Stay Prepared During the Next Cold Snap with These Tips
Expert tips for how to protect and prepare you and your loved ones during extreme cold
Another round of bitter cold?!
This weekend, some regions of New Hampshire will wake up to temperatures in the single digits or lower. According to weather.com, parts of the North Country are in an Extreme Cold Watch and could experience wind chills that dip to 30 below. On top of that, New Hampshire is still digging out from a snowstorm that dumped more than 20 inches in some parts.
Hunkering down during a snowstorm or frigid weather sounds cozy and fun, but emergency events can spell trouble for the elderly, people who live alone, or those with disabilities.
Vanessa Palange, community outreach coordinator for the New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, has shared a four-point plan for emergency preparedness: Stay informed, have a plan, make a kit, and get involved.
“Having a plan is also important, especially for people who might be older who might live by themselves,” says Palange.
“Staying informed” means always checking local weather reports as a way to plan for snow events or cold snaps. Local news stations or reputable weather sites carry accurate information. To stay ahead of the curve throughout the year, she suggests keeping an NOAA radio at home. Many can carry local radio stations and have flashlights built in. These are often battery- or solar-powered. Some come with a hand crank.
“Having a plan” is useful, especially if the power goes out or the heat stops working.
Palange suggests having a buddy system with neighbors, family and friends. Share your info with those you trust who can check in on you or call to make sure you’re OK. Work with your contacts to decide on a meeting spot in case of a fire or other emergency.
Frozen pipes can be common during cold snaps; Palange suggests leaving your faucet dripping, and opening up cabinets under sinks to let in warm air. Another affordable way to keep frozen pipes at bay: Use sections of a pool noodle around exposed pipes for insulation.
“Making a kit” is another way to prepare, says Palange. Kits can include the NOAA radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, and a power bank to recharge your phone. Having a carbon monoxide detector at home is another smart move. But there’s no need to be bored while you’re stuck at home: Include a couple of books, a deck of cards, or maybe a word search book to stay entertained when the electricity is out.
“Getting involved” is a vital piece of four-part plan; Palange reiterates the importance of having a support system of people you can reach out to for help.
New Hampshire has several of its own plans in place for bitterly cold weather and other emergencies.
To find warming shelters nearby, Palange suggests calling the non-emergency line of your local fire department. Other resources include senior centers, town halls and libraries.
Community Emergency Response Teams, or CERT, comprise volunteer residents who help others out in times of need. CERT offers training courses that teach anything from how to assist with traffic to disaster preparedness. Towns with CERTs include Merrimack, Plaistow, Bedford, Litchfield, Derry and Salem.
Palange also suggests trying the Next Door platform to find people close by who can help shovel or sand your walkway.
Finally, Palange reiterates exercising caution at home. Always plug space heaters directly into the wall, not through a power strip. Ovens should not be used as a heat source. Use towels or blankets to close off unused rooms, drafty windows and doors to retain heat. Keep blinds open during sunny days, and close them at night to keep heat inside.
The biggest point Palange wants to drive home when shoveling snow or ice from your walkway in extremely cold temperatures is to wear a lot of loose-fitting layers, which can trap heat and insulate you from the cold.
“Don’t forget things like hats gloves and really just covering up any exposed skin. And if you do have to be outdoors, just make sure that you’re taking breaks inside as well to keep yourself warm,” says Palange.
Additional resources:
New Hampshire Residents and Visitors Urged to Prepare for Extreme Cold: https://www.hsem.dos.nh.gov/news-and-media/new-hampshire-residents-and-visitors-urged-prepare-extre…
Easterseals New Hampshire’s Top 5 winter wellness tips for seniors: https://eastersealsnh.org/resources/top-5-winter-wellness-tips-to-keep-seniors-safe-this-season/
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services’ list of regional cold weather resources:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents2/bhs-cold-weather-shelters.pdf
New Hampshire Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing List:
https://www.dhhs.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt476/files/documents2/bhs-emergency-shelter-and-transiti…
Rockingham County Rehabilitation and Nursing Center Assisted Living Community’s winter safety tips:
https://rockinghamcountyseniorliving.com/winter-safety-tips-for-seniors/
Next Door app: https://nextdoor.com/helpmap
ReadyNH.com: https://www.readynh.gov/
NH Responds: https://www.nhresponds.org
