Your wellbeing and safety are of utmost importance to us as members of our Wilson Homecare family.
As we enter the 2025 hurricane season, now is a good time to remind our Wilson ‘Ohana of various safety measures that are critical to emergency preparedness. Your safety (and the safety of those around you) is our top priority should we experience a hurricane, tsunami, or other natural disaster.
The following list includes Wilson’s caregiver protocols if there is a hurricane or tsunami while you’re receiving care in your home.
In the event of a Hurricane / Tsunami during a scheduled shift, the Wilson caregiver will…
- Support you throughout the experience, physically and emotionally.
- Stay with you throughout the emergency. If you evacuate, your caregiver will stay with you and assist in the evacuation.
Stay in your home with you UNLESS you have been instructed to leave.- Turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting and keep it closed.
- Turn off utilities, if told to do so by authorities.
- Turn off propane tanks.
- Unplug small appliances.
- Fill bathtub and large containers with water.
- Keep you away from windows and doors within your household, even if they are covered.
- Close all interior doors. Secure and brace external doors.
- Place the Wilson client binder, any medications, and/or other essential supplies in an easy-to-carry bag, in case evacuation is required.
Additional safety measures our Wilson caregivers and administrative staff will take:
- If you have a shift scheduled before a hurricane is anticipated to hit our island, our caregivers will arrive as planned. Please contact our administrative office to direct otherwise.
- If there is an official order from the government to stay home and off the roads, our caregivers are the exception. As healthcare professionals, they are considered “Essential Personnel” – individuals who perform work involving the safety of human life. You can count on them to provide care or the necessary aide for your safety during an emergency.
- If the phone service is not working and you cannot communicate with our administrative support team at the office, please know that we are doing whatever is necessary to keep you safe.
Be Aware:
All Hawaii residents should maintain a high level of awareness anytime an active storm system threatens our islands. Here are some suggestions to help you:
- The Hawaii Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepared for Natural Hazards is available for free download: http://seagrant.soest.hawaii.edu/homeowners-handbook-to-prepare-for-natural-hazards/
- Monitor local media and emergency management social media for the latest updates.
- Sign up for Nixle notifications to receive alerts from the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management (DEM):
- Oahu residents can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering at https://www.nixle.com/ with your local zip code.
- Residents can also sign up by texting their zip code to 888777 (data rates may apply).
- Visit the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?cpac
Be Prepared:
Due to Hawaii’s remote location, DEM recommends preparing a disaster supply kit that contains enough supplies to last for 14 (fourteen) days.
- For a checklist, click here: http://www.honolulu.gov/dem/preparedness/build-kit.html
- Additional preparedness tips visit: http://www.honolulu.gov/dem/resources/disaster-info.html
- In each of our client binders, the nearest evacuation shelter is listed. Take some time to know where those shelters are located and plan multiple access routes.
If you are receiving care services which involve the use of electricity for oxygen, ventilators, or any other life preserving appliance, you may evacuate to the nearest hospital. The hospital will allow you to utilize a power source, and our Wilson caregiver will remain with you to provide care and any necessary supplies (i.e.: underpads, briefs, clothing, medical supplies, etc.).
Hawaii Links/Resources:
- The Hawaii Homeowner’s Handbook to Prepared for Natural Hazards is available for free download:
- Sign up for Nixle notifications to receive alerts from the Honolulu Department of Emergency Management (DEM):
- Oahu residents can immediately begin receiving pertinent information via text message, email, and web by registering at https://www.nixle.com/ with your local zip code.
- Residents can also sign up by texting their zip code to 888777 (data rates may apply).
- Visit the Central Pacific Hurricane Center’s website: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/?cpac
- Due to Hawaii’s remote location, DEM recommends preparing a disaster supply kit that contains enough supplies to last for 14 (fourteen) days.
- For a checklist, click here: http://www.honolulu.gov/dem/preparedness/build-kit.html
- Additional preparedness tips visit: http://www.honolulu.gov/dem/resources/disaster-info.html
- In each of our client binders, the nearest evacuation shelter is listed. Take some time to know where those shelters are located and plan multiple access routes.