“Matches” was one suggestion when an audience of senior citizens was asked Monday what should be included in an emergency kit along with a weather radio, flashlight, medications, tools and an assortment of other things.

While he agreed matches would be good to have, they weren’t on Fire Chief James McLaughlin’s list. McLaughlin pointed to the hazards of candles and recommended that having flashlights and a supply of batteries would be preferable at the disaster preparedness seminar held at the Pilgrim Senior Center.

The seminar was the fourth held by the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency in partnership with a number of agencies since the beginning of the year, said RIEMA director Peter Gaynor. He explained RIEMA had held similar free seminars open to the public, but when they geared them to the elderly and plugged into that network attendance increased.

In addition to the city, partners in Monday’s presentation included the Rhode Island Division of Elderly Affairs, the Rhode Island Department of Health, National Grid, Rhode Island Red Cross and United Way 2-1-1. Information was provided by each of the participating agencies.

Attendance at Monday’s event was disappointing – about 25 seniors – but there was no lack of interest.

Gaynor said people should be prepared to manage for 72 hours. He said emergency preparations should include food, water (one gallon per day per person) and medications.

“The goal is to be as prepared as you can possibly be,” he said.

In addition to putting together a kit of supplies, Gaynor recommended making a plan and staying informed.

Chief McLaughlin pointed out that emergencies could also be events, such as a fire, that impact one family or a small group. He advised making copies of important documents, like medical prescriptions, numbers for physicians and identification and placing them in a safe deposit box or location away from the home.

A presentation including pictures from Hurricane Carol and the Blizzard of 1978 evoked memories and had people talking. Many said they had lost power for several days during the macroburst last August.

“The only thing we haven’t been hit with is locusts and pestilence,” Mayor Scott Avedisian said in introductory remarks. Flooding, hurricanes and winter storms were identified as the three major sources of natural disasters for Rhode Island.

Laptops were on hand so people could register with CodeRED. However, that had to wait as the senior center had problems linking to the system. Chief McLaughlin said that more than 15,000 have registered with the system used to provide life-safety information. He said the system could be used to target specific neighborhoods getting out information as lost person reports.

As for shelters, with the re-purposing of Veterans High School as a junior high school, Pilgrim High School is the city’s emergency shelter. The Pilgrim Senior Center will be an additional shelter once it has an emergency generator.