How power outages can affect physical and mental health
ABC News
How power outages can affect physical and mental health, according to experts.
After a spate of storms hit the United States from coast to coast last week, thousands of Americans were left without power, and some people are still struggling.
As of Friday afternoon, more than 91,000 customers are without power in Oregon, according to poweroutage.us, a website that tracks power outages throughout the country. Some people are going on nearly a week without power and heat, local reports say.
While many may view power outages as disruptions to daily life, an expert told ABC News they can come with physical and mental health effects.
"While is an inconvenience for some, it's a life-threatening issue for others and we need to protect those whose lives it threatens," said Dr. Joan Casey, an assistant professor in the University of Washington's department of environmental and occupational health sciences.
