to go and who will drive.
Volusia and Flagler each run a special needs registry through county emergency management. Registration does not guarantee a shelter space with a family member, so plan alternatives.
What does Florida require of ALFs and nursing homes?
Florida requires assisted living facilities and nursing homes to have emergency power plans that keep residents in a safe temperature for at least 96 hours after an outage, along with comprehensive emergency management plans reviewed by the county.
75 of the 105 licensed ALFs in Volusia and Flagler report a fixed generator in AHCA's emergency power data; every facility page in our directory states whether one is reported. Each facility page in our directory states whether AHCA's data reports a fixed generator.
What should we ask a facility about storms?
Ask where residents go if the building evacuates and how they are transported, how long the generator can run and what it powers, how medications and records travel with residents, and how families are contacted during an event.
Ask how the building fared in the last major storm: whether it evacuated, how long power was out and what changed afterward.
What should a family do when a storm is approaching?
Confirm the parent's plan three to five days out: medications and supplies for at least a week, chargers and backup power for medical devices, a full gas tank, copies of documents, and a decision on where the parent will ride out the storm.
If your parent lives in a facility, call to confirm whether it is sheltering in place or evacuating, and where to reach the staff. Afterward, check on neighbors who live alone, especially in high-rise condominiums where elevators may be out.
At a glance
| A good storm plan includes | A weak storm plan relies on | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | A generator or a clear relocation plan | Hoping the outage is short |
| Evacuation | A destination, transport and medications | Deciding when the order comes |
| Contact | A family call list and updates | Learning about it on the news |
Sources: Chapters 408, 429 and 651, Florida Statutes; Florida Administrative Code chapters 59A-36 and 65A-2; publications of AHCA, DCF, OIR and the Department of Elder Affairs; and the CareScout and VA tables named on the page. See our editorial standards for how figures are checked.
