Winter Weather Preparedness

Make a Plan and Build a Support Network

It is important to plan before winter weather arrives. Having a plan can help you feel less stressed and know what to do in an emergency. Here are some steps you can take:

• Build Your Personal Support Network

  • Create a Support Group: Make a list of people who can help you if the power goes out or there is a bad storm. Give a person you trust a spare key to your home and show them where you keep your emergency supplies.
  • Set Up a “Check-In” System: Arrange for someone in your support group to call or visit you during bad weather. If you receive in-home health care, talk to your agency about their emergency plans.
  • Find Help: If you need help finding services and resources in your area, visit our Community Resources page.
  • Stay Informed: Listen to local weather reports. Learn the difference between a winter storm watch (bad weather might happen) and a warning (bad weather is happening or will happen soon). It is helpful to have a battery-powered radio should you lose electricity.

• Prepare Important Information and Documents

  • Create an Emergency Contact List: Record key phone numbers. This should include your doctor, pharmacy, utility company, local non-emergency police or fire, and close family and friends.

  • Gather Key Medical Information: Make a list of the medicines you take, how much you take, and any allergies you have. If you use medical devices, such as a pacemaker, record the model and serial numbers. Include your medical insurance cards and a list of people who should be notified if you are injured.

    Keep this information and your action plan (if you have a condition like COPD or asthma) somewhere you can easily find them. Consider taking photos of these documents with your cell phone for quick access.

  • Keep Important Documents Safe: Put copies of important papers in a waterproof box or bag. This should include your medical information, insurance documents, and identification, such as your driver’s license.

Stock Your Emergency Kit

You may need to stay indoors for a few days if there is a severe winter storm. We recommend making an emergency kit with enough supplies to last for at least three to seven days. Make sure your kit is organized and easy to find.

• Food, Water, and Health Supplies

  • Water Supply: Plan for at least one gallon of water per person per day. If your water supply depends on electricity (e.g., a well pump), you can fill your bathtub before the storm.
  • Food Supply: Keep a supply of nonperishable food that does not need cooking, such as shelf-stable meals, canned goods, protein bars, crackers, and dried fruit. Make sure you have a manual can opener. Eating regularly provides your body with the energy it needs to produce heat.
  • Medication Supply: Keep a seven-day supply of all essential medications on hand.
  • Refrigerated Medications: If you have medicine that must be refrigerated, consider keeping ice or cold packs in your freezer. If the power goes out, refrigerated medications can be a problem. A closed fridge will keep things cool for about four hours. If the power is out for longer, place the medicine in a cooler with ice or cold packs immediately. Check the temperature with a thermometer to ensure it remains cold.
  • Over-the-Counter Items: Keep a basic first-aid kit, pain relievers, cold medicines, and any personal care items you need on hand.

• Light, Heat, and Power

  • Battery-Powered Light: Use flashlights or battery-powered lanterns instead of candles to reduce fire risk. Always keep extra batteries on hand and check them each season to make sure they are still usable.
  • Backup Power for Devices: Make sure your cell phone and a portable battery are fully charged before a storm. Consider a hand-crank, solar-powered, or battery-operated radio and flashlight. They can sometimes charge your phone too.
  • Medical Equipment Backup: If you use medical equipment that requires electricity, such as a breathing or oxygen machine, notify your power company. This helps them understand that you need electricity to keep your machines running, even if the power goes out. They may be able to add a note to your account so they can notify you when power will be restored during an outage. Remember, they might not be able to fix the power right away. Keep car chargers, extra batteries, or oxygen that does not need electricity nearby.
  • Warmth: Include warm blankets, sleeping bags, extra coats, gloves, and hats. Close off unused rooms to conserve heat and concentrate warmth in the spaces you are using.
  • Cash: Keep small bills for emergencies, as you may not be able to use credit cards or ATMs if the power goes out.

Stay Safe and Warm at Home

Cold weather can be dangerous, especially for older adults. As we get older, our bodies may not respond to temperature changes as well, and certain health conditions or medications can make it harder to stay warm.

• Set Your Heat High Enough: If possible, set your thermostat to at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Even slightly cold homes can sometimes lead to health problems like hypothermia.
• Dress in Layers: Wear loose-fitting layers, socks, and slippers. A hat can also help keep your body warm. If you are inside and feel too warm, you can always remove a layer.
• Stay Active: Moving around your home can help your body generate heat.
• Seal Out Drafts: Caulk and weather-strip windows and doors to prevent drafts. Use rolled-up towels or rugs to block cold air coming from cracks beneath doors. Close curtains and blinds, especially at night, to help keep the heat inside.
• Use Space Heaters Safely: If you use a space heater, ensure it has an automatic shut-off feature that activates if it overheats or tips over. Always plug the heater into the wall, not into an extension cord. Keep the heater at least three feet away from items that can catch fire, such as curtains, rugs, or furniture.
• Alternative Heating Safety: Do not use a gas stove, oven, kerosene heater, or charcoal grill to warm up your house. These can cause a deadly build-up of carbon monoxide gas. Ensure your fireplace and wood stove have proper vents, and have someone inspect and clean your chimney regularly.
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Put battery-powered carbon monoxide (CO) alarms on each floor of your house and check them regularly. CO is an invisible, odorless gas that can be very dangerous, even deadly.

