Winter Storms and Power Outages: A Plan for Aging Parents

Build a simple outage kit

Keep it in one bin in an easy-to-reach spot, not the back of a closet or a basement shelf:

• Battery-powered lanterns and flashlights, with spare batteries. These are safer than candles, which are a common cause of fires during outages.
• A charged power bank for the cell phone.
• A battery or hand-crank radio for news if the internet is down.
• Several days of water and food that doesn't need cooking, and a manual can opener.
• Warm blankets, hats, and layers.
• A printed list of phone numbers. If the phone dies, nobody remembers numbers anymore.

Medications and medical equipment

This is the part of the plan that matters most, and it's different for every person:

• Try to keep at least a week's supply of daily medications on hand during storm season, so a few days of closed roads or pharmacies isn't a crisis. A pharmacist can say what's possible with their prescriptions and insurance.
• If any medication needs refrigeration, ask the pharmacist ahead of time how long it can safely go without, and what to do if the power is out longer than that.
• If your parent uses anything that runs on electricity, like oxygen equipment or a powered lift chair, ask the equipment supplier about backup batteries, and ask the utility company whether it keeps a list of customers who depend on medical equipment.
• Keep a written list of medications, doses, and doctors' phone numbers in the kit.

Staying warm when the heat goes out

Pick one room, ideally an interior one with few windows, to gather in. Close the doors to other rooms, hang blankets over windows, and dress in layers including a hat. If the home gets too cold, the safer choice is going somewhere warm: a family member's home or a local warming center.

Never use a gas stove, oven, grill, or camp heater to heat the home, and never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near a window. These are among the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning during winter outages. A working carbon monoxide detector with a battery backup is part of this plan.

Decide the plan before the storm

A short conversation now prevents a lot of worried phone calls later. Agree on:

• Who checks in, and how often, when a storm is forecast or the power goes out.
• A nearby neighbor who can knock on the door if nobody can reach your parent by phone.
• At what point your parent will leave the house, and where they'll go. Deciding this ahead of time makes it much easier to actually do when the moment comes.
• How to sign up for local emergency alerts, so warnings arrive by text or call, not just on the TV.

Keep the plan for yourself, too

The same storm may hit your home. If you're the one who'd drive over to help, make sure your own kit is ready and your car has gas before the forecast turns. Being able to help starts with not needing help yourself.