Severe Weather Season:
A Home Safety & Fall Prevention Checklist for Texas Families
Texas summers bring more than heat — afternoon thunderstorms, flash flooding, and power outages are common across Central Texas from July through September. For seniors and homebound patients, severe weather introduces fall risks that don’t always come to mind until the lights flicker or the floor gets wet near a leaking window.
Falls remain one of the leading causes of injury for older adults, and storm season tends to make conditions worse: dim emergency lighting, wet entryways tracked in from sudden downpours, and the disruption of daily routines during power outages all raise the odds of a dangerous fall.
Our occupational therapists conduct in-home hazard assessments as a standard part of care, identifying risks specific to each home and recommending practical modifications. Below is a simplified version of the checklist we use with families:
- Clear walkways of rugs, cords, and clutter — especially paths to bathrooms and exits.
- Install grab bars near toilets and in showers; add non-slip mats in wet areas.
- Keep battery-powered flashlights or lanterns in reachable, known locations for power outages.
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly, particularly before storm season peaks.
- Wipe entryway floors promptly after storms to prevent slick surfaces from tracked-in rain.
- Keep a charged phone and emergency contact list within reach at all times.
Kinesis Home Health Care’s occupational therapy and skilled nursing teams serve families across Austin, Round Rock, Georgetown, Cedar Park, Kyle, and New Braunfels and can complete a full home safety assessment as part of your loved one’s care plan. Call (512) 551-9159 to schedule a visit before the next storm rolls through.
