Caregiver guide
Hurricane preparedness for seniors living with dementia
Hurricane preparedness for seniors living with dementia means planning early: a supply kit for 3 to 7 days, a clear plan to stay or evacuate, a special needs shelter registration if needed, and ID in case you're separated. Change and noise are hard on your person, so the more you decide ahead of time, the calmer the storm will be.
Why hurricane preparedness is different for seniors with dementia
Every Florida family needs a hurricane plan. When you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's or another dementia, there's more to think about.
Your person may not understand the warnings. A change of place, loud wind or a dark, hot house can cause fear, confusion or wandering. They may need medicines on time, incontinence supplies or help with every step.
Planning now, before a storm is in the forecast, lets you focus on your person when it counts.
What month is worst for hurricanes?
Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Most storms form from August through October, with the busiest stretch around September.
Make or update your plan in May, before the season starts. Check your kit again in August.
How to make a hurricane plan for someone with dementia
Know your zone
Find out if you live in an evacuation zone or a mobile or manufactured home. Look up your county's evacuation zones and shelters.
Decide where you'd go
Choose a family member's or friend's home out of the zone, a hotel inland, or a shelter. Familiar places are easiest for your person.
Register for a special needs shelter, if needed
If your person needs more help than a general shelter can give, register with your county emergency management office well before a storm.
Plan the ride
If you don't drive, or driving would be unsafe, arrange a ride now. Counties can help people who are registered.
Name your helpers
Pick specific neighbors, family or friends. Give one of them a house key and your list of emergency numbers, and agree on who will check on whom.
Gather papers
Put copies of insurance cards, ID, medical records, advance directives and Social Security information in a waterproof bag.
Keep medicines ready
Keep at least a week's supply on hand and an up-to-date medication list in your kit.
What should you stock up on before a hurricane?
Plan for 3 to 7 days without power, water or stores. Keep supplies in a waterproof container.
Water
At least 1 gallon per person per day, plus extra for pets.
Food
Non-perishable food your person likes and can eat easily, plus a manual can opener.
Medicines
Prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines and a cooler and ice packs for anything that must stay cold.
Light and power
Flashlights, extra batteries, a battery radio and charged phone power banks. Skip candles.
First aid and hygiene
A first aid kit, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and garbage bags.
Cash
ATMs and card readers may not work after a storm.
Clothes
A change of clothes, sturdy shoes and rain gear for each person.
Extra supplies for a person living with dementia
Comfort items
A pillow, blanket, stuffed animal, photo album or anything your person likes to hold.
Favorite snacks and drinks
Familiar foods and nutrition drinks can help when meals are off schedule.
Incontinence supplies
Briefs, wipes, lotion and plastic bags. Pack more than you think you'll need.
Glasses and hearing aids
Spare glasses and hearing-aid batteries, plus dentures and a case.
Doctor's contact
Name, address and phone number of each doctor and the pharmacy.
Recent photos
Current photos of your person, in case you're separated.
Music and activities
Headphones with favorite music, cards or a simple activity to fill long hours.
Should we stay home or evacuate?
Always follow evacuation orders for your area. If you're not in a zone and your home is safe, staying put can be easier on your person than a crowded shelter.
If you must leave:
- Go early, before roads are crowded and conditions are scary.
- Take both your general kit and your dementia supplies.
- Make sure your person wears a medical ID bracelet.
- Bring familiar things, and your pet if you can.
- Keep your phone charged and tell family where you are.
- In a shelter, ask for a quieter corner away from doors and crowds.
Moving can make your person very anxious. Stay close, hold their hand, and keep your voice calm and positive.
What is a special needs shelter in Florida?
Florida counties run special needs shelters for people who need more help than a general shelter can give, such as help with medical equipment or daily care. Each county sets its own rules.
You usually need to register ahead of time through your county emergency management office. A caregiver is generally expected to stay with the person. Call your county early in the year to ask if your person qualifies and how to sign up. If you're not sure where to start, our Information & Referral team can point you in the right direction.
