oin ACL for a webinar focused on the significant impact of extreme winter weather on older adults and people with disabilities and the need for inclusive preparedness, response, and recovery measures.

During this webinar, attendees will hear from an expert panel including representatives from the disability and aging networks at the national, state, and regional levels. The webinar discussion will highlight the importance of accessible resources, evacuation planning, and strategies to ensure critical services are available and inclusive before, during, and after extreme winter events.

Extreme winter weather impacts older adults and individuals with disabilities disproportionately due to several factors associated with health, mobility, and access to resources.

For older adults, colder temperatures increase the risk of conditions like hypothermia and frostbite because aging bodies often have reduced circulation and lower body fat, making it more difficult to effectively regulate body temperature. Additionally, memory impairments may prevent them from taking necessary precautions, such as dressing warmly or seeking heating assistance during storms.

For individuals with disabilities, physical limitations can increase exposure risks and hinder the ability to seek shelter quickly or avoid hazards like icy walkways. Limited transportation options may make it challenging to reach warming centers or other safe locations, and there may be barriers to accessible emergency resources. Many people with disabilities rely on medical equipment dependent on electricity, which may become unusable during winter power outages. This can be life-threatening if outages are prolonged.

Furthermore, chronic health issues that impact people with disabilities and older adults, such as diabetes or thyroid problems, may affect the heart or blood flow, impairing the body’s ability to stay warm. (Taking medications for common conditions may have the same effect.)

A Q&A session will follow the panelists’ presentations.

The impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which hit Florida two weeks apart, went well beyond the catastrophe from the storms. Communities along the Gulf Coast and southeastern U.S. felt the devastating impact of Helene and Milton and the so-called “secondary perils,” smaller events such as storm surge, tornadoes, heavy rain and flash flooding. As secondary perils begin to cause as much or more loss and destruction as the hurricanes themselves, and as disaster after disaster hits the same communities, funders need to adjust their disaster-giving strategies. During this webinar, our speakers will discuss how climate change is upending traditional disaster philanthropy and creating an opportunity for funders to rethink and adapt to the changing environment.

By the end of this webinar, donors will:

Understand the risks that communities now face due to climate change.
Be aware of the cumulative impact of multiple disasters on individuals and communities.
Learn about the intersections and layered impacts of climate change and disasters on marginalized communities.
Consider ways they can adjust their planning and grantmaking to account for the new realities of disasters.

211info is gathering details about winter and severe weather shelters, warming centers, and donation sites across Oregon and Southwest Washington. This includes locations that will be open throughout the winter season or during severe weather events when certain temperature thresholds are met. They are also collecting information on sites accepting winter weather donations.

If you manage a winter shelter, warming center, or donation site, please fill out 211info’s form: Winter Shelter and Warming Center Information Form. Your input helps ensure that community members have access to accurate, updated information this winter.

If you have any questions or prefer to update your record by phone or email, please contact 211info’s Resource Department, Monday-Friday, 8 AM-6 PM, at 503-416-2698 or support@211info.org.

Addressing the Needs of Older Adults and People With Disabilities During Extreme Winter Weather