September is National Preparedness Month, making it a practical time for pharmacies, outpatient facilities, and other healthcare organizations to review how they would protect temperature-sensitive medications during a power disruption. 

The question is not simply whether a facility has an emergency plan. It is whether that plan can maintain refrigeration, alert the appropriate staff, and support an effective response when an outage occurs overnight, during severe weather, or over a long weekend. 

Power Reliability Remains a Business-Continuity Risk 

The latest nationwide figures available in 2026 show the scale of the risk. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, electricity customers experienced an average of 11 hours of interruptions in 2024, nearly twice the annual average recorded during the preceding decade. Major events, including Hurricanes Beryl, Helene, and Milton, accounted for 80% of those outage hours. 

Electricity demand is also increasing. The North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s 2026 Summer Reliability Assessment reports that projected demand grew by another 11 gigawatts from 2025 to 2026. Although new generation and battery resources have strengthened overall readiness, NERC continues to identify risks related to extreme heat, drought, low wind output, rapid growth in large electrical loads, and maintenance outages. 

For healthcare facilities, regional grid adequacy does not eliminate the possibility of a local equipment failure, utility interruption, voltage disturbance, or storm-related outage. Any of these events can interrupt refrigeration and start the clock on a potential temperature excursion. 

Why Cold-Chain Preparedness Matters 

Vaccines, biologics, insulin, GLP-1 medications, and other temperature-sensitive products can represent a substantial financial investment. If storage conditions fall outside the manufacturer’s specified range, affected inventory may need to be segregated while the facility consults the manufacturer or public health authority. Products should not be assumed viable based on appearance alone. 

The CDC’s updated July 2026 Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit states that refrigerated vaccines generally must remain between 2°C and 8°C, or 36°F and 46°F. It also warns that lost potency cannot be restored and that a single exposure to freezing temperatures can completely destroy the potency of some refrigerated vaccines. 

The resulting cost can extend beyond replacement inventory. A cold-chain failure may lead to delayed appointments, staff time spent documenting and investigating the excursion, possible revaccination, disrupted patient care, and damage to public confidence. 

“In our decades of experience, we have seen how one power disruption can place an entire inventory of essential medications at risk,” says Sharon Leary, backup power consultant at Medi-Products. “Preparedness requires more than knowing whom to call after an outage. Facilities need a reliable way to maintain refrigeration while their response plan is put into action.” 

Build Preparedness Around the Actual Refrigeration Load 

A dependable power-continuity plan should reflect the facility’s equipment and operating conditions. Backup systems must be sized for the refrigerator or freezer’s running load, startup requirements, desired runtime, and any supporting equipment that must remain operational. A system that supplies enough wattage but lacks sufficient battery capacity may not provide the required protection during a prolonged outage. 

Facilities should also consider what happens between utility failure and generator availability. A properly designed battery backup system can provide immediate power, helping refrigeration remain online during generator startup or throughout an outage at locations without a generator. 

Preparedness reviews should address the following: 

• How long must each storage unit remain powered? 

• Which refrigerators, freezers, monitoring devices, network components, and alarm systems are essential? 

• Can alerts reach designated staff when the building is unoccupied? 

• Are the primary and backup responders clearly identified? 

• When were the backup system, batteries, alarms, and notification procedures last tested? 

• Is there a documented plan for extended outages or equipment failure? 

Monitoring and backup power serve different but complementary purposes. A temperature data logger documents conditions inside the storage unit, while power monitoring can notify staff that electrical service has been interrupted. Battery backup provides the continuity needed to keep the equipment operating. Together, these safeguards provide more time to respond before inventory is placed at risk. 

Update Procedures and Train Staff 

The CDC recommends maintaining written standard operating procedures for routine storage, temperature excursions, equipment failures, power outages, and other emergencies. These procedures should be reviewed at least annually and kept near the vaccine storage equipment. 

National Preparedness Month offers a natural date for that review. Facilities should confirm contact lists, train new and existing employees, test remote notifications, inspect storage equipment, review temperature records, and verify that backup runtime still reflects current inventory and equipment. 

Plans should also account for changes made during the year. Adding a refrigerator, replacing a storage unit, expanding inventory, or connecting additional devices can alter the electrical load and reduce available backup runtime. 

Turn Preparedness Into Measurable Protection 

Insurance may reimburse part of an inventory loss, but coverage varies and cannot prevent interruptions in care or restore compromised medications. The stronger strategy is to reduce the likelihood that a manageable outage becomes a cold-chain emergency. 

Medi-Products designs and supports battery backup systems for medical refrigeration and other critical healthcare equipment. Our team can help facilities evaluate electrical loads, runtime requirements, monitoring needs, and installation considerations to develop a solution appropriate for their operations. 

Call 1-800-765-3237, visit www.mediproducts.net, or complete our contact form to speak with one of our backup power specialists. 

National Preparedness Month should result in more than an updated document. It should leave your facility with tested equipment, trained staff, current procedures, and a clear plan for keeping essential medications protected when utility power is unavailable.