La Porte, Texas March 2009

The Senior Citizen Center in La Porte, Texas hosted a FEMA for Seniors event. They learned the importance of evacuating, and how to be ready in case of a disaster.

Roxann Crawford
FEMA for Seniors
Today we came to La Porte Senior Center to discuss emergency preparedness and evacuation plans for senior citizens.

Kristin Gauthier
City of La Porte, TX
I think it's a really great program and you know especially after Hurricane Ike we thought it would be some really good information for our senior community.

Roxann Crawford
FEMA for Seniors
Seniors are the least likely to evacuate during a disaster, we need to make sure that we teach them about preparedness and ready kits. How to prepare for a disaster, and why it's important to evacuate because we want them to be safe.

Mildred Rosamond
La Porte Resident
It was good information that everybody needed to know. I know you heard it over and over and over, but until you really put it in your self, and think I need to do this it really kind of goes over you head. So make it personal.

Roxann Crawford
FEMA for Seniors
Today we provided all of our Senior Citizens who attended the program with an emergency packet. Inside that packet there is a plan that they can fill out. It has all of the stuff on how to make a disaster evacuation plan; we also have wallet size plans with just an overview of your plan, including emergency contact information both in town and out of town friends and family phone numbers, medical history and other important information. Also inside the bag was information what to put in a disaster ready kit, information for older Americans, information for individuals with disabilities on how to evacuate. We also provided them with the red cross about shelters, how to register for red cross assistance and what information you may need to bring with you also what things to bring with you to a red cross station or shelter.

Mildred Rosamond
La Porte Resident
Pack your water, your medication, any emergency equipment that you might need to take with you for instance your prescriptions for several weeks. You need to get your insurance papers together, your car insurance, your medical insurance, your house insurance, all of your important papers that might filed away

Kristin Gauthier
City of La Porte, TX
It's important that they know how they can be prepared and also what time of assistance is available to them should something like happen again in the future.

Roxann Crawford
FEMA for Seniors
Evacuating is the best way to save yourself in a disaster and also being prepared for evacuation and for disasters is extremely important.

For more information visit www.fema.gov