Cold weather and power outages: getting through winter together
Social ConnectionKey points
- Cold causes more deaths than heat, especially among older adults.
- People who live alone and cannot ask for help are most at risk.
- Agree with neighbors on daily check-ins and sharing news during outages.
- Generators and stoves used indoors are the leading cause of carbon monoxide poisoning during outages.
- Know where your nearest warming center is and write down important phone numbers.
Cold is a silent risk
A large study of more than 74 million deaths in 13 countries, including the U.S., found that cold is linked to more deaths than heat (Gasparrini et al., 2015). Cold raises blood pressure and strains the heart and lungs. Older adults, people with chronic illness and those who live alone are most at risk. Winter storms such as the February 2021 Texas outage showed how fast cold homes become dangerous.
Why connections matter
A meta-analysis of 148 studies found that strong social relationships are linked to about 50% higher odds of survival (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2010). In a crisis of cold, darkness and no phone service, that difference becomes very practical: someone notices you are unwell, brings you a hot drink or helps you get to a warming center.
Plan ahead
With neighbors
- Exchange phone numbers and set up a group text or chat for your building or street.
- Decide who will check on older and isolated residents.
- Share resources: one household has a generator outdoors, another a power bank, another a car.
With family
- Agree on how and when you will check in during outages.
- If a relative lives alone, discuss whether they can stay with you.
- Write important numbers on paper: family, neighbors, doctor, 911, 211, your utility.
What not to do
A review of carbon monoxide poisoning after disasters and power outages found the main causes were generators run indoors, in garages or basements, and cooking devices used for heat (Iqbal et al., 2012).
- never run a generator indoors, in a garage, on a balcony or near windows;
- never heat your home with a gas stove, oven or charcoal grill;
- never leave candles unattended;
- never sleep with a camp heater running.
Small actions that matter
- calling an older relative to ask if they are warm;
- bringing a neighbor a thermos of soup;
- offering to charge someone’s phone;
- giving someone a ride to a warming center.
Steps like these protect others’ health, and, as research on kindness suggests, support your own well-being too.
Frequently asked questions
How do I help an older neighbor I do not know?
Start small: knock, introduce yourself and leave your phone number. Offer to check in during storms. Many people find it hard to ask for help first.
What should I have on hand for a long outage?
Water, food that needs no cooking, a few weeks of medications, flashlights, batteries, a power bank, warm clothes, sleeping bags and a paper list of phone numbers.
Where can I warm up if my home is too cold?
Warming centers, libraries, community centers, or the homes of family or neighbors with heat. Call 211 to find local resources.
Sources
- Gasparrini et al. (2015). Mortality risk attributable to high and low ambient temperature: a multicountry observational study. The Lancet 386(9991):369-375. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)62114-0
- Iqbal et al. (2012). A Review of Disaster-Related Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Opportunities for Prevention. American Journal of Public Health 102(10):1957-1963. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2012.300674
- Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010). Social Relationships and Mortality Risk: A Meta-analytic Review. PLoS Medicine 7(7):e1000316. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316
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