A federal report from the National Research Council’s Transportation Research Board reviews the capabilities of 38 urban areas to evacuate citizens during an emergency and finds that many transit systems would struggle to deal with vulnerable groups, such as the disable and poor. (Chicago Tribune — Richard Wronski and Jon Hilkevitch)

Though all Americans are being hit hard by the slumping economy, many seniors on fixed incomes are in particularly dire straights due to rising food prices from the energy crisis and the collapsing mortgage industry. (Columbus Dispatch — Steve Wartenberg)

Without access to adequate public transportation, seniors in central Florida are in desperate need of help to get them to doctor visits, grocery stores, and social outings. (East Orlando Sun — Jennifer Knight-Ari)

Reeling from high gas prices, agencies across the U.S. are cutting back on services to seniors. The New York Times John Leland

Senior services feel fiscal squeeze USA Today Marisol Bello A survey by USA TODAY found that 10 states have cut or expect to cut spending on senior services this year, 16 expect funding to stay the same and 24 states and the District of Columbia have increased funding — but even those raising their budgets [...]

Gas, food prices pinch elderly meal programs Associated Press P.J. Dickerscheid Rising costs squeezing 20,000 senior nutrition programs across the country.

Rising prices hammer seniors on fixed incomes USA Today Lynn O’Shaughnessy The elderly are being hit hard by escalating costs of gas and food.