For a growing number of Americans, a power outage can prove to be deadly, particularly for those who rely on home medical equipment. The Associated Press found emergency planners around the country struggling to find new ways to identify people at risk before the lights go out, to ensure they will have the aid they need to survive small outages or big ones.

For example, when ice downed electric lines in Epping, N.H., last month, police found 60-year-old Richard Lapoint dead, hooked to his powerless oxygen machine. The town's rescue workers hadn't known he was power-dependent.

When Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana, dozens of people with home oxygen machines in tow evacuated to government medical shelters, where surprised officials had to scramble to find enough oxygen tanks when backup generators in Baton Rouge failed.

Roughly 2 million people use home oxygen machines, mostly "concentrators" that make oxygen on the spot as long as electricity flows. In the event of a power outage or other catastrophe, it is important to have a reliable contingency plan for your oxygen use. Be prepared with an E/Pax Emergency Oxygen System.