HONOLULU (KHON2) — The Hawaii Department of Health’s Office of Public Health Preparedness is issuing a reminder to households reliant on electricity – and battery-powered medical devices to prepare for potential power outages, coinciding with the onset of the Pacific hurricane season and heightened wildfire safety measures.
As the Pacific hurricane season begins and electric utility companies implement wildfire safety protocols, the Hawaii Department of Health is emphasizing the importance of readiness for extended power outages, particularly for households with individuals dependent on medical devices requiring electricity.
“It’s crucial for households with members reliant on electricity for medical needs to proactively plan for potential power disruptions,” stated a DOH spokesperson.
They advised consulting healthcare providers to discuss contingency plans for managing medical conditions during outages. Recommendations include updating family outage plans and considering temporary relocation if adequate backup power options are unavailable.
The Pacific Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act Center has released a comprehensive checklist to assist in preparedness efforts, accessible here.
Hawaiian Electric (HECO) has initiated the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program, which may involve preemptive power shutdowns in high-risk areas to mitigate wildfire risks.
Residents of Honolulu, Maui, and Hawaii counties who rely on electricity- and battery-powered medical devices are encouraged to visit HECO’s PSPS website for detailed preparedness steps.
These include determining residence within a PSPS zone, signing up for emergency outage notifications, completing medical needs forms, and downloading the HECO app for real-time updates.
For further emergency preparedness guidance, all households are encouraged to visit www.preparenowhawaii.org. Specific inquiries regarding electricity services should be directed to respective electric utility providers via designated customer service hotlines.