Senior Preparedness

Be Ready in 4 Easy Steps!

1. Stay Informed: Sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive emergency notices and instructions.
2. Identify Your Support Network
3. Make a Plan
4. Make a Kit

1. Stay Informed - Sign up for Alerts!

Stay Informed: Sign up for Alert Montgomery to receive emergency notices and instructions.

2: Identify Your Support Network

Create a support network of family, friends and others who can assist you during an emergency, and share your disaster plans with them.  Practice your plan with them. Make sure they have an extra key to your home, know where you keep your emergency supplies and how to use lifesaving equipment or administer medicine. Have a written plan that you and your support network can keep in an easy-to-access location. Ask your emergency support network to:
  • Stay in contact with you during an emergency
  • Keep a spare set of your keys
  • Know where to find your emergency supply kit
  • Know how to operate any special medical or minility equipment you may have
  • Help you evacuate or shelter in place in an emergency. 


Support Netwerk Contacts:
Get a local and an out-of-state friend or relative who you and your local support network can contact to stay informaed about you. In emergencies, local phones may not connect and long distance calls and texts may work better. Make a list of with names, a primary and alternative phone number, address and email information of at least two in-town contacts and two out-of-town contacts. 

3. Make a Plan

Include in your plan:

  • List your medications (type/dose)
  • Special medical conditions
  • Blood type
  • Eyeglass prescription 
  • Communication device/equipment 
  • Health insurance
  • Doctors/Specialists' contact information 
  • Pharmacists' contact information
  • ​If you undergo routine treatments administered by a clinic or hospital, find out their emergency plans and work with them to identify back-up service providers.
  • If you have a communication-related disability, note the best way to communicate with you.

Emergency Shelter Information

For people who need to evacuate and have no place to stay, county shelters may be set up. Listen to the radio for shelter locations. To find an accessible shelter near you during an emergency, call 3-1-1. Ask someone in your support network to go with you to the shelter. Shelters will generally provide the following:

  • Basic meals and water
  • Cots for sleeping and sitting
  • Running water for personal hygiene 
  • First aid and non-emergency health services
  • In-shelter security 

Shelters do not have special equipment, mobility aids, or batteries. Be prepared to bring your own. 

In some cases you will be need to evacuate during an emergency and public transportation may not be running. Work with your support network to determine transportation options.

4. Prepare a Kit

Assemble and emergency kit using supplies you will need to survive for 72 hours. Keep your kit readily available to help you shelter in place in your home or evacuate quickly. Your personal emergency supply kit should include:

  • Water (1 gallon of water per person per day for 3 days)
  • Nonperishable food (3-day supply)
  • Manual can opener
  • Clothes and shoes
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Radio and extra batteries
  • First aid kit
  • Whistle or bell to signal for help
  • Cash in small bills
  • Hygiene Items (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, feminine products, etc.)
  • Face mask
  • Important documents in a waterproof bag or container (Insurance cards, Medicaid/Medicare cards, photo IDs, proof of address, marriage certificate, birth certificates, copies of credit or debit cards.)
  • Prescription medications, at least a 3 day supply (as well as a list of what you take, why you take them, and their dosage)
  • Non-prescription medications, such as pain relievers, anti-diarrhea medication, antacids, or laxatives
  • Medical supplies (Oxygen, medication, scooter battery, hearing aid and batteries, mobility aids, glasses, etc.)
  • Supplies for service animals or pets (food, water, medicine, leash, collar, harness, veterinary info)

Additional Resources

Important Phone Numbers:

Emergency

  • Police, Fire or Ambulance: 911

Non-emergency:

  • Police: 301-279-8000
  • To report ccrime tips: 1-800-492-8477 (TIPS)
  • Montgomery County Government: 311
  • Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222

Utilities: 

  • Pepco/Excelon: 1-877-737-2662
  • BG&E: 1-877-778-2222
  • FIrst Energy: 1-800-255-3443
  • WSSC (Water and Sewer): 301-206-9772
  • Washington Gas: 703-750-1000

Important Links for Emergency Preparedness: