With hurricane season continuing through November 30 and winter storm season on the horizon, now is a good time to have a plan if you care for a loved one who is medically dependent on electricity.

A severe tropical or winter storm could cause damage to power lines and equipment, resulting in outages. Rest assured, we plan and prepare for significant weather-related events, but storms causing extensive damage could mean it may take several days to restore power.

If you don’t have a plan, you can start with a few simple steps. Consider these steps when preparing for storm seasons:

1. Gather extra medical supplies and consider needs for medical equipment, including backup batteries.
2. Make arrangements for transportation and an alternate place to stay, both nearby and further away, in event of a prolonged outage.
3. Ensure you have multiple ways to communicate with your loved ones either through cell phones or email.
4. Secure extra presecription medication.
5. Provide an alternate heating source in the winter and cooling source in the summer.
6. Prepare a 72-hour disaster kit with emergency supplies.

For more tips on how to prepare for severe weather, visit jacksonemc.com/storm.