MAMARONECK, NY (August 15, 2025) — As hurricane season presses on, officials are reminding Sound Shore residents of the risks posed by storms and the need for advance preparation.
Hurricane season began on June 1. As a coastal community, the Sound Shore is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms. Hurricanes are dangerous and can cause major damage from storm surge, wind, rip currents and flooding.
Residents are encouraged to prepare in advance. Make sure everyone in your household knows your family emergency plan.
Preparedness resources from FEMA are available in multiple languages at https://www.ready.gov/plan.
The FEMA resources advise making a plan today, noting that family members may not be together if a disaster strikes. It is important to know which types of disasters could affect an area, how to contact one another and reconnect if separated, and to establish a family meeting place that is familiar and easy to find.
Step 1 involves putting a plan together by discussing questions with family, friends or household, including how to receive emergency alerts and warnings, shelter plan, evacuation route, family or household communication plan, and whether to update an emergency preparedness kit.
Step 2 calls for considering specific needs in a household, tailoring plans and supplies to daily living needs and responsibilities. Discuss needs and responsibilities and how people in the network can assist each other with communication, care of children, business, pets or specific needs like operating medical equipment. Create a personal network for specific areas where assistance is needed. Factors to keep in mind include different ages of members within a household, responsibilities for assisting others, locations frequented, dietary needs, medical needs including prescriptions and equipment, disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment, languages spoken, cultural and religious considerations, pets or service animals, and households with school-aged children.
Step 3 is to create a family emergency plan using a fillable form.
Step 4 is to practice the plan with family or household.
Preparedness materials include a family communication plan fillable card in English or additional languages, know your alerts and warnings in English or additional languages, 12 ways to prepare in English or additional languages, document and insure your property in English or additional languages, and safeguard critical documents and valuables in English or additional languages.
Additional preparedness guidance is available from FEMA for people with disabilities at https://www.ready.gov/people-disabilities.
Disability intersects every demographic group, including people with disabilities of all ages, races, sex or national origin. Disabilities can impact a person in a variety of ways, both visible and invisible. For people with disabilities and their families, it is important to consider individual circumstances and needs to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters.
In making a plan, consider whether a person could make it on their own for several days in the event of a disaster. After a disaster, access to a medical facility or drugstore may be unavailable. Plan for daily needs and what to do if they become limited or unavailable.
Additional planning steps include creating a support network of people who can help in a disaster and keeping a contact list in a watertight container in an emergency kit or on electronic devices. Inform the support network where emergency supplies are kept and consider giving a trusted member a key to the house or apartment.
Plan ahead for accessible transportation needed for evacuation or getting around during or after a disaster. Check with local transit providers and the emergency management agency to identify appropriate accessible options.
Many city and county emergency management agencies maintain voluntary registries for people with disabilities to self-identify to receive targeted assistance during emergencies and disasters. Contact the local emergency management office to find out more.
If on dialysis or other life-sustaining medical treatment, know the location and availability of more than one facility that can help.
If using medical equipment at home that requires electricity, talk to a doctor or health care provider about keeping it running during a power outage. Ask the power provider to put the person on a list for priority power restoration.
About half of all Americans take a prescription medicine every day. An emergency can make it difficult to refill a prescription or find an open pharmacy. Organize and protect prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and vitamins to prepare for an emergency.
Wear medical alert tags or bracelets and add pertinent medical information to electronic devices.
If having a communication disability, consider carrying printed cards or storing information on devices to inform first responders and others how to communicate.
If using assistive technologies, plan how to evacuate with the devices or replace equipment if lost or destroyed.
Locate and access electronic health records from a variety of sources by using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ online tool.
Plan for children and adults who may have difficulty in unfamiliar or chaotic environments. Consider service or support animals or pets and plan for food, water and supplies. If evacuating, know whether a shelter allows pets, as some shelters only allow service or support animals.
Keep a list of the nearest medical facilities, local hospitals and nearest accessible transportation.
A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or weeks. If depending on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments protects financially before disaster strikes and eliminates the risk of stolen checks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends direct deposit to a checking or savings account by calling 800-333-1795 or signing up online, or the Direct Express prepaid debit card by calling toll-free at 877-212-9991 or signing up online.
