'Ready-Go' Bags Offered To Seniors, Disabled In Monmouth County

FREEHOLD, NJ — Senior citizens and people with disabilities are being provided with "ready-go" bags to help them be prepared when a disaster hits that forces people to leave their homes, thanks to a group of Monmouth County organizations.

The bags, which are being provided at no charge, are 14 inches by 18 inches and made of blue canvas and are designed for people to think about what they need to take at a moment's notice and gather it into one easy-to-grab bag, a news release from Monmouth ACTS (Assisting Community Through Services), which is a coalition of county organizations and agencies.

The bag holds a list of emergency contacts, a place to note medical conditions, and a vital documents checklist, as well as a magnifier in case eyeglasses are left behind. There is information from FEMA that addresses preparations for seniors, the disabled, and pets for during and after a disaster.

Great thought went into the bag’s contents and design, according to Sue Moleon, director of the Monmouth County Division on Aging, Disabilities and Veterans Services.

"It's sized for people to wear around their bodies like a messenger bag," she said. "Its adjustable strap accommodates any body size, and it’s comfortable enough to keep on, sleep in and use the facilities."

The bag latches with Velcro, making it secure but still easy to open for seniors, and a label on the front of the bag reads, "In case of emergency, this bag must accompany me to all shelters, hospitals and evacuation sites."

To date, Monmouth County has held five information presentations and distribution events for the bags. Another is planned for early January.

Bags are available to seniors in Monmouth County’s coastal communities. Seniors receiving the bags must first enroll in the NJ Register Ready program with the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management, which allows residents with disabilities or access/functional needs to provide emergency response agencies with information about their circumstances, which helps emergency responders to better assist them during time-sensitive evacuations.

Officials hope residents take advantage of the resources offered within Monmouth County, before winter storms strike and leave people helpless. A recent study from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation found that only 29 percent of older adults have an emergency kit ready for disaster.

The bags were produced and launched through a partnership of the Monmouth County Aging Disability Resource Connection, the Monmouth County Senior Advisory Council, and the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management.

For information about the Ready-Go Bag for residents of coastal communities, call the Office on Aging at 732-431-7450.

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