Preparing for Bad Weather

Storms bring the possibility of loss of electricity, loss of heat, loss of water, closing of roads, and flooding. Start preparing as soon as you know a storm is coming, at least one to three days before the predicted bad weather. Along with loss of services, storms can lead to difficulty in receiving supplies both during and after bad weather. Here are a few suggestions to help you prepare (some of these can be done well in advance of a storm and others several days before):

Prepare for Loss of Electricity

• Register your child with the special care registry for your state and renew yearly.
• Contact your local fire department rescue services to make sure they are aware of your child’s special care needs.
• Have contact numbers available for your community medical services (police, fire and ambulance).
• Have a supply of flashlights and batteries.
• Fully charge all electrical equipment and batteries.
• Do not use candles or any fire if you have supplemental oxygen in the home.
• Consider buying a generator for your home.
• If you have a generator, have enough fuel for several days.
• If you lose electricity and are running low on battery supply, contact local emergency services for assistance and/or go to either a local shelter or hospital for care.

Keep Supplies Handy

• Keep a list of all of your child’s medical supplies.
• Review the quantity of all the supplies you have at home.
• Make a list of anything that is missing or of which you have less than a one to two week supply, including medical supplies, formula and oxygen.
• With loss of electricity, the oxygen concentrator will not work; make sure you have oxygen tanks to supply oxygen for two to three days.
• Contact your child’s home care company about any items that you may need.

Remember Medications

• Have a list of all your child’s medications, both prescription and over the counter as well as daily medications and medications that are taken as needed or when sick.
• Make sure you have a one to two week supply of all medications.
• Contact pharmacy for refills.
• Contact medical provider if prescriptions need to be sent to pharmacy.

Pack a Travel Bag

• Review list of supplies in your child’s travel bag.
• Refill travel bag with all necessary supplies.
• Make sure you have updated copies of your child’s respiratory care plan, emergency care plan, and medication list in the travel bag.
• Have the travel bag easily available in case you lose power or need to leave your home.

Keep Communication Lines Open

• Consider having both a land line and a wireless phone. Sometime phone lines are down and sometimes cell towers are down.
• Keep your wireless phone fully charged.
• Have a land phone available that does not require electricity for use.

Store Water

• If you require electricity to receive water in your home, make sure you have a clean water supply for several days of use.