They declare states of emergency at the drop of a hat over here, just so you know. It keeps some folks off the roads, making it easier for rescue/snow removal crews to do their jobs. And, depending on the state/issue, it frees up emergency money to dedicate to certain things. It doesn't necessarily mean society is collapsing or anything.

Is her home warm? Does she have a generator (though it's hard to go out and add gas when one has bronchitis)? I grew up with regular power outages in the Midwest. We'd just bundle up and close off most rooms of the house to conserve heat.