2026
Hurricane Season: A Home Care Checklist for Patients on Medical Equipment
South Florida households that depend on oxygen concentrators, feeding pumps, or refrigerated medication need a storm plan written down before a watch is issued — not while the wind is picking up. The steps below take an afternoon.
Start with power. If someone in the home relies on electrically powered medical equipment, contact the utility about special-needs registration and ask your equipment supplier what battery backup exists for your specific device. Registration does not guarantee priority restoration, so plan as though the power will be out for several days.
- Keep at least a seven-day supply of medications on hand, and ask the pharmacy about early refills before a storm
- Store a printed copy of the care plan, medication list, allergies, and physician contacts in a waterproof bag
- Know your evacuation zone and whether the patient qualifies for a special needs shelter — registration is required in advance in most Florida counties
- Charge phones, backup batteries, and mobility equipment as soon as a watch is issued
- Keep a cooler and ice packs ready for refrigerated medications such as insulin
Tell your Lily Health care team what your plan is. If you evacuate or relocate, call us as soon as you can so visits can be rescheduled or transferred safely.