What would you do if your air conditioning went out during a heat wave? Do you feel prepared for a natural disaster? Established in 2006, Get Ready Day “helps Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all hazards, including infectious disease outbreaks, natural disasters and other emergencies.” A little preparation now can make it easier to stay safe, calm and connected when the unexpected happens. In this post, we’ll cover some simple steps older adults and caregivers can take to be better prepared. 

 

What kinds of things should I prepare for? 

 

Extreme Weather- Knowing Important Terms 

• Watch– the risk of extreme weather has increased significantly but has not yet happened. 

• Advisory– extreme weather is happening, imminent, or likely.  

• Warning– extreme weather is happening, imminent, or likely. Hazardous weather could be life-threatening and people need to take immediate action (e.g., take shelter). 

 

 

Extreme Weather- Heatwaves 

• Each year, Washtenaw County posts a list of local cooling sites. These sites are open to the public and are helpful to know about in case your power or air conditioning go out.  
• Make sure you’re drinking enough water (one way to do this is by noting your urine color). Avoid sugary, caffeinated, and alcoholic drinks, focus instead on drinking water and/or sports drinks/electrolytes (NOTE: electrolyte drinks can be very salty, make sure to talk with your doctor before consuming). 
• Know the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  
• Be prepared for potential power outages.  

 

Extreme Weather- Summer Storms 

• Pay attention to weather alerts and warnings. 
• Avoid running water during severe thunderstorms.  
• Watch out for fallen power lines and trees. You can report them to DTE by calling 911 or (800) 477-4747 (then press 2) or making a report on their website.  
• Watch for outages or report a power outage in your area by visiting the DTE Outage Center or calling (800) 477-4747 (then press 2).  

 

Extreme Weather- Winter Storms 

• Test your heating system before winter starts to make sure you can safely heat your home.  
• Use weather stripping or special kits to make sure your windows and doors are properly insulated.  
• Have a plan so you know where to go if your heating goes out. Each year, Washtenaw County posts a list of daytime warming centers.  
• Know the warning signs of frostbite and hypothermia.  
• Make sure to run water so your pipes don’t freeze. Even running water at a trickle is helpful. 

 

Flu Season  

• Flu season in Michigan runs from October through May. Make sure to get your flu shot!  
  • Click here to view last week’s post about finding a flu shot near you.  
• Know whether you have an increased risk of complications from the flu. 
  • Age 50+. 
  • Have at least one chronic medical condition. 
  • Living with or caring for someone who’s high risk. 
• Wash your hands frequently. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.  
• Avoid touching your face– especially your eyes, nose, and mouth. 
• Wear a mask when in public as an added layer of protection.  

 

Fires  

• Make sure you have smoke alarms on every level of your home, especially outside of bedrooms.  
• Make sure to keep flammable items at least three feet away from anything that gets hot (e.g., space heaters, oven burners, etc.) 
• If you have vision or hearing impairments, there are other options, such as smoke detectors with LED strobe lights or alarms that shake your bed. Contact the Red Cross to see if they have these alternatives available. 
• Always use flashlights, NOT candles, when the power goes out.  
• Make sure you know how to use a fire extinguisher before a fire starts (remember PASS) 
  • Are you in need of a smoke detector? Click here to read an SRC blog post that outlines free smoke detector programs (as a bonus, some programs also offer free carbon monoxide detectors!) 
• Click here for a Home Fire Safety Checklist via MI Prevention 

 

Power Outages 

• Keep your refrigerator and freezer closed.  
• Disconnect appliances and electronics. 
• Have a plan to refrigerate medications and/or use medical devices that need electricity (e.g., CPAPs, etc.). 
• Watch for outages or report a power outage in your area by visiting the DTE Outage Center or calling (800) 477-4747 (then press 2). 

• Create and maintain a power outage/blackout kit 
  • Plastic bin or other container to house everything 
  • First aid kit
  • Very basic toolkit 
  • Flashlights for everyone in your household
  • A headlamp (this is nice to have so you can see without having to physically hold up a flashlight) 
  • Extra batteries 
  • Portable cell phone chargers 
  • Bottled water 
  • Canned or other non-perishable food 
  • Manual can opener 
  • Radio to get updates 

 

Planning for the Future 

First Aid Kits  

• You can buy a premade kit from a variety of retailers, including the American Red Cross, Amazon, pharmacies (including CVS), and major retailers (e.g., Walmart). 

 

• The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits have at least the following: 
  • 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches) 
  • 25 adhesive bandages/bandaids (assorted sizes) 
  • 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)  
  • 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)  
  • 5 antiseptic wipe packets  
  • 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)  
  • 1 emergency blanket 
  • 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve) 
  • 1 instant cold compress 
  • 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large) 
  • 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)  
  • 1 3 in. gauze roll (roller) bandage 
  • 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)  
  • 5 3 in. x 3 in. sterile gauze pads  
  • 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)   
  • Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass) 
  • 2 triangular bandages  
  • Tweezers 

Make sure to check your kits regularly and replace anything that is used or past its expiration date.  

 

Emergency Kit Basics 

• Canned food 
• Water  
• Medication  
• Backup pair of glasses (if you wear glasses) 
• Flashlight (make sure to check batteries occasionally) 
• Emergency contact list (e.g., doctor, pharmacy, etc.) 
• More Information: 
  • Basic Emergency Supply Checklist via Michigan Prepares 
  • Build A Kit via Ready.gov 
  • Emergency Supply Checklist for Older Adults via Michigan Prepares 

 

Local Radio Stations 

• 89.1 FM 
• 107.1 FM 
• 102.9 FM 
• 1050 AM 
• 1290 AM 

 

Helpful Websites 

• American Public Health Association has a wealth of information online, including a variety of helpful fact sheets for preparing for an emergency: 
  • For people living with disabilities
  • For people who have low vision or blindness  
  • For people who have cognitive challenges 
  • For people who are Deaf or have hearing challenges 
  • For people with mobility challenges 

• Emergency Plan Template via Michigan Prepares 

• Emergency Preparedness Guide via Washtenaw County Health Department  

• Everbridge– this website lets you put in your phone number or email to sign up to get information about local weather, emergencies, and updates (including road closures). If you’d prefer not to share your email/phone number, you can manually check the website for updates.  

• Michigan Storm Chasers  

• Michigan Prepares  

• National Weather Service 

• Ready.gov 

• Red Cross 

 

Helpful Apps 

• FEMA App  (click here for iOS/Apple or click here for Android) 

 

Stay safe!