In building a kit, in addition to basic survival supplies, an emergency kit should have items to meet individual needs in various emergencies. Consider items used every day and which ones to add to the kit.
Tips for medications include talking to a doctor or pharmacist about creating an emergency supply of medicines, keeping a list of prescription medicines including diagnosis, dosage, frequency, medical supply needs and allergies, storing extra nonprescription drugs like pain and fever relievers, antihistamines and antidiarrheal medicines, and having a cooler and chemical ice packs available to chill medicines that need to be refrigerated.
Tips for people who are deaf or hard of hearing include a weather radio with text display and a flashing alert, extra hearing-aid batteries, pen and paper, and a battery-operated lantern.
Tips for people who are blind or have low vision include marking emergency supplies with Braille labels or large print, keeping a list of emergency supplies and where bought on a portable flash drive or audio file in a safe place, and keeping communication devices for particular needs such as a Braille or deaf-blind communications device as part of the emergency supply kit.
Tips for people with speech disability include planning how to evacuate with augmentative communications devices or other assistive technologies or replace if lost or destroyed, keeping model information and noting where equipment came from, and planning how to communicate if equipment is not working, including laminated cards with phrases or pictograms.
For individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, keep handheld electronic devices charged and loaded with videos and activities, purchase spare chargers and keep them charged, include sheets and twine or a small pop-up tent, consider a pair of noise-canceling headphones, and have comfort snacks available.
Tips for people with a mobility disability include having a lightweight manual chair available as a backup if using a power wheelchair, showing others how to assemble, disassemble and operate the wheelchair, purchasing an extra battery for a power wheelchair or other battery-operated medical or assistive technology devices, finding agencies, organizations or local charitable groups to help buy an extra battery if unable to purchase one and keeping extra batteries charged, considering a patch kit or can of sealant for flat tires or extra inner tube if wheelchair or scooter is not puncture proof, keeping an extra mobility device such as a cane or walker, keeping a portable air pump for wheelchair tires, keeping an extra seat cushion if using one to protect skin or maintain balance, and communicating with neighbors who can assist if needing to evacuate the building.
Tips for individuals with Alzheimer’s and related dementia include not leaving the person alone, helping manage the change in environment by bringing a pillow and blanket or other comforting items if evacuating, trying to stay away from exits and choosing a quiet corner at a shelter, and responding to emotions being expressed if there is an episode of agitation.
Additional items for a kit include several days supply of prescription medicines, a list of all medications, dosage and any allergies, extra eyeglasses, contacts, hearing aids and batteries, a backup supply of oxygen, a list of the style and serial number of medical devices including special instructions for operating equipment if needed, copies of insurance and Medicare cards, contact information for doctors, relatives or friends who should be notified if hurt, and pet food, extra water, collar with ID tag, medical records and other supplies for service or support animals.
People with disabilities, access and functional needs, and older adults may be at increased risk to extreme heat. People with spinal cord injuries are at higher risk during extreme heat because they may not be able to cool their body through sweating. People with severe mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, are at risk because their medications may interfere with the body’s ability to cool itself. People with cognitive, intellectual or developmental disabilities, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, are at risk because they may have trouble understanding and explaining how the heat affects them, which could prevent taking protective actions. A person’s ability to perceive and communicate physical discomfort may vary with the stage of dementia or disease.
During extreme heat, plan ahead, take precautions, have support, and be aware of symptoms of heat exposure. If having a support network of caregivers, family and friends, ask them to help monitor and address heat-related needs and check in regularly.
Read side effects of medications and talk with a doctor about how heat exposure will interact with them. Take a cool shower, bath or sponge bath to cool the body if experiencing heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Ask the local energy utility for priority access in the event of power loss because power restoration is life-sustaining for someone in the home. Monitor local weather and emergency information alerts. Have a plan that includes shade, hydration, sun protection and limiting exposure time if outdoors. Identify possible locations with air-conditioning and ensure needed accommodations ahead of time, which could include someone in the support network with air conditioning. Coordinate accessible transportation to and from cooling options. People with medical needs who cannot be accommodated at conventional cooling options may have to contact local hospitals or nursing homes to create contingency plans if they cannot stay at home.
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This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.
