Wednesday, May 03, 2000

WILMINGTON, NC -- For older adults, the decision to evacuate is made on a storm-by-storm basis and is sometimes in opposition to advice from emergency experts, according to results of a survey conducted by students in the UNC Wilmington Generations Together Service Learning Project.

"Older adults like to have control of the situation," said Dr. Eleanor Covan, director of UNCW's Gerontology Program. "However, resisting the need to evacuate in a crisis hampers the efforts of service providers during an emergency."

Covan and students involved with the project will deliver the final survey results at the Individual Care Coordinator Center (IC-3) meeting 3 p.m., Tuesday, May 30, at the New Hanover County Senior Center, 2222 South College Road. The IC-3 is composed of volunteers from New Hanover County service agencies who work with older adults or persons with special needs.

"The survey will give much-needed information in the planning efforts of service providers related to older adults," said Covan. "Prior planning will enable agencies to arrange for special needs in advance of a crisis." Covan added that the survey results were significant because they could lead to a change in the current preparedness model of stocking supplies for a three-day period.

Funded by a grant from the University of Pittsburgh/Association for Gerontology in Higher Education, the project involved university students who surveyed approximately 200 older adults at nutrition sites in Brunswick, Columbus, Pender and New Hanover counties about the impact of last year's storms. In addition, students collected 20 life histories of older adults who experienced devastating losses due to Hurricane Floyd. These videotapes were presented to the interviewees as gifts.

"The older adults interviewed lost everything of a material nature, including photos and treasured keepsakes," said Covan. "These histories are a tangible representation of their lives."

Emergency management officials and representatives from service agencies from the four counties as well as the older adults surveyed have been invited to attend the presentation and to celebrate the completion of this project.

For more information, contact Dr. Covan at 910/962-3435. Media are cordially invited to attend the survey reporting session.