Recover from a Disaster

Evidence shows that preparing for a disaster helps to minimize damage, protect lives, and allows individuals and communities to recover more quickly after disaster strikes. Being prepared means knowing what to do before, during, and after a disaster.

Key Points

People over age 60 can remain at risk for months or years after an emergency or natural disaster.
There are concrete steps you and your loved ones can take to ensure your safety after a disaster.

Table of Contents

For More Information

Action Steps in the Aftermath of a Disaster

When the immediate threat of danger is over, risks still exist for people who experience natural disasters. It can be days or weeks until full services such as electricity and internet are restored. Homes may experience damage that takes months to fix. And it may take time for the health care system to recover, leaving communities without access to medical assistance.

People over age 60 have an increased prevalence of chronic health conditions, mobility limitations, and social isolation, which puts their well-being at risk after a natural disaster.

These are concrete steps you can take to remain safe:

‍Follow instructions. If you have evacuated, do not return home until authorities determine it is safe to do so.‍
Stay connected. Keep in touch with your support network about your needs after the initial emergency has passed. Ask for help in cleaning up damage and making your home safe again.‍
Be aware and cautious. Be aware of new safety issues created by the disaster including unstable footing, gas leaks, loose power lines, and structural damage.‍
Look out for scams, especially related to fixing damaged property.‍
Ask for help. Reach out to the organizations and agencies setup to provide disaster assistance.

Contacts After a Disaster

Federal agencies and non-profit organizations have programs to assist people who have experienced a disaster.

FEMA disaster relief. The website www.disasterassistance.govconnects people who have experienced disasters with all sorts of assistance including help with food, housing, loans, counseling, legal assistance and more. You can also reach them at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s toll-free number, 1-800-621-3362.
Mental health support. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers immediate access to crisis counselors to support people in emotional crisis by calling or texting 1-800-985-5990. If you need immediate medical help, dial 911.
Online benefits check-up. The National Council on Aging provides an online tool to identify benefits programs available to older adults. To learn more, go to benefitscheckup.org.
Loans for repairs and mitigation. The U.S. Small Business Administration provides loans to fund property repairs and improvements to prevent future damages. Learn more and apply at https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/disaster-assistance.
For caregivers. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has published a comprehensive guide for caregivers to best support older adults after a disaster.