Hurricane Season Preparedness for Senior Care Organizations

Senior care organizations should be prepared for weather-related risks and potential business interruptions caused by hurricanes, severe storms, high winds, and heavy rainfall.

These events can impact both resident safety and daily operations. Hurricanes and severe storms can bring tornadoes, lightning, wind-driven rain, flooding, and storm surge, creating challenges both along the coast and far inland.

According to the National Hurricane Center, storm surge and large waves pose the greatest threat to life and property in coastal areas. Heavy rainfall can also cause significant flooding and damage well beyond a storm’s landfall. Because storm paths can change quickly and affect areas far from the coast, preparation is essential.

While every organization faces some level of weather-related risk, facilities in coastal regions are especially vulnerable during hurricane season. Understanding your exposure, maintaining a current emergency preparedness plan, and taking proactive steps can help protect residents, support employees, and strengthen business continuity.

The focus should be on preparation, clear communication, and operational readiness.

Identify Your Risk

Review your most recent vulnerability assessment to ensure it reflects current operations, locations, and potential exposures, especially if your organization has expanded into new regions.

Evaluate staffing readiness and identify team members who may need additional training or experience with emergency procedures and drills.

Review and Update Your Plan

Confirm that emergency communication plans are current, including contact information and responsibilities for key personnel.

Review vendor agreements to ensure resources and services will be available during an emergency.

Assess resident acuity levels and update plans for sheltering in place, evacuation, transportation, and continuity of care.

Take Action

Ensure staff understand the critical actions required before, during, and immediately after a severe weather event.

Establish a coordinated response process so accurate information is shared internally and externally.

Conduct drills and exercises to reinforce preparedness and identify potential gaps.

Maintain Business Continuity

Identify the priority actions needed to sustain critical operations during a disruption and support an efficient recovery following a service interruption.

Preparing for weather-related disruptions starts before a storm arrives. Connect with Propel Senior Care’s risk management specialists to review your preparedness plans and identify opportunities to strengthen resiliency across your organization.

Resources:

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Business Continuity Planning: FEMA Continuity Planning

NOAA 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook