Note: This is Toni King’s annual reminder about preparing for a natural disaster or other emergency. It is a rerun, adapted from her June 1, 2023, column. Dear Toni, In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey absolutely devastated my wife.

Now, her 88-year-old mother is living in an assisted living facility, and we live over 10 miles away from her. What can we do to be prepared for another hurricane, tornado or other emergency should it happen in our area to protect the elderly? We are concerned the assisted living facility does not have an evacuation plan and I cannot find one online. Thanks.

— Mark from Tomball, Texas Hello, Mark: Hurricane season officially starts Saturday, June 1, and will not end until Saturday, Nov. 30. As we get deeper into the season, the storms get stronger.

Everyone should have a family disaster readiness plan for hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and all types of disasters. Having a readiness plan is especially crucial for seniors or those who are disabled, because many are dependent on technology for their life support or ongoing medical treatment. Here are a few questions, to help you prepare for any disaster or hurricane: 1.

Do I stay or go? This will depend on where you live. If you live in a city or other highly populated area, leave early. During past storms, people were caught in massive traffic jams, waiting on the highway for hours or days to evacuate.

Leaving early will help you avoid serious delays and avoid running out of gas while stuck in.