We engaged in both primary and secondary research to better understand the realities of disaster preparedness for rural seniors. We conducted interviews with emergency managers, senior center staff, and emergency personnel to assess the challenges seniors face when seeking information, resources, and support. We surveyed local seniors to ascertain their level of emergency preparedness. We also investigated the effectiveness of existing communication strategies, with a focus on identifying gaps that leave seniors particularly vulnerable.

Based on our insights, we developed a suite of targeted, community-centered solutions including an emergency preparedness BINGO game piloted at the Bugbee Senior Center and a public service announcement (PSA) campaign for local television designed to promote preparedness in a way that is accessible, empowering, and memorable. Throughout, we centered the voices and lived experiences of seniors, ensuring that our recommendations were not only actionable, but genuinely reflective of community needs.