News - Weather - Hurricane

Thursday, Jul. 24, 2008

Seniors get evacuation help

HANCOCK COUNTY -- A group of senior citizens received comforting news this week during a meeting of TRIAD.

County emergency management officials said seniors who are unable to evacuate in hurricanes or other natural disasters can arrange to be bused to safe locations at no charge.

TRIAD - "the right information and direction" - is sponsored by the Hancock County Sheriff's Department and the SALT Council, a board of senior citizens. The group conducts regular RSVP events, where seniors gather for lunch and informative presentations.

On Tuesday, Hancock County Emergency Management Agency officials distributed hurricane evacuation maps and information on hurricane preparedness. They told about 25 seniors in attendance that two key programs - an evacuation transportation list and a Reverse 911 list - are available.

Seniors who don't have the means to evacuate independently or with family or friends can arrange to be picked up in the event a hurricane evacuation order is issued. In most cases, they will be bused to an emergency shelter at Hancock North Central Elementary School, EMA Deputy Director John Albert Evans said. Should that shelter become full, the county can tap into the state system and send evacuees to other destinations.

Residents can have their names placed on the evacuation transportation list. When an evacuation is ordered, emergency management officials will contact them to arrange a pickup.

Seniors can also have their numbers placed on the county's reverse 911 list. That service records their numbers and automatically calls them when disaster alerts are issued.