Generator Safety

Carbon monoxide poisoning is a significant risk associated with generator use. If you choose to use a portable generator, you must use it with extreme caution to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Use Outdoors Only: Always use a generator outdoors, and keep it at least 20 feet away from windows, doors, or vents. This helps keep harmful fumes out of your home. Never use a generator inside your house, garage, basement, or crawl space, even if doors and windows are open.
• Prevent Electrical Hazards: Never plug a generator into a wall outlet. This is called “backfeeding” and can be very dangerous for utility workers. Instead, use a high-quality outdoor extension cord and plug your appliances directly into the generator.
• Refueling Safety: Turn off the generator and allow it to cool completely before refueling. Fuel spilt on hot engine parts can catch fire easily.
• Store Fuel Safely: Keep fuel outside your home in containers that are clearly marked and made of non-glass materials. Make sure the fuel is far away from things that burn fuel and from the generator itself.

Winter Weather and Your Health

• Fall Prevention

  • Clear Walkways: Ask a neighbor, friend, or service to clear snow and ice from your walkways, stairs, and path to the mailbox. Shoveling snow can be strenuous and may increase the risk of a heart attack.
  • Use Ice Melt Safely: Place sand, cat litter, or ice melt on slippery areas to improve traction and reduce slipperiness. If you have pets, be careful when using ice melt because it can be harmful to animals.
  • Wear Safe Footwear: Wear boots or shoes with rubber, non-slip, low-heeled soles.
  • Watch Your Walking Aids: If you use a cane or walker, make sure to dry the wheels or tips before entering your home to avoid slipping. If you don’t have a mat to dry them, carry a towel with you or leave one right inside the door for easy access when you return home.
  • Improve Lighting: Make sure outdoor areas near steps and walkways are well-lit to help you see icy patches.

• Health Awareness in the Cold

  • Know the Signs of Hypothermia: Hypothermia is a serious health condition that occurs when your body temperature drops too low. Signs of hypothermia include confusion, slurred speech, shivering, or feeling very tired. If you notice these signs, go somewhere warm and seek medical attention right away.
  • Frostbite Awareness: Frostbite can make your skin look pale and waxy-white, and it may feel numb or tingly, especially on your fingers, toes, or earlobes. If you suspect frostbite, seek medical help immediately.
  • Chronic Conditions: If you have conditions like diabetes, arthritis, or thyroid problems, cold weather can make it harder for your body to stay warm or worsen joint pain. Talk to your doctor about how to best manage your conditions during cold weather.
  • Medication Effects: Some medications, including prescription and over-the-counter drugs, can make it harder for your body to regulate heat. It’s a good idea to ask your doctor if any of your medications could impact your body temperature and what you should do about it.

• Food Safety During Outages

  If you lose power, your fridge and freezer will stop running, which may make your food unsafe to eat.

  • Keep Doors Closed: Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
    • A refrigerator will keep food safe for about four hours if unopened.
    • A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full) if the door remains closed.
  • Use a Thermometer: Have an appliance thermometer in your fridge and freezer. Check the temperature when power is restored. If your freezer thermometer reads 40°F or below, the food is safe to refreeze. Throw away any refrigerated perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more. Never taste food to determine its safety; when in doubt, throw it out.
  • Avoid storing food outdoors: Do not leave food in the snow or on a porch. Outside temperatures can vary, allowing perishable food to become unsafe to eat.

Protect Your Pets in Cold Weather

Your pets count on you to keep them safe, especially when it gets extremely cold outside.

• Keep Them Inside: If it’s too cold for you, it is likely too cold for your pet. Bring all pets indoors during cold weather.
• Outdoor Animals: Never put blankets out for outdoor animals. The fabric will freeze when wet. Instead, use straw (never hay!) to line outdoor shelters and create warmth.
• Check Their Beds: Make sure your pet’s bed is warm, off the floor, and away from drafts. Older pets, in particular, may benefit from orthopedic or heated beds.
• Paw Protection: Salt and other chemicals used to melt ice can irritate and burn your pet’s paws. Wipe their paws with a damp towel after coming in from outside to remove salt and chemicals. You can also use pet-friendly ice melts on your property.
• Limit Walks: Keep outdoor walks short, especially for older or smaller pets, to prevent hypothermia and frostbite.
• Extra Food and Water: Pets may burn extra energy trying to stay warm, so consider feeding them a little bit more. Make sure they always have access to fresh, non-frozen drinking water.

Final thoughts for you to take away…

Preparing for winter weather is one of the most proactive steps older adults and their caregivers can take to stay safe, warm, and healthy throughout the season.

If you proactively plan, prepare your home, and take care of your health, you can feel safer and less stressed when a major storm occurs.

• Planning ahead means building a strong support network of trusted people who can check on you and having your important phone numbers and medical information in an easily accessible place.
• Preparing your home means storing enough food, water, and supplies to last for a few days. You should also know how to heat your home safely if the power goes out and be aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Protecting your health by setting the thermostat to a safe temperature, wearing layers, and learning the signs that someone is too cold or at risk for hypothermia.

It’s a good idea to check your emergency kit and go over your health plan every year before winter arrives. These steps can help you feel ready for the winter months and keep you healthy all season long.