Emergency Operations
The Alliance for Aging, Inc. plans for all types of disasters. The planning focuses on three main areas:
- Keeping seniors and their caregivers as safe as possible in a disaster
- Making sure providers continue to serve their clients in a disaster
- Maintaining the Alliance for Aging’s operations to the extent possible
The Alliance tries to keep seniors and their caregivers as safe as possible before, during and after a disaster.
The Alliance can help seniors pre-plan for a disaster through distributions of the Elder Update Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders (PDF) at events, for the Spanish version click here. This guide provides information to helps elders and their caregivers develop a personal disaster plan for themselves. It includes:
- A checklist of important items to have available when a disaster strikes
- Precautions in case of hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and other disasters
- Things to do to remain safe after a disaster
In addition to the guide, the Elder Helpline can assist elders to sign up for local Emergency Evacuation Assistance Programs. This program will place elders and infirm individuals on a call-up list to transport to special needs shelters in case of an emergency.
To learn more about the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program or to download an application form, click here for Miami-Dade and here for Monroe County, For more information on disaster preparedness resources, click here .
During the disaster period, the Alliance for Aging forwards reports on storm forecasts during the season. The Alliance participates with the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations Center when it is activated. The Alliance is not a first responder, so the Alliance tries to keep its staff safe during the disaster.
The Alliance partners with other local organizations such as the United Way to provide a comprehensive local response after an emergency. The Alliance also works with providers to identify areas of high need and strategies on how to assist in providing these services. The Alliance works to assure that providers continue providing services to their clients.
The Alliance requires all providers to submit their Disaster Plans to the Alliance. These disaster plans show how the providers intend to continue operating in the event of a disaster, and they include contact names and telephone numbers. The alliance also maintains call down list to the providers to assure they are prepared for an imminent disaster. In order to keep providers aware of hurricane and tropical storm conditions, the Alliance sends periodic weather condition e-mails to its providers during hurricane season.
How the Alliance plans maintain operations
The Alliance plans for maintaining operations by keeping a call-down list for all Alliance for Aging staff and having an alternative site location for staff in the event of loss of access to office. It keeps backups of critical data from its servers at multiple offsite locations.
The Alliance plans for the safety of seniors and its staff in the event of disaster, requiring its providers to plan for the safety of seniors and their staff in the event of disaster. We urge area seniors and their caregivers to plan for their own safety in the event of a disaster as well.