Today, over 100 volunteers, including Hope Heroes, gathered across Florida to prepare and distribute disaster preparedness kits to seniors and people with unique abilities. The Disaster Preparedness Day brought together multiple state agencies including the Division of Emergency Management, the Department of Elder Affairs, and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
“An emergency or disaster can present unique challenges for our seniors and individuals with disabilities and special needs,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie. “This event provides our local communities with a great opportunity to come together to ensure our seniors and Floridians with unique abilities are prepared before a storm threatens our state.
“After Hurricane Ian devastated Southwest Florida last year, we saw more than 200 volunteers sign up overnight to become Hope Heroes. We are so grateful to see many of those same volunteers, along with new ones, coming back to support vulnerable populations,” said Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham. “There are so many worthwhile volunteer missions available through Hope Heroes, and I encourage all seniors to sign up to receive these opportunities at helpcreatehope.com.”
“This event is a great partnership with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and Division of Emergency Management to help serve individuals on Disaster Preparedness Day,” said Agency for Persons with Disabilities Director Taylor Hatch. “The opportunity to serve individuals with unique abilities is an honor every day, and we are thankful to prioritize and promote the importance of planning for hurricane readiness for all Floridians.”
Disaster kits were assembled by volunteers at the state’s 11 Area Agencies on Aging and delivered to seniors and people with disabilities who are homebound, low-income, or identified as being at-risk. The kits included flashlights, weather radios, first aid supplies, water, can openers, batteries, and other materials helpful in an emergency. Items were acquired through a donation by the WellMed Charitable Foundation to support the mission of Hope Heroes in helping seniors with disaster relief and recovery.
