Power Outages Tough On The Elderly

The power outage can be miserably frustrating for anyone, but just imagine if you're elderly or disabled. It's reality for many in nursing homes and assisted living centers who remain in the dark despite their priority status. News On 6 anchor Latoya Silmon reports with a limited number of generators, it's still lights out for many of them. That has some very angry.

Alterra Sterling House near 71st & Memorial has been in the dark for days.

"They're mostly in their 80s and 90s and they deserve a lot better," said Cathy Mattix.

Mattix fears the cold will start to take a toll on her father and the dozens of others who live there.

"A lot of these people have dementia as my father does. They need a calm environment where things remain constant. Two of them have already been sent to the hospital because they got so upset," said Mattix.

Mattix says the center is doing all it can, bringing in two small generators, she just wonders when the city will do its part. Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency says it can only do so much.

"We're following those shelters or assisted living centers as fast as we can, and we're not going to get all of them. We can't get all of them. The public sector the government doesn't have that kind of generator capability," said TAEMA Director Mike McCool.

Pythian Manor at 17th & Riverside got one of the few generators the city has. The Tulsa Fire Department delivered one on Monday morning.

"Very, very relieved because we got a larger one. The city brought a smaller one for lights. Everyone's been able to charge their cells. We have a burner. We've been able to cook things for people," said Pythian Manor resident Sue Miller.

Some folks at Pythian Manor claim the help only came after a resident called 911. Again the city says it's trying to do all it can to monitor assisted living centers and nursing home.