{"id":112095,"date":"2019-01-19T01:22:28","date_gmt":"2019-01-19T06:22:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=112095"},"modified":"2019-01-19T01:22:34","modified_gmt":"2019-01-19T06:22:34","slug":"seniors-need-to-prepare-for-winter-storm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2019\/01\/19\/seniors-need-to-prepare-for-winter-storm\/","title":{"rendered":"Seniors need to prepare for winter storm"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>VW independent\/submitted information<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>COLUMBUS &#8211;Winter Storm Harper is expected to cross the Ohio region this weekend, bringing with it the potential for high snowfall amounts, ice accumulations, and bitterly cold temperatures that could lead to hazardous road conditions, utility outages, and more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"375\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/ODA-Winter-Weather-Safety-graphic-1-2019.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-112096\"\/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ohio Department of Aging urges older adults to prepare for the storm and calls on all Ohioans to check on older loved ones and neighbors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAn event like Winter Storm Harper presents significant risks for all Ohioans, but older adults can be at increased risk from the storm\u2019s effect,\u201d said&nbsp;ODA Director&nbsp;Ursel&nbsp;McElroy. \u201cPhysical changes, isolation, and other factors can make older adults more susceptible to weather\u2019s wrath, so it\u2019s important to plan ahead and check in on each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The department\u2019s \u201cSafe at Home\u201d web page (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aging.ohio.gov\/safeathome\">www.aging.ohio.gov\/safeathome<\/a>) includes resources for older Ohioans to be prepared for emergencies. That advice includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><strong>Create an emergency kit<\/strong>&nbsp;that contains a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, drinking water, food that can be prepared without electricity, extra blankets and a first aid kit.<\/li><li><strong>Check your medication supplies<\/strong>&nbsp;to ensure you have enough to last through the storm. Keep list of the medications you so you can share with first responders in an emergency.<\/li><li><strong>Check medical equipment and assistive devices<\/strong>&nbsp;(such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, lifts and oxygen tanks), ensuring they are in good shape and are easy to locate in an emergency. Have non-powered options for equipment that won\u2019t work during a power outage.<\/li><li><strong>Know where main valves and switches are for utilities<\/strong>&nbsp;such as gas, water and electricity and make sure you can access and operate them.<\/li><li><strong>Designate a safe place to go<\/strong>, such as a friend or neighbor\u2019s house, warming center or community shelter. Have a plan for getting there if it is unsafe to stay at home.<\/li><li><strong>Ask a reliable family member, friend or neighbor to visit or call<\/strong>&nbsp;regularly to make sure you are OK. Have a plan for what they should do if they can\u2019t reach you.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each area agency on aging can help identify emergency resources and services in the local community. Visit the Ohio Department of Aging\u2019s website (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.aging.ohio.gov\/\">www.aging.ohio.gov<\/a>) for contacts or call 866.243.5678 to be connected to the agency serving a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Department of Aging encourages all Ohioans to check in on older loved ones, friends, and neighbors before, during, and after the storm to ensure that they have the resources they need to remain safe and healthy. Here are some things to ask about during visits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Do they need medical attention? Have they fallen? Are they staying warm enough? Are they taking their medications as prescribed?<\/li><li>Do they have safe food and water? Are they eating and drinking regularly?<\/li><li>Is the temperature in their home comfortable? Do they have safe means to heat the home if temperatures continue to fall?<\/li><li>Whom will they call if they need help? Do they have access to a phone that will work without power or landline service?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If a person, or an older loved one becomes ill or injured during the storm, or if it becomes unsafe to stay in one\u2019s home for any reason, call 9-1-1 for emergency assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow the Ohio Department of Aging on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ohiodepartmentofaging\">Facebook<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/OhioDeptOfAging\/\">Twitter<\/a>&nbsp;for more winter safety information and resources throughout the storm and all winter long. The Ohio Department of Aging is a proud member of the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.weathersafety.ohio.gov\/\">www.weathersafety.ohio.gov<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VW independent\/submitted information COLUMBUS &#8211;Winter Storm Harper is expected to cross the Ohio region this weekend, bringing with it the potential for high snowfall amounts, ice accumulations, and bitterly cold temperatures that could lead to hazardous road conditions, utility outages, and more.&nbsp; The Ohio Department of Aging urges older adults to prepare for the storm [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-04 03:17:49","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112095\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}