Letter to the Editor: Save Our Seniors During a Storm

I am 80 years old. I live alone. My electricity went out during the storm. No wifi either. No more juice on my phone. Darkness, temperatures in the house down to 60, but me and the critters bundled up together.

Couldn’t get to the garage because of snow; wouldn’t be able to leave anyway with the garage door dependent on electric.

It was scary after a few hours. No one knew I was here. 

I believe there should be some sort of check-up on seniors under these circumstances. A list somewhere of “Seniors Alone” to be checked on either by phone or visit during these outages. My phone was out, but if someone could have come by and flashed a flashlight, or knocked on my door to check on me, I don’t think I would have had such a bad anxiety attack.

I fortunately got through it but if I had had a serious health emergency, you wouldn’t know until spring to get my dead body – if indeed there was anything left after my pets ate me.

We need some kind of list of elderly alone to be checked on during these times. Some kind of protocol. A phone call, a visit, a red flag. Some acknowledgement.

Jean Hollander

Egg Harbor, Wisconsin