Practical tips to help you stay safe, informed, and in touch when the weather turns serious.
Severe weather can arrive quickly. Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, ice storms, and prolonged power outages can disrupt phone service, take down internet, and throw your usual routines into chaos. For people with hearing loss, the stakes can feel even higher. Emergency alerts, calls to family, and conversations with first responders all become more challenging when the systems we rely on stop working.
The good news is that with a little planning, you can stay connected and informed no matter what the weather brings. Here are some practical, friendly tips to help you prepare for severe weather and stay safe throughout it.
Make a Communication Plan with Family
Before a storm ever hits, take time to talk through a communication plan with the people who matter most. Decide who will call whom, what time you’ll check in, and what to do if you can’t reach each other through your usual channels.
If possible, pick one out-of-state contact who can serve as a central point of communication. During regional emergencies, long-distance calls sometimes go through when local lines are jammed. Make sure everyone in your circle knows that person’s number.
Sign Up for Local Emergency Alerts
Most communities offer text-based emergency alert systems that send warnings about severe weather, evacuations, road closures, and other urgent updates directly to your phone. These alerts are especially valuable for people with hearing loss, since they don’t rely on hearing a siren or a TV announcement.
Check with your local emergency management office, county website, or town hall to sign up. Many systems are free and only take a few minutes to set up.
Have a Backup Power Plan
Power outages are one of the most common results of severe weather. Without electricity, charging your phone, running medical equipment, or hearing emergency broadcasts on TV all become problems.
Keep a few simple backup options on hand:
- A battery-powered or hand-crank weather radio with a built-in flashlight
- Fully charged portable phone chargers (and a way to recharge them, like a car charger)
- Extra batteries for hearing aids, alerting devices, and flashlights
- A printed list of important phone numbers, in case your phone runs out of charge
Use Visual Alert Devices at Home
Severe weather often happens at night, when you’re most likely to miss important sounds. Visual alert devices, like flashing-light smoke detectors, bed shakers, or strobe-light alarm systems, make sure you know about emergencies even if you can’t hear traditional sirens or alerts.
For more on the full range of options, our piece on different alert methods for people with hearing loss is a helpful starting point.
Prepare an Emergency Supply Kit
Build a basic kit that you can grab quickly if needed. A good starting kit includes:
- Bottled water (at least three days’ supply per person)
- Non-perishable food
- A first aid kit
- Medications and a list of dosages
- Hearing aid batteries or chargers
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- A change of clothes and important documents in a waterproof bag
Store the kit somewhere easy to reach and check it twice a year to swap out expired items.
Stay Informed Without Getting Overwhelmed
During severe weather, it’s natural to want to monitor the news closely. But constant updates can also raise stress levels. Set a check-in schedule that works for you, maybe once an hour, and step away in between. Trust that emergency alerts will reach you if something urgent changes.
If you live alone, ask a neighbor or family member to check in with you periodically, either by phone or in person. Sometimes a quick hello is the most reassuring thing of all.
Check In with Vulnerable Neighbors
Severe weather is often harder for people who live alone, have mobility challenges, or face other vulnerabilities. If you’re able, take a few minutes before or after a storm to check on neighbors who might benefit from a friendly call or a knock on the door.
A simple offer to share a meal, charge a phone, or pass along a weather update can make a real difference.
Have a Plan for After the Storm
Once the immediate weather threat passes, communication often becomes the next challenge. Power may still be out. Phone lines may be jammed. Travel may be limited.
Take a moment to send a short message to family letting them know you’re safe. Then conserve your phone battery by limiting non-essential calls until services return to normal. A few hours of patience often makes a stressful situation much easier to manage.
Stay Connected When You Need It Most
Severe weather can feel disorienting, especially when it disrupts the connections you rely on every day. Having a communication plan and the right backup tools can make all the difference. For people with hearing loss, a CapTel captioned phone keeps you in touch with family, first responders, and medical professionals with the clarity and confidence.
Be ready when severe weather strikes:
- Learn how a captioned phone supports clear phone communication during emergencies and every day
- Find out which CapTel phone model might be best for your home setup, including models that work without internet
- See if you or someone you care about may be eligible to receive a CapTel phone at no cost
- For questions or to learn more, call CapTel at 1-800-233-9130
Keep exploring: More on alert methods for people with hearing loss | Visit the CapTel blog | Share this article with a friend
