Power-Dependent Medical Equipment: Plan Ahead
Original preparedness explainer · Reviewed as a draft October 29, 2026 · General U.S. guidance
Some households rely on electrically powered medical devices or refrigerated medicines. That changes the urgency of outage planning.
Ask the equipment supplier or care team what to do during an outage, learn backup run time, and identify places with reliable electricity.
Keep written instructions and contact details where caregivers can access them. Do not improvise changes to medical treatment or storage guidance.
Prepare battery-powered lighting, charging options, food-safety supplies and a plan for medical equipment that needs electricity. Never run a generator, charcoal grill or camp stove indoors or in an attached garage.
Put this into action
Choose one manageable improvement today. Confirm current warnings and local instructions with your city/county emergency management agency and the National Weather Service.