Dear Family and Friends,
I would like to start my blog by sending my utmost condolences to all who have been affected by the fires in Southern California. I personally know many of you, and words cannot express the sorrow and helplessness I feel. I did not feel it was appropriate to send my monthly blog in the first few weeks of this year, and have been thinking about how to offer some help, especially pertaining to caregivers.
When Don was ill, I often thought about what I would do in the case of an emergency, but never dreamed our close community would ever experience something as extensive as the Palisades and Altadena fires. I had portable generators in case of the loss of electricity, extra batteries and medical supplies, etc…. All of which would have been of little help if we had experienced then what has happened now.
In brainstorming with my team, we are sending our first blog of 2025 with these thoughts. Certainly not a fix, but hopefully “food for thought,” and we want you all to know our thoughts and prayers are with you. Feel free to reach out if you know of any caregivers, along with their loved ones, who may need help. All information is on my website www.kathikollfoundation.org.
Fires, Floods, and Tornados: How Can Caregivers Plan for an Emergency?
When fire raced through homes in California last month, caregivers and their loved ones were particularly at risk.
A war veteran and great-grandfather, who was also an amputee who needed a wheelchair, was the caregiver for his son with cerebral palsy. They needed aid to evacuate, but no one came in time.
A mother with a broken arm couldn’t lift her blind disabled son, so she tried and failed to put out the fire in his cottage then raced to the fire department for help. He died before she returned.
Unfortunately, of the 28 known fire victims, the majority were over 70 and often had health issues that made a quick evacuation difficult. One grandmother had a part-time caregiver who couldn’t reach her in time, and another elderly woman refused to leave her neighborhood. A grandmother died because frantic loved ones thought someone else had taken charge of her during the chaos of the evacuation.
But there were also successes, including one nursing home that evacuated all 45 patients, many in wheelchairs crying and screaming that they didn’t want to leave.
These stories are a stark reminder of how important emergency plans are for caregivers and their loved ones and also of how plans can go wrong.
So how can you develop an adequate emergency plan, so that your loved one is as protected as possible?
1) List the Issues
Every situation is different, so list the potential problems first. Then brainstorm for solutions. Does your loved one need a wheelchair, a walker, or a driver? If an evacuation order was given, how would you handle any resistance if they refused to leave their home? Are there pets, or heirlooms that they wouldn’t want to abandon? What about medications? Wander around your loved one’s home. Take pictures of everything and consider different eventualities. For example, if a fire started on the first floor, could your loved one get out of the top floor with a drop-down ladder or would they not have the mobility for that? Could a neighbor be provided a ladder to reach them in such an emergency? Contact your local fire department to see if they might be able to suggest resources that would work.
2) Back Up Your Back-up Plan
Unfortunately, the best laid plans can and often do go wrong. For example, maybe you’ve enlisted a neighbor to help your father with severe Parkinson’s disease during a mandatory evacuation. But what if that neighbor is out of town? Maybe you have a second neighbor on standby, but that neighbor happens to be at a party on the other side of town when the evacuation order is issued. And maybe a third neighbor’s phone has died, so they don’t get your call. Before any such nightmare scenario can unfold, it’s worth knocking on the door of everyone on the block, asking for their numbers in the event of an emergency, and then giving them yours. Periodically update the list—maybe every six months or so—perhaps bringing some cookies when you do, so that they are regularly reminded about your loved one’s needs. Maybe even have a regular drill so that the situation will be normalized for your loved one and the neighbors. Evacuations can be chaotic. The more that you keep in touch with the neighbors, the higher the odds are that your loved one will be carried to safety in an emergency.
3) The Go Bag
People near the fires were urged to pack “Go bags” in readiness for evacuation, but what should be in them? Cal Fire recommends a 3-day supply of food and 3 gallons of water per person, a map with two evacuation routes, necessary medications/prescriptions, a change of clothes, extra eyeglasses/contacts, extra car keys, credit cards, cash, a first aid kid, sanitation supplies, a flashlight, battery-powered radio, and extra batteries. In addition, the pack should contain important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, and IDs. If time allows, it’s also ideal to leave some space for family photos, valuables, laptops, phones, chargers, and irreplaceable items. Make a list of those last-second items and stick the list in the bag so you’ll be less likely to forget something. If you have pets that might be difficult to corral, having their leashes/carriers easily accessible would also be wise.
For most people, neither the “Go bag” nor the escape plan will ever be used, but it’s worth taking the time to create them anyway. You never know, and having a plan provides at least a little peace of mind. If the worst happens, your preparation might even save your loved one’s life.
I hope some of these ideas will help you, but whatever you choose to do, please have a plan. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you for reading and please be well! -KK