Senate Aging Committee Urges Enhanced Disaster Preparedness for Seniors Ahead of 2025 Hurricane Season

As the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season approaches, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on May 14 titled “Preparing for Disasters: Unique Challenges Facing Older Americans.”

The session focused on the vulnerabilities of seniors during emergencies and the necessity for tailored disaster preparedness strategies.

Committee Chairman Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) highlighted the critical importance of readiness.

Natural disasters do not discriminate... if you aren’t prepared, nothing else matters. And while being prepared is vital for EVERYONE – it is especially important for seniors who often have different and more complex needs than their younger neighbors and friends.

Ranking Member Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for inclusive planning that considers the specific needs of the elderly population.

Expert Testimonies Highlight Systemic Gaps

The committee heard from several experts. Sheriff Chris Nocco, Pasco County, Florida, discussed the challenges law enforcement faces in evacuating and assisting seniors during disasters. He recounted the events during Hurricane Helene in September 2024.

He said that local first responders and the Florida National Guard rescued more than 100 people from a rapidly rising storm surge in Pasco County.

He told the committee that he joined members of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Fire Rescue as they conducted active water rescues, noting that the Florida National Guard and State Guard provided “invaluable” support.

Nocco recalled that in one instance, a woman, child, and elderly relatives were rescued from the roof of a three-story building.

This speaks directly to the need to follow local emergency management officials and orders, such as evacuation, especially for the most vulnerable amongst our community.

The storm surge reached near-record levels, and Nocco said a National Guard vehicle rated for 18 feet of water “was unable to pass any further” in one neighborhood.

Being Prepared

Sheriff Nocco stressed the importance of emergency preparedness for older adults, particularly the need for a well-equipped "go kit." He highlighted that such a kit should include essential items like water, food, medications, first aid supplies, batteries, and other necessities to sustain individuals during the initial days following a disaster.

Nocco also stressed the importance of including pet provisions and keeping copies of vital documents, such as insurance information, in a waterproof container. He advised that these kits be prepared in advance and stored in an easily accessible location to ensure quick evacuation if necessary.

Jennifer Pipa, Vice President of Disaster Programs at the American Red Cross, agreed with the importance of a "go bag" and seniors being prepared.

It’s really important to make sure that they’ve got that kit for some folks that’s a financial burden, so if you’re asking them to put three days of food aside and water and medication, we also try to do it incrementally.

Pipa recommended building the bag over time so a senior doesn't have to build their "go bag" today but to have a plan over the next four months. She says it helps someone acquire the pieces of that bag over time so they’re not experiencing the financial burden of putting the "go bag" together all at once.

She explained that she has a list of things that might expire, so those items might not be in the bag.

That list sits at the very top of my go bag, and that is the first thing I look at to make sure I have to pull those items and put them in.

Sheriff Nocco agreed and said many Americans have routines in their lives, especially as they get older. He said disrupting that routine, like having a bag ready to go, may make some people uncomfortable.

Nocco noted that with hurricanes, there are several days' notice that they’re coming, which allows people to prepare, including getting prescription drugs.

We build that bag up, go to the pharmacy and the pharmacy will usually give you the extra drugs because they understand that during the storm, right after the storm convenience stores, the drugstores, may be down.

Pipa added that older adults often rely on family and friends for support during disasters.

She told senators that among the most significant challenges the American Red Cross encounters in our disaster work is meeting the needs of older Americans impacted by disasters.

Nearly 20 percent of Americans are in the 65-and-older age group, and the current growth of the population ages 65 and older is unprecedented in U.S. history. This increase in the population of older Americans comes at a time when more frequent and costly disasters are becoming the 'new normal' in the United States.

Pipa said that the intersection of these trends—an aging population and significantly more disasters—should concern everyone.

Senior Emergency Go-Bag Essentials

🔹 Health and Medical Needs

• List of medications (with dosages and schedule)
• 7–10 day supply of all prescription and OTC medications
• Medical ID bracelet or health information card
• Copy of Medicare/insurance cards (health insurance/Medicare, Long-Term Care)
• Hearing aids and extra batteries
• Eyeglasses or spare contacts
• Mobility aids (foldable cane, walker tips, etc.)
• Incontinence supplies
• Oxygen tanks or supplies, if needed
• Glucose meter/insulin for diabetics
• Vaccination records (especially COVID-19 and flu)

🔹 Important Documents (copies, sealed in waterproof bag)

• ID (driver’s license or senior ID)
• Power of attorney and advance directive
• Emergency contact list
• Medical history summary
• Proof of residence and property ownership

🔹 Comfort and Daily Living

• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Cell phone and portable charger (battery-powered or solar)
• Small AM/FM or NOAA radio
• Blanket or travel pillow
• Change of clothes and sturdy shoes
• Towel and washcloth
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and hygiene items
• Portable, accessible toiletries (wipes, dry shampoo, etc.)

🔹 Nutrition and Hydration

• 3-day supply of nonperishable food (low-sodium, easy-open)
• 3-day supply of bottled water (at least 1 gallon/day)
• Manual can opener
• Straws or special utensils if needed for feeding

🔹 Other Must-Haves

• Cash (small bills)
• Face masks and hand sanitizer
• Local map and evacuation route plan
• A whistle or signaling device
• Medical alert system or device

✅ Optional but Recommended

• Lightweight emergency blanket
• Personal photos for comfort and ID
• Notebook and pen
• Extra keys (home, vehicle)

Sheriff Nocco said one thing many seniors forget is their phone charger.

They remember their phone, but don’t forget the charger, so make sure you bring your charger.

He also urged older adults to let family members know where they are if they evacuate during an emergency. Without that communication, law enforcement often receives welfare check requests from concerned relatives—forcing first responders to enter hazardous areas to search for someone who may already be safe in a shelter. Sharing evacuation plans in advance can help avoid unnecessary risks and confusion.

Deaf and Elderly Population

L. Vance Taylor, Chief of Access and Functional Needs at the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, testified about the importance of accessible communication methods, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the deaf and elderly.

We’re in an era of increasingly frequent and severe disasters. As the scope and devastation of these events grow, it’s critical to recognize that—while wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes strike without regard for geography or politics—they consistently and disproportionately impact older adults and people with disabilities.

Emergency response plans, he said, often fall short because they’re created without input from the full range of people affected, a responder said, recalling a wildfire shelter that lacked accessible showers.

“It was hot and muggy, and ash clung to their sweat,” Taylor said of older adults and people with disabilities who had no way to bathe.

I’ll never forget the look on their faces when I had to tell them they had no choice but sit in their own filth.

The experience, Taylor said, highlights the need for “inclusive planning” in emergency preparedness.

Experts say these testimonies underscored the necessity for comprehensive, inclusive emergency planning that addresses the diverse needs of the senior population.

Alzheimer's Association Advocates for Dementia-Inclusive Planning

In a statement for the record, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Alzheimer’s Impact Movement (AIM) emphasized the importance of including individuals with dementia in disaster preparedness efforts. They highlighted the need for tailored strategies to ensure these individuals are adequately supported before, during, and after public health emergencies.

2025 Hurricane Season Outlook

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, officially beginning on June 1, is forecasted to be above average. Colorado State University predicts 17 named storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes.

The National Weather Service notes that warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures and the potential development of La Niña conditions could contribute to increased hurricane activity.

Experts urge residents, especially older adults, to prepare early, emphasizing that even weaker storms can have devastating effects in a warming climate.

📊 Resources for Families and Facilities

• Review your or your loved one’s long-term care facility’s disaster and evacuation plan.
• Visit Ready.gov for Older Adults to create a personalized emergency preparedness kit and plan.
• LTC News Long-Term Care Insurance Education Center has detailed information on how products work and are designed.
• LTC News Caregiver Directory has the largest database of caregivers and facilities in the nation.
• How to Prepare for Emergencies | Be Red Cross Ready | American Red Cross
• Hurricane Preparedness | American Red Cross
• Emergency Preparedness & Response | Florida Department of Health