Outage Tips for Vulnerable Populations

For general outage tips, see our Be Prepared for Outages page.

How You Can Prepare

Plan for medical needs that require electricity. If you or someone in your care uses refrigerated medicine or powered life-support, ask a doctor or pharmacist about meeting those needs in a power outage.
Create an evacuation plan. Be ready to take care of your own medical needs or ensure a caregiver can accompany you in case you need to leave your home due to an outage or other emergency.
Set up a contingency plan with your medical supply company or home health agency. Ensure you have access to a backup generator, battery charger, or other systems that can power life support systems.
Ensure your contact information is up-to-date by visiting idahopower.com/contactupdate. Review your outage notification preferences to ensure you receive updates in an emergency.
If you rely on a generator, find an expert to install it. Learn how to use it safely before you need it in an emergency.
Check with local officials to identify the location of emergency shelters with power.
Familiarize yourself with websites that can help you prepare for and respond to emergencies. Here are some examples:
- Ready.gov (U.S. Department of Homeland Security). Check out People with Disabilities if you or someone you care for has disabilities or medical conditions.
- Idaho Office of Emergency Management
- Oregon Office of Emergency Management
Watch our virtual presentation or see our slide deck for more tips.

If you depend on electric life-support equipment and do not have a backup power supply, go somewhere that has power. Take medical equipment and medications with you. Call 911 if your life is in danger.
Stay informed about current outages on our Outage Map.
During a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), go to our PSPS webpage for more information throughout the event.