This article will appear in the January/February 2004 issue of Hearing Loss along with other articles on emergency preparedness and communication access during weather emergencies.

 Preparing for Communication Access During Power Outages: Equipment Needs
 By Dana Mulvany

 People with hearing loss are especially at risk of losing communication access during power outages since the devices we use for communication access generally require power in some form.

Here are some suggestions for equipment that can help preserve your ability to receive information about emergencies and to communicate with others.

 Universal power supplies (UPSes). UPSes are often used as a temporary source of power for computers (to keep them running long enough so they can be shut down properly) but they can be used for other devices, such as AC-powered telephones or TTYs. (If you have a desktop computer, it's a very good idea to use a UPS with the computer so you will not lose your work during unexpected power outages.)

 Surge protectors. Important and expensive equipment, such as TVs, computers and adaptive equipment should be protected from power surgesthat can be caused by lightning storms. (Many UPSes also have surge protection built in.)

 Battery back-up capability. When shopping for AC-powered equipment such as certain amplified phones, VCO phones, TTYs, or alerting technology, consider whether the equipment has battery back-up capability if the power goes out. Also, if the equipment uses a rechargeable battery or batteries, can standard batteries be used if the existing batteries cannot be recharged right away?

 Battery-powered equipment. You may want to consider getting battery-powered equipment, either in place of or to supplement AC-powered equipment. For example, are you considering whether to get a laptop computer or a desktop computer? A laptop computer will be easier to power from different sources, such as vehicles. Some laptop computers are designed to have an especially long battery life and may also have the option of additional high-capacity batteries. (Computers can also be used for making Internet Relay calls, and thus are an alternative to TTYs.) 

Alternative sources of light. People with more severe hearing loss generally need light at night in order to understand other people. Although flashlights are important, a source of light that will illuminate people's faces without needing to be held will be much easier to use. Oil lamps and candles need to be handled very carefully to avoid fire (first ask yourself whether the people or pets in your house might easily knock them over). Some kinds of lights are much more efficient with battery power than others -- the label may indicate this information.  

 Wireless pagers and phones. Most wireless devices, including wireless phones, now allow two-way communication by e-mail. Some also provide access to customized web pages designed for a small screen. Generally, text communication seems to require less power than voice communication. Some wireless phones can be used as modems for computers or hand-held devices, thus potentially providing full access to the Internet. Because most emergencies are now reported over the Internet by text, Internet access can be very useful for researching accessible information about emergencies. Wireless devices are also an effective way of quickly being notified about emergencies wherever you are (unless you happen to be in an area that is not covered by the service). Some of the new wireless phones have been designed to work with new portable TTYs and thus can also meet text-based telecommunications needs.

 Power inverters for cars. Suppose you have an important device with rechargeable batteries that can't use other kinds of batteries, and the power has been out for a couple of days. One thing you may be able to do is to buy a power inverter so that you can charge the device while you're driving. You will need to make sure the power inverter has enough wattage to handle the device you want to charge.

Note: be careful about powering devices from one's vehicle. Never run your vehicle (or gasoline-powered generator) in a standing position inside a garage or if the exhaust pipe is blocked by snow. Carbon monoxide fumes from the car are odorless and injure or kill people. Running the car for a long time in a standing position may also drain the car's battery.

 Portable power supplies. These are often used to jump start a car with a dead battery, but some can power AC-powered devices or devices with a cigarette lighter adapter. Costco and Sam's have been sources of such power supplies, but possibly automotive stores will also have similar products. Some may also have a built-in light.

 Gasoline-powered generators or solar-powered chargers. Both are expensive but for some people, will be worth the peace of mind. Gasoline-powered generators are often very noisy. Solar-powered chargers generally have a high up-front cost but there may be special tax incentives in some states for installing them in a residence. Follow the safety instructions carefully for the gas-powered ones.

 9-inch TVs with closed captioning capability. Nine-inch TVs require less power than larger TVs, and many come with a cigarette lighter adapter. Although nine-inch TVs are not required to have closed captioning, some manufacturers have included this functionality anyway. (We do not have a comprehensive list of nine-inch TVs with closed captioning and because models change quickly, we suggest asking store representatives which nine-inch TVs have this capability.) Such TVs can be a useful method of receiving local information if you have alternate sources of power for them such as those mentioned above.

 Are You Prepared? Checklist for Power Outages

 If the power goes out in my home:

•  Do I still have an effective way of calling people?
• Will I be able to understand local emergency information from my local government?
• Will I be able to get understandable news updates from news stations and other sources?
• Do I have lighting sources to let me speechread people's faces in the dark?
• Do I have enough batteries to power my hearing aid(s) and/or cochlear implant processors for several weeks?

Taking extra measures to preserve your communication access during power outages now could save your life and others in the future, ease stress for you during a difficult time, and give you peace of mind. Good luck!

Dana Mulvany, M.S.W., was the Hearing Assistive Technology coordinator at HLAA. She grew up with a hearing loss and earned her master’s degree in social welfare from UCLA. She served on the HLAA Board of Trustees (1994-1997), on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Committee for the California Department of Rehabilitation’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Section, and on the Equipment Program Advisory Committee for the California Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program. The term “technological social work” has been coined for her work on assistive technology issues.