Your AARP
AARP LAUNCHES DISASTER PREP SITE
A St. Petersburg, Florida, resident boards up his home as he prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Ian on Sept. 27, 2022.
AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson is surprised by the number of Floridians who do not know their evacuation zone, despite the state’s yearly hurricane season. “There are some things you can’t control, like the wind, the rain, the floodwaters. But there are things you can control, and that is your preparation for it,” Johnson said.
Last year, roughly 150 people were killed when Hurricane Ian hit southwest Florida, and that storm was part of a troubling trend across the country of megastorms, massive wildfires and destructive floods. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in September that the U.S. had already experienced a record number of billion-dollar climate events in 2023.
To help you prepare for potential weather disasters where you live, AARP has launched a preparedness resource center at aarp.org/disasterprep. There you can find a range of information, including:
▶︎ Emergency response information specifically tailored to older adults
▶︎ A list of everything you should pack in your emergency escape kit
▶︎ Free apps and affordable gadgets that can help keep you safe in an emergency
▶︎ Details on staying in communication with state and local authorities during a crisis
▶︎ How to keep your pets safe in a disaster
Johnson says the resource center can help older Americans plan and bring the peace of mind that they are as ready as they can be for whatever happens.
“I think [the disaster prep site] does a great job in helping to simplify and identify some of the key questions people have about disaster preparation,” he says.
Meet Our ‘Benefits Badass’
Jihane Jeanty, 36, a full-time digital marketer from Florida, figured out early that she didn’t need to wait until age 50 to reap the benefits of being an AARP member.
“I’m a millennial and became a member about two years ago and since then have thoroughly enjoyed the plethora of information AARP gives you,” Jeanty says.
That spirit helped Jeanty become AARP’s first-ever Benefits Badass.
For beating out 40,000 contestants, she will take home a $50,000 prize. Competitors made a video demonstrating how the benefits of AARP membership improved their lives.
“We are excited to crown Jihane as our first-ever Benefits Badass to help showcase how AARP benefits help save money, stay healthy and have fun,” says Barbara Shipley, AARP senior vice president of brand integration. She notes that in 2022, AARP members saved $460 million with everyday discounts.
AARP CITES SINISE FOR VETERANS WORK
Gary Sinise
AARP is presenting actor and humanitarian Gary Sinise with an honorary Purpose Prize award for his contributions to military members and veterans through the Gary Sinise Foundation, started in 2011. Learn more at aarp.org/purposeprize.
AARP continues to add to its services for veterans and their families. New and updated offerings include:
▶︎ Employment help. A retooled AARP veterans job site includes several free, accredited courses to build skills for moving into civilian life. Go to aarp.org/VetsJobCenter.
▶︎ Burial benefits. AARP’s Veterans Burial Benefits Guide offers tips for end-of-life options and details on veteran survivor benefits eligibility. Find the guide at aarp.org/VetsBurialBenefits.
See what else AARP has to offer veterans and their families at aarp.org/veterans.