When the Temps Drop, How to Up Your Safety Game

You don’t expect to see frost on the bushes or cold winds whipping through the veranda at a Florida senior living community, but the unexpected happens. Residents find themselves wading through floodwaters, escaping fires with a few possessions, and stuck in motels waiting for power and/or water restored after a disaster. As Stan Szpytek, president of Fire and Life Safety, often says, communities have to be prepared for all types of disasters, not just the ones most likely to occur. While most senior living communities understand the importance of preparedness and have disaster plans in place, studies suggest there are still gaps and risks. We are seeing this in real-time this week, as communities in traditionally warm states are experiencing record-cold temperatures, frost, and even the possibility of ice or snow.