More than 100 seniors from the Newberry area turned out at the Newberry Fire Department this week for a hands-on emergency preparedness event designed to help older residents plan for disasters, severe weather and scams.
The event, called Senior P.R.E.P. — short for Planning and Resources for Emergency Preparedness — was sponsored by the South Carolina Council on Aging and Newberry Mayor Foster Senn. Attendees spoke directly with representatives from state and local agencies and picked up preparedness materials before the South Carolina Department on Aging sent every guest home with an emergency kit that included a weather radio, pill box, foldable cane, poncho and survival blanket.
Senior P.R.E.P. Program Manager Michael Christopher told attendees to plan for at least three days without outside help, and preferably a full week, when building an emergency kit. He encouraged people to think beyond themselves when preparing, including plans for family members, pets and neighbors who might need assistance.
Representatives from the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs also addressed scam prevention, a topic organizers said resonates strongly with older residents. Andrew Nelson of the department told attendees that every consumer, regardless of age, will encounter scams and identity theft attempts, and that once money or personal information is handed over, it is often nearly impossible to recover.
Several attendees described why the information mattered to them personally. Newberry resident Dorothy Scurry said being prepared could help her save her own life as well as someone else’s when disasters strike. Fellow attendee Freddie Mills said the guidance is especially valuable for seniors who live alone and do not have someone nearby to help in an emergency. Peggy Berley noted that having an emergency contact number is only useful if people actually know how to use it when a crisis hits.
The event is part of a broader push by the South Carolina Department on Aging to reach older adults and residents with disabilities across the state with practical, in-person emergency planning resources rather than relying solely on printed materials or online guidance. Organizations interested in participating as exhibitors at future Senior P.R.E.P. events can reach the program directly through the Department on Aging.
For Newberry’s senior community, organizers said the turnout reflected real demand for face-to-face guidance on preparing for hurricanes, severe storms and other emergencies that can disrupt daily routines with little warning.
