Emergency Readiness at Home: A Simple Plan for New England Weather
Nor’easters, heat waves, and power outages are part of Massachusetts life. A calm, simple plan protects health and reduces last-minute panic — especially for older adults and those with medical needs. “While everyone is at risk during a natural weather-related disaster or similar emergency, older adults can be especially vulnerable,” warns the National Institute on Aging.
Notorious for its unpredictable weather patterns, every part of Massachusetts has had its fair share of extreme weather. “No county in Massachusetts has been spared from climate disasters in the last 13 years,” according to a 2025 report on extreme weather in the state. With Suffolk and Bristol counties hit the hardest, the total cost of those disasters to taxpayers was more than $541 million.
And weather doesn’t have to be extreme enough to warrant a federal declaration of emergency to warrant advanced preparation. From power outages to flooding to extreme heat, nature’s perils become less dangerous in the face of proper preparation.
Planning Ahead: Create an Emergency Plan
In their guide to disaster preparedness for older adults, the National Institute on Aging advises that you first determine which types of natural emergencies are most likely to occur in your area, and then create a specific plan for each type. Keep copies on the fridge, in a grab-and-go folder, and as photos on your phone.
A helpful format is a two-page essentials plan.
Page one: Emergency contacts (family, neighbors, clinicians), medications with doses, allergies, equipment needs (oxygen, CPAP, power bed), preferred hospital/clinic, and pets.
Page two: Step-by-step actions for common scenarios (power loss, evacuation, severe storm). The plan should include possible evacuation routes and the locations of local shelters.
Get Packing: Pack an Emergency Kit
Assemble a small home emergency kit. Include a flashlight, extra batteries, a battery pack for phones, basic first aid, shelf-stable snacks, water, medications for a week, and copies of key documents. If refrigeration is needed for meds, add a small cooler and freezer packs. Rotate items every six months. For more ideas, check out these tips for building an emergency kit from FEMA.
Caregiver’s Emergency Kit Checklist
According to Massachusetts’ website for emergency preparedness, consider adding the following to a basic emergency kit:
Medical Supplies
- Extra eyeglasses and/or hearing aids
- Battery chargers and extra batteries for hearing aids, motorized wheelchairs, or other battery-operated medical or assistive devices
- Extra medicine, oxygen, insulin, catheters, or other medical supplies you or a family member uses regularly
Documents
- Medical insurance cards, Medicare/Medicaid cards, physician contact information, list of any allergies and medical history
- Copies of medical prescriptions, doctor’s orders, and the style and serial numbers of the support devices you or your family member uses
- Medical alert tags or bracelets, or written descriptions of you or your loved one’s support needs, in case you are unable to describe the situation in an emergency
Stay in Touch: Communicate Effectively
“Discuss your plan and needs with friends, family, caregivers, and neighbors. Identify specific people you trust and who would be willing to help in a crisis,” recommends the National Institute on Aging. For example, identify a check-in buddy nearby and one out-of-state contact (long-distance calls sometimes connect when local lines are jammed). Agree on text codes for quick updates: “OK,” “Need help,” “Power out.” Keep an old-fashioned corded phone if your service supports it—some work without household power.
Stay Informed: Use Resources to get the Latest Updates
In Massachusetts you can dial 211 during a disaster for non-emergency information during a disaster. Staffed by the United Way, this resource is available year-round, 24-hours a day to provide information such as shelter locations, transportation options and post-disaster assistance.
You can always search for open shelters in your area by texting SHELTER and your ZIP code to 43362 or by visiting www.ready.gov/shelter or www.disasterassistance.gov.
For resources on how to prepare for an emergency, visit FEMA’s Disaster Preparedness Guide for Older Adults or check out this PDF guide from the American Association of Geriatrics.
Home Run: Prep the Home & Run a Drill
Prep the home. Clear gutters, secure loose items outside, keep walkways salted and shoveled, and store extra blankets. In heat waves, close curtains during peak sun and open windows in cooler evening hours. Identify a nearby cooling or warming center in case of prolonged outages.
Plan for power-dependent equipment. Ask clinicians for guidance on safe downtime and backups. Register with the local utility’s medical priority list if applicable, and keep company numbers handy. Consider a low-watt battery backup for critical devices and discuss safe generator use if relevant.
Run a quick drill twice a year. Where is the flashlight? Who checks on whom? How do we keep medications safe? Ten minutes of practice builds confidence and reveals gaps while the weather is still calm.
Preparedness is about peace of mind. With a simple plan and a few strategic supplies, you can face New England’s surprises with far less stress. Do you care for a loved one at home? Learn how Mass Care Link can help.