Power Outages Endanger Medical Device Users: City Response

Researchers identify four groups facing different risks when the electricity goes out

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:05am

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A new study shows that power outages pose serious risks for millions of Americans who rely on medical equipment like oxygen concentrators, CPAP machines, and ventilators. The researchers analyzed data from over 2,600 households and found four distinct groups facing very different situations when the power goes out, with low-income urban renters being the most vulnerable. The study highlights the importance of understanding where people are both energy insecure and less likely to have access to backup power sources during outages.

Why it matters

Power outages are becoming more frequent and longer-lasting in the U.S. due to severe weather, winter storms, hurricanes, and wildfires linked to climate change. This poses a serious threat to the millions of Americans who rely on medical devices to survive, with studies showing an increase in disease-related deaths following major blackouts. Understanding the different risks faced by various groups can help communities better target aid and resources to those most in need.

The details

The researchers analyzed data from over 2,600 households reporting the use of medical devices, drawn from a nationally representative federal survey. They identified four distinct groups: about 60% are financially stable homeowners with backup generators; 20% are homeowners who struggle to pay energy bills but also tend to have backup power; 13% are apartment renters who can afford electricity but can't make long-term upgrades for resilient power; and 7% are low-income urban renters who struggle to pay bills and have almost no backup resources, with 58% receiving disconnection notices and 12.5% needing medical attention due to extreme temperatures.

  • Between 2018 and 2021, people in over half of U.S. counties experienced at least one power outage lasting more than eight hours.
  • Power outages grew 9% more frequent and lasted 56% longer between 2014 and 2023.

The players

Matthew D. Dean

Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine.

Katherine Asmussen

Research Assistant Professor in Transportation Engineering, University of Tennessee.

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What they’re saying

“When the power goes out and stays off for hours, the result can be more than just a hassle - for millions of Americans who rely on medical equipment, losing electricity can become a medical emergency.”

— Matthew D. Dean, Assistant Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Irvine

“Studies following major blackouts show an increase in disease-related deaths, including a 25% rise during a three-day blackout in New York City in August 2003. Emergency rooms can become overwhelmed with device users seeking backup power and medical care.”

— Katherine Asmussen, Research Assistant Professor in Transportation Engineering, University of Tennessee

What’s next

Some communities are finding ways to tackle this problem, such as utility companies maintaining lists of households with medical devices, portable battery programs, and requiring landlords to notify new tenants of these registries. As climate change makes blackouts longer and more frequent, providing help to residents falls increasingly on states and cities.

The takeaway

This study highlights the critical need to understand the different risks faced by various groups when power outages occur, especially for the most vulnerable populations like low-income urban renters who struggle to pay bills and lack access to backup power sources. Targeted aid and resources are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of all medical device users during these increasingly common and prolonged blackouts.