Older Adults & Disasters: Findings from Hurricane Sandy

During, and in the weeks that followed Hurricane Sandy in October 2012, tens of thousands of older adults remained isolated and trapped in dark, unheated houses and high-rises without sufficient food, running water, or medical assistance. Twenty-five of the 44 reported deaths in New York City were people over age 60.

In response, The New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) convened a multi-sector Older Adults & Disasters Policy Advisory Committee and engaged in a range of data-gathering activities to establish a comprehensive understanding of the needs and assets of older adults in disasters, as evidenced by Hurricane Sandy. Methods included: a review of peer-reviewed and grey literature on older adults and disasters; an analysis of population-based and Sandy-specific data collected by partner organizations; a mapping of areas with high concentrations of older people who may be vulnerable during a disaster; interviews with 58 key informants whose expertise included disaster management, healthcare, real estate, and social work; and 14 focus groups with older adults and frontline responders in seriously affected communities.

This presentation will highlight the findings and recommendations that have emerged from our research to improve the outcomes of future catastrophic events for older adults in urban areas. We propose a community resilience approach to disasters that underscores the role of social capital in contrast to the traditional, often unattainable ideal of individual preparedness that focuses on personal stockpiling and checklists.