Letter: Hurricanes bring challenges for area seniors

Editor, The Banner:

The local newspapers, television and radio stations are full of information on what to expect and what to do if we are again hit with hurricanes this season. They do not address the personal issues that will be faced by the residents.

It is easy to say they should leave their homes and seek safe shelter in a public place, but the horror stories we saw last year frighten even the bravest. The mass evacuation to a central location with hundreds of people presents a vision of chaos.

We are senior citizens, and the thought of being cooped up with wailing babies, running children, raucous teenagers and unhappy parents for any length of time reminds us of why we "evacuated" to Southwest Florida in the first place. We served our time and hoped to have a happy retirement in Spring Creek Village. Enter Mother Nature, and the dream dissolves.

We have braved disasters in the past and with a little planning and self-sufficiency we will survive this year's hurricane season.

The clubhouse will not be used as a hurricane shelter, so plan where you are going to go. Of course we don't want to leave the park, but in fairness to ourselves, our loved ones and our neighbors, we have to do it.

There will be several shelters available, so make a first, second choice and even a third choice. Take a trip to those locations ahead of time and plan more than one route. Pack up your hurricane readiness bucket and keep it at hand. Talk to your neighbors and ask what they are going to do. Encourage them to join you and stick together.

If you go as a group, there will be comfort in being among those you know. You do not want to come home and look at the neighbor's home where they mistakenly stayed and lost their life. Be proactive in this planning — don't just ignore it until it is too late.

If you are going to need help, let someone who can do something about it know. Remember the old saying taken from the book of Proverbs: "Pride goeth before a fall." Leave pride in the closet to be blown away with those wicked winds. Find out what emergency services will be available to you and how soon.

The best thing that can come of all of this is that none of the preparations will have to be implemented. If that is the case, say a prayer of thanks and keep on living the good life!

— Barb Floyd / Spring Creek Village, Bonita Springs