and the outside temps are consistently in the teens ... the indoor temps decline very rapidly.

You don't die from lack of light.

People HAVE died from cold... right in there homes.

It is worse than having the power go out during, say, a hurricane... in a warm climate. lack of light does not threaten one's existence. also freezing cold running water when it's already freezing cold does not offer a way to warm up either. that is if any water is running... depending if the supply is electrically pumped or not, and whether pipes freeze.

Food is an issue, but in our day it is pretty likely for people to have something to eat at home that doesn't require light/heat to consume, even if they haven't expected an outage. It is much likely one will just so "happen" have ways of producing heat without electricity... unless one has given it some thought. We have space heaters, for instance... but they are electric.

i daresay nobody who has been through one of these horrific experiences is going to want to repeat it and will take preventive measures they can to offset the possible storm impact - particularly on temperature.

i can see where those with anxiety might worry more... and possibly make preparations sooner and prepare better than others, but not necessarily if for instance they are also depressed.

~ waves ~ 2 bits