No immediate danger, but watching Dorian. We are in Eastern coastal Alabama, and the track of the storm looks like it will be in Gulf five or six days from now. Not certain.
I know things change, but 86-year-old Mom does not do well out of the house. Have supplies and we are 10 miles inland, but how does senior handle no power (air condtioning) for several days?
Better to evacuate and deal with the "it's not our house" when we return?
My mother was living alone in the Orlando area 3 years ago when Irma hit. I came and stayed with her during the storm and for several days afterwards. She really needed someone with her to field problems and needs as they arose. We didn't get flooding, but we lost power for 4-5 days. We had a battery-powered fan (highly recommend) and camping lantern which I gave to her to use. We had stocked up on water and batteries, and had plenty of candles and flashlights.
Since she had an electric stove, I set up a propane camping stove out in the shed to make coffee every morning. I also cooked all our meals there, using up perishables like eggs first and then cooking all the frozen food as it thawed from lack of power. I was able to barter ice cubes from a neighbor with a generator, in exchange for thermoses of hot coffee in the morning. It worked out fine, but it would not have worked out for her without someone there full-time. I don't know if any of this applies to your mother's situation, but take it for what it's worth.
The worst you'd have to do if Dorian didn't hit your area is unpack your car, but if it did head your way, you'd already be prepare, w/o the stress of hurrying to pack and escape.
I would not wait until the last minute, taking your elderly Mom out in a storm.
Go days in advance if you go at all. Be brave. Get help. Spare no expense.
This is coming from a person who believes in sheltering in place.
If an evacuation is called, as people leave gas stations run out of gas. When these stations can no longer service people for ice or other needed items, the exits get closed. Then you are sitting in traffic and you can't even use the restroom. These things have very negative impact on seniors. Better to be safe than sorry. Texas learned these lessons the hard way.
I have "go" bags already; they are set up mid-July for hurricane season. Gassed the car -- had half tank, but 1. Dorian and 2. A six-cents-a-gallon tax increase Sept. 1 here.
Have seven days food and bottled water in house,baby wipes and pet food. have about 15 days of her meds. Asked siblings to get used walkers in their homes so I don't have to fit that in car months ago. Have a "travel" wheelchair (thrift store find) in trunk already. She can walk but it is hard.
MY biggest concern is actually getting her out of the house and having her quiet when we return. That is the big worry. I can't take her to lunch or anywhere, even doctor appt. without an hour of, "This is not my house, I don't like it here and do those people know we are here. "
I'm really impressed with your preparedness!
I hope this discussion thread has been helpful to those weighing whether to evacuate the elderly or stay, You are truly the most caring, supportive people! And your love for your older family members is so inspiring!
As we are living in the coastal GA area, we could get kissed by Dorian. Or a smack down. Hard to know how it will shake down. But short of a miracle, we are going to get hit. The proximity to the coast, or a direct landfall, will determine how bad it will be.
We aren’t planning on evacuation here, just hunkering down. We aren’t on the barrier islands, and reasonably high enough above sea level, not on a marsh or tidal creek. Not too concerned about surge in our location, but there are no guarantees in life.
I hope all of us and our families will come through with minimal damage, other than the frayed nerves many are feeling. Check in please!
As the weather forecasts get more refined, and if the local gov't says to evacuate, DO IT. Even if it's just going to be bad and probably lose power, probably evacuating to a safe place is in order.
Definitely get a generator.
We took the wind and 20.5 inches of rain from Hurricane Harvey. 2 hours north of us took the historic flooding...Houston.
Prepare for the worst, then hope for the best.
As a coastal resident you know how unpredictable these storms can be.
Please, Please heed the instructions from your local authorities regarding evacuation. Sometimes the storms zig and zag and the evacuations come last minute and there’s no time to run.
Do you have any understanding relatives in a safe zone? If you do and mandatory evacuations are ordered I would head there if I had an 86yr old in tow.
With all due respect, I grew up without A/C and I am in the heat everyday. But, the heat after a hurricane is hard to imagine. No one held up well. Not me at 56,not kids in their 30s, 3yr Old did okay...Oppressive heat, humidity higher than usual and NO breeze.
Most Elders like it toasty but not what I described above.
If you are going to take any wind at all you may have no power for weeks. We were lucky only out of power for 12 days. For us no power=no water.
We had 2 generators and lots of fuel but ran them sparingly because there was no fuel available for 4 days. No power = no fuel also.
If you choose to not evacuate, which I do not recommend, Double your supplies. You can always use them.
Baby wipes for bathing...yuk....
If you are ordered to evacuate, do the smart thing, evacuate.
As GA suggested. Pack the car, get organized, make lists, try to find a safe place. You may not need to evacuate but being prepared is wise.
FoleyDaughter could buy some no rinse bathing and shampoo solutions. I've used both; the no rinse bathing is refreshing and the shampoo isn't quite as moist (although perhaps I didn't use enough), but they at least do refresh so a person doesn't feel grubby.
And actually, those of us in the North could heed the advice offered here b/c we have to deal with winter storms, some of which are pretty nasty, although we don't usually have lengthy power failures.
I think that someplace I have some cider jugs I can fill with water and freeze them in the event that they're needed.
We tried to help in small ways, visiting with other residents we'd gotten to know as well, but the activities directors, aids, and nursing staff worked together to keep the mood bright despite their concerns about their own families and homes back in Wilmington!
Your mom will handle whatever comes better if you are with her and you are reasonably calm. If you have to use a generator, please follow the CO2 (carbon monoxide) warnings!
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