Power Sources: Quick Tips

Be ready to go if asked to evacuate by local authorities. Keep your car prepared with a car charger, road maps, jumper cables, and at least a half a tank of gas.
Create an emergency power plan, including model and serial numbers, for your medical devices, such as pacemakers, pumps, and monitors.
Read the user manual or contact the manufacturer to find out if your medical device is compatible with batteries or a generator.
Keep appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer. When the power is out, an appliance thermometer will always indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer no matter how long the power has been out.
Contact your local fire department and utility companies if you rely on an electricity-powered, home use medical device. Some electricity providers keep a “priority reconnection service” list of power-dependent customers.
If possible, buy manual alternatives for your electric devices that are portable, dependable, and durable. For example, a manual wheelchair, walker or cane as a backup for an electric scooter.
Fully charge your cellphone, battery-powered medical devices, and back-up power sources if you know a disaster, such as a hurricane, is coming.
Place plastic bags filled with water in the freezer to keep foods cold in a power outage. Drink the water when the ice melts.

Page last reviewed: August 17, 2020, 03:20 PM