By Alan Suderman
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Texas is no stranger to natural disasters. Whether it’s exotic-named hurricanes washing in from the Gulf of Mexico, tornadoes that touch down in the panhandle, or massive floods that leave the whole state soggy, the Lone Star State has its fair share of pain from Mother Nature.

And it hasn’t been cheap. While costs are still being tallied from this summer’s series of floods, similar flooding levels in 2002 cost the state an estimated $1 billion. It’s a lot of money, but it still doesn’t compare to the cleanup from  Hurricane Katrina, estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars.

More than two years after New Orleans was flooded, articles continue to pour out statistics, many reporting that older adults are more likely than other demographics to be adversely affected by natural disasters.

Highland Springs to the rescue
People living at Highland Springs, a full-service retirement community in Dallas, shouldn’t have too much to worry about, according to resident Vince Amiot. He is one of a dozen or so floor captains on campus who are  responsible for informing others who live on his hall what needs to done during an emergency.

“It’s a program we started from scratch and that we’re  very proud of,” says Highland Springs Security Manager Luis Puertas. He adds that it was easy to find volunteers to play the vital role of floor captains: “The residents here are very proactive—especially when it comes to safety.”