"Mobility challenges, medical needs and failed alerts left many older residents trapped when flames spread and smoke billowed as the Eaton and Palisades fires tore through Southern California last year. Of the 31 people killed, the median age was 77. The state took notice. Drawing on lessons from these blazes, a state commission recently released a series of recommendations to protect older adults during a natural disaster."
""That is what we're most anxious about. That is the group that has been most impacted by fires and disasters," said David Lindeman, Oakland-based chair of the California Commission on Aging, which developed the recommendations. The commission, which advises the governor and Legislature, is the state's advocate for older Californians. At the local level, the commission urges counties to pre-designate evacuation sites, coordinate disaster response with aging and disability organizations, and ensure representation by seniors on emergency planning boards."
Mobility challenges, medical needs and failed alerts left many older residents trapped during the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, with a median age of 77 among 31 fatalities. A state commission identified patterns: seniors were more likely to be left behind, cut off from alerts or assistance, and died at higher rates than other age groups. Recommendations include pre-designating evacuation sites, coordinating with aging and disability organizations, ensuring senior representation on emergency planning boards, creating a disaster registry for people with special needs, restoring rebuilding aid for low-income homeowners, expanding first responder training, funding regional aging agencies and establishing long-term care mutual aid and consumer protections tied to recovery.
Read at The Mercury News
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