Jerry sat terrified on his kitchen table for hours as the flood waters rose to over three feet. Francis was in the hospital when Hurricane Milton hit, overcome with fear that her dog, who was at home alone, wouldn’t survive the storm. Arthur lost all his belongings, including his car, and went days without eating. Dorothy slept on a soaking wet mattress when her roof was damaged and rainwater poured into her bedroom. These heartbreaking stories from seniors who faced Hurricanes Helene and Milton alone were the catalyst for our NEW Senior Disaster Support Program.
After hearing these stories, we knew their experience could have been different if they had support from their neighbors. Now, we’re intentionally building friendships and a network of support within older adult communities so seniors like Jerry, Francis, Arthur, and Dorothy feel comfortable asking their neighbors for help when they need it most.
We’ve adopted 3 senior communities throughout Pinellas County that were significantly impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Each month, we host events to bring residents together to share hurricane recovery and preparation resources, enjoy fun activities, and most importantly, build camaraderie so they have someone to lean on before, during, and after a storm.
Our Senior Disaster Support team attended the Better Together VOAD Convening in Ocala to connect with experts and ensure we have the knowledge, skills, and resources to help seniors recover from recent hurricanes and be prepared for future disasters.
Interested in creating a safer, stronger tomorrow for our seniors? Donate, volunteer, or adopt a community today! Email SDS@SeniorsinService.org or click the button to learn more.