What do I do if we get separated?
Stay with your person during a storm. Don't count on them staying in one place while you go for help. But plan in case it happens:
- Put labels with your person's name and your phone number in their clothes.
- Keep a recent photo on your phone and in your kit.
- Make sure a medical ID bracelet is always on.
- Share a photo and a copy of medical information with a trusted neighbor or family member.
- Seal an unwashed piece of your person's clothing in a plastic bag. It can help search dogs.
If your person goes missing, call 911 right away.
Keeping your person calm during the storm and a power outage
- Keep to the daily routine as much as you can: meals, medicines and bedtime at the usual times.
- Limit TV storm coverage. Constant news can raise fear.
- Play familiar music to cover the sound of wind.
- Keep a flashlight by the bed and a battery lantern in the bathroom.
- In Florida heat, keep your person cool and drinking water. Watch for signs of heat illness.
- Never run a generator indoors, in a garage or near a window. It can cause deadly carbon monoxide poisoning.
For ideas on making the house itself safer, see our dementia safety at home checklist.
After the storm
Expect more confusion for a few days. Your person may be tired, upset or more forgetful. Return to normal routines as soon as you can.
Watch for falls on wet floors, debris or dark rooms. If your person becomes suddenly much more confused, it could be a sign of illness or dehydration. Call the doctor. Our guide to a dementia patient in hospital explains what to do if they need care.
Give yourself credit, too. Getting through a storm as a caregiver takes a lot. Our free support groups are a good place to talk about it.
Questions caregivers ask about hurricane preparedness for seniors
What are 10 items in an emergency kit for a hurricane?
Water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener, medicines, a first aid kit, flashlights, extra batteries, a battery radio, cash and copies of important papers. For a person living with dementia, add incontinence supplies, comfort items, recent photos and an ID bracelet.
What should I include in my hurricane checklist for 2026?
Start with the basics above, then check what's changed in the last year: new medicines, new doctors, new mobility needs or a new address. Update your medication list, renew your special needs shelter registration if your county requires it, and test your flashlights and power banks.
What are some disaster preparedness strategies for senior citizens?
Plan early, write it down and share it. Know your evacuation zone, keep a week of medicines on hand, arrange a ride if you don't drive, and name neighbors who'll check on you. Seniors who live alone should agree on a daily check-in with someone during storm season.
Can I get prescriptions refilled early before a hurricane?
Often, yes. In Florida, pharmacies can usually refill prescriptions early once a hurricane emergency is declared. Don't wait for the last minute. Ask your pharmacist at the start of the season how it works for your person's medicines.
Are there free emergency kits for seniors?
Sometimes. Some counties, agencies and community groups give out supplies or kits, but programs change from year to year. Call ADRC's Information & Referral line and we'll help you find what's available locally.
What if my person lives in a memory care or assisted living community?
Ask the community for a copy of its hurricane and evacuation plan. Find out where residents would go, how you'll be contacted, and whether they have a generator. Make sure they have your current phone number.
Who would care for my person if something happened to me?
This is an important question for every caregiver, storm or not. Write down your person's daily routine, medicines and needs, and name a backup caregiver who has a key. Make sure legal papers are in order. Our guide to legal and financial planning can help.
Can ADRC help me make a plan?
Yes. Book a free Care Navigation session and we'll help you think through your plan. ADRC is not an emergency service. In an emergency, call 911. The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline is 800-272-3900.
Download the free guide (PDF)
Print the National Institute on Aging tip sheet on disaster preparedness and keep it with your hurricane kit. Find more free guides in our Caregiver Resource Library. Based in part on National Institute on Aging guidance.
Talk with someone who understands
Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC)
1470 Gene Street, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Monday to Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
The Alzheimer's & Dementia Resource Center (ADRC) in Winter Park, Florida, offers free help for caregivers in Orange and Seminole counties; call (407) 436-7750. In an emergency, call 911. The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline is 800-272-3900.