Senate Aging Committee hearing urges inclusive disaster preparedness for older Americans

The U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging convened a hearing on disaster preparedness for older Americans, where senators and witnesses urged inclusive planning, stronger federal support and local partnerships to reduce disproportionate harms to seniors and people with disabilities.

The hearing centered on why older adults face added risk in disasters and what jurisdictions and federal partners can do to close gaps in evacuation, sheltering, communication and recovery. “If you aren't prepared, nothing else matters,” Sen. Rick Scott, chair of the Special Committee on Aging, said in opening remarks, adding, “preparedness saves lives.”

Witnesses and lawmakers described a range of practical steps and persistent problems. Chris Nocco, sheriff of Pasco County, Florida, recounted recent hurricane responses in his Gulf Coast county — which he said has roughly 750,000 residents with about 22% aged 65 or older — and said his office and partners rescued more than 100 people from rapidly rising storm surge during a recent event. “We were able to rescue more than 100 people from rapidly rising storm surge,” Nocco said, arguing that local first responders, the National Guard and Coast Guard were essential to those operations.

Jennifer Pippa, vice president of disaster programs for the American Red Cross, described survivors’ long recovery journeys and the organization’s role in immediate and ongoing assistance. Pippa recounted meeting an older woman after Hurricane Ian and said, “The…