TAMPA, Fla. - A Tampa Bay non-profit is tackling two challenges at once: loneliness among older adults and the dangers of being unprepared for severe weather .

"Seniors in Service" has launched a disaster support program that brings seniors together for meals, connection and hurricane readiness training.

The effort comes after last year’s hurricane season, when residents in a 17-story high-rise were trapped without power or elevator service for three weeks. Volunteers delivered food and water to those unable to leave their apartments.

The backstory:

The Florida Council on Aging reports that more than one-third of seniors statewide experience loneliness — a condition linked to serious health risks. Add hurricane season into the mix, and that isolation can quickly turn into a crisis.

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