If you are a senior, you cannot always count on help immediately following a storm.

Make preparations now. If you have no one to assist you, local agencies such as the Red Cross can help.

Call them now, not when a storm is threatening.

Make sure loved ones, especially if they’re long distance, know where you plan to be and how to reach you.

If possible, find relatives or friends who can take you in an emergency.

If you need to wait out the storm in a special needs shelter, make arrangements now.

If you’re single, find another single or singles and make plans to “buddy up.” Identify someone now who you will check on and who will check on you before and after the storm.

If you have special dietary requirements (low sodium, diabetic), stock up now. Mass meals delivered after storms probably won’t meet your needs.

Make sure you have enough of your medications before storms threaten. Have ice on hand for medicines that need refrigeration.

Seniors are tempting targets for post-storm gougers and scammers. Be wary.

After the storm, don’t be afraid to apply for aid. You will not be forced from your residence, unless it’s unsafe.

After the storm, with power out and debris everywhere, your health and safety must be a top priority. Don’t push yourself or act carelessly. When in doubt, seek help.

If you have a relative or friend who is a senior, make sure he or she has a plan for the storm.

Many seniors don’t have transportation or are disabled and will have difficulty both stocking up before the storm and getting critical items afterward. Help them by making sure they have everything they need, or get it for them.

If your loved one is disabled or in an assisted living facility, make arrangements now for where he or she will go in an emergency.