Emergency officials in St. Petersburg, Florida, held a hurricane expo at the Sunshine Senior Center to help older residents prepare for storms. The event was prompted by the fact that the majority of victims who were killed during Hurricanes Helene and Milton were over age 65.
Hurricane Preparedness
Residents listened to presentations from emergency officials and first responders who shared tips about how to plan ahead before a storm, where to find trusted information, and how to avoid scams. A number of organizations were also at the expo, including St. Pete Fire Rescue, the Red Cross, Duke Energy, and local disaster relief groups.
According to Sunshine Senior Center Supervisor Carole Ware, the senior center is a trusted location for seniors in the city, and they know they can get correct information there. Ware also noted that many seniors prefer face-to-face interactions and may not be as tech-savvy as younger generations.
Officials reminded residents to arrange evacuation plans early, whether it be staying in a hotel or with family. People who need extra medical support or assistance can pre-register for special needs shelters ahead of future storms. Residents who couldn’t attend the event can visit the Sunshine Senior Center to get any questions answered about hurricane preparedness.
Original reporting: Tampa Bay Florida News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
