By Karl Kell
Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
Copyright 2006 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company
In the hours and days following Hurricane Katrina, first responders spent hundreds of hours trying to locate, identify and rescue local residents who chose to ride out the storm.
Special attention was devoted to senior citizens and those with special needs.
In many cases, after working tirelessly just to get to some of the rural homes, the rescue workers found the occupants had already evacuated.
Afterward, they agreed that the time spent to find what turned out to be empty homes could have been better used to locate and help those who remained.
Parish leaders, working with the Council on Aging St. Tammany and Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, recently teamed up to create a register of senior citizens in case of future emergencies.
The SALT council was selected to take the lead in publicizing the program and coordinating its day-to-day operations with other public safety agencies and organizations.
They created a database known as Seniors/Special Needs Evacuation Notification Systems, or SENS. The program is designed to immediately identify where police and fire units should be deployed after an emergency.
“By knowing who will have evacuated and who plans to stay, the first responders can locate residents who require assistance without losing valuable time trying to reach the homes of residents who have evacuated,” said David Root, former Abita Springs police chief and member of the SALT council.
“The SENS database will include local seniors, 60 and older, and other residents who have special needs and will be required to evacuate to an emergency shelter following a hurricane,” he added.
Over the past month, Root and other representatives have introduced the concept to a variety of senior groups and other professional, religious and civic organizations.
Last week, he addressed the Abita Springs Seniors Club and most recently has presented specifics of the program to a number of local church organizations and discussed the program on WWL radio.
All parish seniors are encouraged to complete the one-page, confidential data sheet. The form includes specific information regarding the senior and any special requirements such as mobility concerns, needs for special equipment and other individuals to contact.
Seniors who already have plans to evacuate in an emergency are also encouraged to complete the form, eliminating the need for them to be included in the initial assessment.
“I believe this joint effort of COAST, the SALT council and St. Tammany Parish government will benefit our senior citizens and residents who require special assistance following an evacuation order,” said Kevin Davis, parish president.
Mary Toti, executive director of COAST, agreed that the program was necessary.
“It will help us assure the safety of our seniors during hurricane season and during the aftermath of these deadly storms,” she said.
SALT is made up of representatives from the public and private sectors and includes many current or retired police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel.
Formed more than three years ago, they have specialized in alerting the public and senior citizens to fraud prevention, home security, personal safety and the elimination of elder abuse.
Its members are available to serve as speakers for not only the SENS project, but other areas of concern affecting the elderly.
For more information, contact the SALT council at P.O. Box 596, Mandeville, LA 70470 or call (985) 809-5450.