Power outages can turn deadly for people who use life sustaining medical equipment that requires a consistent source of electricity. Rock Energy is committed to providing members with reliable energy service, but it’s impossible for us to guarantee uninterrupted power at all times. Outages caused by severe storms, vehicle accidents, tree limbs, animals, equipment failure, or other problems could leave you without power for hours or, in rare cases, days. If someone in your household depends on a respirator, oxygen concentrator, ventilator, or other life-support equipment, make sure you have an emergency backup plan.

Be prepared in case of an emergency. Here are some helpful safety tips for you if you rely on electricity for any medical equipment in your home:

• Obtain a backup source of power recommended by the manufacturer of any critical care equipment you have in your home.
• For example, battery backups or portable generators can provide you with the electricity you need until power is restored.
• Keep a full charge on battery-operated devices or have extra batteries available. Check your backup batteries periodically. Unused rechargeable batteries may need charging.
• Consider buying a portable battery pack that can supply hours of backup power.
• Keep your cell phone charged so you can call for help and be reached by family/friends concerned about your well-being.
• Have a plan. Talk to relatives or friends about places you can go in the event of a long-term outage.