The Great Plains are knownfor some of the coldest, windiest winters in the US. High winds and tallsnowdrifts are all but guaranteed. Helping your family, friends and neighborsis the right thing to do, and may end up saving a life. Paul Davis Restorationof Tulsa brings you some tips on how to help.

1.       Prolongedpower outages can be dangerous for families that are snowed in after a sub-zeroblizzard. If you can’t pick up loved ones and bring them to a location that hasheat, call to give them some helpful tips for preventing hypothermia. Forexample, they can wall off a small room with thick blankets to create aninsulated space that is easier to keep warm.

2.       Ifyou have older or mobility challenged relatives, they could be snowed in byeven a minor snowstorm. Stay in touch with relatives or neighbors nearby andarrange for them to check on your relatives and dig them out. Make sure theyknow help is on the way.

3.      Sometimes,all an unprepared friend needs to get out of a snowy spot is the right tool forthe job. Make a deal that if your friend will cook you a hearty breakfastyou’ll bring over your biggest shovel and get their walk cleared before thepancakes get cold.

4.      Doyou have an older relative on a fixed income who is struggling to pay theirheating bill? They could be in danger of hypothermia from having their heat cutoff while they are snowed in. Many municipalities offer emergency fuelassistance programs that can help keep the heat turned on during severe winterweather. Get online and start making phone calls to ensure that your loved onedoesn’t go without.

5.       Areyou an older person looking for ways to help younger friends and family? Youngfolk may be at a loss for how to make something edible out of the odds &ends in the pantry and fridge when a freak snowstorm hits. If you have a knackfor cooking from back in the days when everyone knew how, walk them throughsome simple recipes over the phone.

6.      Maybeyou are enjoying a balmy weekend in Florida when you find out on Facebook thatrelatives up north are snowed in. Spend some time online chatting andsuggesting ways for them to stay entertained (and how to keep the kids busy).Just don’t talk about how nice the weather is in your neck of the woods. Theymay un-friend you forever.