Natural Disaster

Addressing Housing Issues Facing Older Adults Following a Natural Disaster Webinar Recording

Older residents in areas affected by natural disasters face a number of challenges, including issues related to housing security and obtaining temporary shelter. Legal assistance and aging services professionals play a critical role in identifying these needs and providing assistance before, during, and after a disaster. This National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER) training will discuss common housing issues faced by homeowners and renters following a natural disaster, with a focus on how advocates and providers working with older adults can assist them pre-disaster to head off these housing issues. The webcast will also discuss post-disaster resources available to older adults and advocates to help address housing recovery needs following a natural disaster.
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Resilient Communities: Empowering Older Adults in Disasters & Daily Life

Over the last 12 years, New York City has experienced multiple catastrophic events. The 2001 attack on the World Trade Center, the blackout of 2003, Hurricane Irene, and, most recently, Hurricane Sandy, posed significant challenges to older adults. A common denominator of these incidents was the loss of power and the disruption of systems and services upon which older adults rely, including but not limited to transportation, communication, health care, elevators, and social supports. As a result, tens of thousands of older adults were isolated in high-rise buildings and private homes, in need of food, water, warming or cooling, medical attention, and medication.
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