What to Do During a Power Outage If You Rely on Insulin or Medical Equipment at Home

Summer in Houston often brings extreme heat, powerful storms and the occasional power outage from strained electrical grids. While most residents can weather these inconvenient events without serious risk to their health, those who rely on insulin or electrically powered medical equipment face much higher risks.

From maintaining safe insulin temperatures to ensuring ventilators, oxygen concentrators or CPAP machines remain operational, preparation can be vital for people living with chronic conditions.

At St. Hope Healthcare, we’re committed to helping patients stay safe and supported, even when the power goes out. Whether you live within a potential hurricane evacuation zone, like Greenspoint, or in another part of Houston at risk of infrastructure failures during storms or peak summer grid strain, planning ahead can be key to your safety.

Why Summer Power Outages Are So Common in Houston

While hurricanes are the most obvious threat, many power outages in Houston happen during routine peak energy demand periods. The intense heat places a heavy burden on the electric grid, and sudden storms with lightning or high winds can damage lines or knock out transformers.

If you rely on insulin or home-based medical equipment, this means:

• No refrigeration to keep medications at a safe temperature
• No power to operate life-sustaining devices
• No AC, which can lead to dangerous indoor heat levels, especially for medically vulnerable patients

How to Keep Insulin Safe During a Power Outage

Insulin must be kept cool to maintain effectiveness. Most types require refrigeration between 36°F and 46°F. If left at room temperature or higher for too long, it can degrade and become ineffective, putting your blood sugar levels at serious risk.

Here are some ways to protect your insulin:

• Use a portable cooler: Have a small insulated cooler bag and cold packs ready to go. Keep it in an easy-to-access location for emergencies.
  
  
• Consider a medical-grade travel fridge: There are compact battery-powered or USB-powered medical coolers designed specifically for insulin and other temperature-sensitive medications.
  
  
• Avoid freezing: Don’t place insulin directly on ice or freeze packs; extreme cold can damage it, too.
  
  
• Track the temperature: Use a small fridge thermometer to monitor temps if your fridge loses power, so you’ll know if your medication stayed within the safe range.

If your insulin ever appears cloudy (when it shouldn’t be), discolored or has been stored in unsafe temperatures for more than 24 hours, call your healthcare provider or pharmacy before using it.

Powering Essential Medical Equipment Without Electricity

Many patients depend on machines like oxygen concentrators, nebulizers, CPAP machines or at-home dialysis equipment, all of which require reliable electricity. If you're in this category, you can take steps to prepare for disruptions:

Before an Outage:

• Register with your power provider’s medical registry: Some utilities offer priority restoration or outage alerts for customers with medical needs.
  
  
• Talk to your doctor about backup plans: They may recommend alternate treatment settings or write a letter to help secure resources.
  
  
• Invest in a battery backup or generator: Portable battery packs can power small medical devices for several hours. If you have a home generator, make sure it’s serviced annually and always used outside.

During an Outage:

• Switch to battery backup immediately
  
  
• Conserve energy: Only run essential devices if power storage is limited.
  
  
• Relocate if necessary: If your equipment cannot function without electricity, have a plan to go to a friend or relative’s home with power, or to a hospital or cooling shelter.

Additional Emergency Preparedness Tips

• Create an emergency supply kit: Include extra batteries, flashlights, water, snacks and a supply of your medication and medical device accessories.
  
  
• Have a communication plan: Cell phones may lose power or signal during severe storms or power outages. Know where you can go and who you can turn to for emergency transportation, like a neighbor or nearby family member.
  
  
• Have a way to charge devices: Consider having a portable charger, power bank or even a solar-powered charger on hand in case of outages.
  
  
• Know where to go: Identify nearby cooling centers, hospitals or shelters. During large-scale outages or storms, Houston and Harris County officials will open designated centers with power and medical support.
  
  
• Stay informed: Sign up for alerts from CenterPoint Energy, ReadyHarris and NOAA Weather Radio so you get real-time updates about outages, storms and evacuation orders.

What If You Need to Evacuate?

If you’re in a designated evacuation zone like Greenspoint and a hurricane is approaching:

• Gather your essentials early, including insulin, coolers, chargers, medical devices and prescriptions.
  
  
• Let family or neighbors know your plan. If you don’t drive, arrange transportation in advance.
  
  
• Notify emergency services if you are unable to evacuate on your own. The State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) allows people with medical needs to register for evacuation help.

Be Prepared for Unexpected Summer Challenges in Houston

If you rely on insulin or medical equipment, preparing for a power outage is not optional; it’s vital. The team at St. Hope Healthcare can assist you in creating a personalized emergency plan, review your medication needs and help ensure you have the right tools, equipment and information to stay safe.

Don’t wait for the next storm. Contact us at (713) 778-1300 to talk through your plan and make sure you’re ready for anything Houston weather might bring.