I am in Australia. We had a really big flood early this year in many states (QLD, NSW, VIC and SA).

The flood was bad -- killed many people and displaced many more people -- old and invalid too.

The Federal Government moved in quickly, got army units to evacuate people in affected areas and to patrol flooded areas (for criminal breaches). The operations to 'ensure lives and safety of people first' were completed relatively smoothly. Then they set out to deal with infrastructures like electricity, water supply, foods and medical cares. The costs and damages to properties were dealt with later when assessments could be properly made.

Elderly and invalid in possible affected areas were usually first to be evacuated and usually to much much drier places where facilities to continue 'normal' care exists -- this means elderly and invalid did not go to evacuation centers with the rest.

It seems that they follow a certain 'procedure' for flood emergency to save lives first, to work out how to deal with water and damages by 'experts and engineers'.

We have been cut off from other areas for weeks, supermarkets' shelves were empty, no milk, bread and fresh foods for weeks, electricity was on and off, ... There were hassles. And there is an inquiry into the way the water (dams) management were operated, the home insurance businesses, the alternative transport...

But lives go on...