. 3:27 pm. After viewing alarming photos of flooding in Atlantic City, I called my dad again to see how he's doing and got his answering machine. So then I called my half-brother, who lives in Rutherford, NJ. I wanted to see if my dad had chosen to go there. My half-brother told me my dad, who I knew had planned on staying at home, was ordered to do a mandatory evacuation by the police, and he left about 2:30 pman hour ago to head to my brother's, which I believe is an hour and a half drive.
I'm feeling pretty angry at my dad right now for foolishly choosing to stay, and then having to leave at the height of the storm...with his macular degeneration! He can't see at night, I know that, and now he's got to drive in these conditions? Now I'm sick with worry something will happen on the road somewhere.
I am going to call the police down there. My dad probably neglected to mention his vision problems to them.
3:43 pm The police said all they can really do is send an officer by my dad's house to see if he actually left. I described the car, etc. I'm pretty sure he did since that's what my brother told me. The officer described the weather situation down there as being "out of control," and said the drive to my brother's would probably take 3 hours in this weather. I'm hoping my dad might have the good sense to find a restaurant (if there's one open?) and hunker down.
4:05 pm The Ocean Gate NJ police called me back and said he definitely left the house. They asked me if I wanted to put out a Silver Alert for my dad. I guess it's similar to an Amber Alert except its for seniors. I told them let me wait a while and see if he shows up at my brother's place. I say that because my dad would be absolutely furious with me if he found out I'd done that, or if he was pulled over by state police because of me! I guess it would be embarrassing for him, but given the circumstances....
What would you do?
4:10 pm OK UPDATE My brother called and said my dad reached my other brother's place. I asked for him to call me when he can. Thank God.
4:15 pm My dad called me back right away. I sensed a note of testiness in his voice when he asked what I wanted, and i explained I'd gotten worried after not being able to reach him at home. He didn't say anything about the mandatory evacuation, but said "I decided to leave" after he lost power. Hmph.
I feel a littel stupid now, maybe, for calling the police, but wouldn't you do the same thing? He thinks he can always handle everything, but the fact is, he's a 79-year-old man with poor vision and he's not so steady on his feet. I just hope he never learns what I did, or that the police mention macular degeneration to him, but at the same time, maybe they should know. They routinely check on seniors at times like this.
Another storm update - what would you do??
October 29th, 2012 at 08:10 pm
October 29th, 2012 at 08:18 pm 1351541901
October 29th, 2012 at 08:19 pm 1351541972
October 29th, 2012 at 08:38 pm 1351543139
October 29th, 2012 at 08:50 pm 1351543848
October 29th, 2012 at 08:55 pm 1351544149
October 29th, 2012 at 09:18 pm 1351545532
October 29th, 2012 at 09:30 pm 1351546257
October 29th, 2012 at 09:33 pm 1351546417
October 29th, 2012 at 10:07 pm 1351548426
October 29th, 2012 at 10:54 pm 1351551299
October 30th, 2012 at 12:13 am 1351556015
October 30th, 2012 at 01:18 am 1351559910
October 30th, 2012 at 01:26 am 1351560369
October 30th, 2012 at 01:28 am 1351560532
Hang on to your hat because dad could easily loose his driver's license and have very limited options if the officer follows up on notice of his driving with some level of [sight] impairment. The insurance company can refuse dad coverage based on a medical submission. Dad may be furious with you but if he should be restricted to daylight driving your action may be life saving.
October 30th, 2012 at 02:24 am 1351563880
October 30th, 2012 at 02:07 pm 1351606039
October 30th, 2012 at 02:38 pm 1351607895
I'm glad to hear he's okay. Keep us posted, if possible, on how you are doing.
October 30th, 2012 at 02:51 pm 1351608693
October 30th, 2012 at 09:23 pm 1351632201