This paper concerns primarily the elderly who live in congregate care settings, including independent living, assisted living, long term care, or continuing care retirement communities (CCRF). Concern for quality of life of older residents must today, more than ever before, include intensive planning and preparation for emergencies and disasters that would compromise the safety of our most at-risk elderly. As a striking example from Hurricane Katrina, of the 1330 deaths, nearly half of the victims were over 75 years of age, and approximately 71% of those who died were over 60 years of age (AARP 2006)
