Evacuate 86 year old Mom or no?

I think every situation is different. If you have a good idea of a place you can evacuate to, and that your Mom would be willing to go to and comfortable in, that's a factor in favor of evacuation.

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.

I think I'd prepare to evacuate, with "go bags" at the ready, shelter location identified (that's something to start on now), follow the weather reports, and set an outside deadline by which you'll leave if Dorian heads your way.

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.

You can call the business line of your local fire department, (not 911) and ask your question. At least, register with the authorities you have a vulnerable elder in the home, in case of emergency.

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.

The power may not bother her, however the real problem would be rising water. Better to go get her before the big rush - if there happens to be one. If you wait too long, you could be sitting in traffic for hours, if you can get there, which is much more stressful on the older folks.

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.

So far looks like Dorian will miss us (sorry sorry Fla.!!)

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. "

All-

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!

My dad is a bit older than your mom, and grew up near where you are. He grew up without A/C, and though he doesn’t have dementia, if a hurricane knocked out his power he’d view it as being like his first 20-30 years or so. He’d be much more comfortable and content with it than the rest of us! And he’d much prefer staying in his home, creature of habit likes his routine and his things! So unless the hurricane was a true monster, growing up in hurricane areas I know the hype vs the big ones, I’d opt to stay put. Hope for you this one turns out just to be a good rain!

Does she live alone? Does she have someone to help her? If so, can they stay with her during the storm?

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.

Hi Foley,

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.

Florence was projected to slam into Wilmington last September. The memory care facility where my 93 y/o MIL with advanced dementia lived was prepared to hunker down in their newly-roofed, one story brick building, but was told by corporate they were sending a bus to evacuate residents and some staff the next morning to a sister facility in Wake Forest. We followed her up there to see how she settled in. I was amazed by the quality care all the residents were given (including the residents already up there, who had to adjust to all the newcomers).
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!