ASPR’s Response to the 2026 Severe Winter Storms
ASPR has developed tools and technical assistance resources to enhance public health resilience at the state and local levels and help healthcare facilities prepare for and respond to extreme winter storms.
We encourage you to use these tools below to protect at-risk individuals; support behavioral health; and fill preparedness gaps at your hospital or healthcare facility. Remind your patients to stay safe during winter storms by staying warm, heating your home safely, taking breaks from shoveling, and keeping a water supply. To learn more about actions you can take to stay safe and healthy after the storm, see CDC’s Winter Storm Safety Guidelines.
HHS emPOWER Program
The HHS emPOWER program is available to identify the number of Medicare beneficiaries in affected zips codes who rely on electricity-dependent durable medical equipment and certain healthcare services, such as dialysis, oxygen tank, or home health. The tool is used to help anticipate, plan for, and respond to the needs of at-risk Americans in potentially impacted areas.
Supporting Behavioral Health
The HHS Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers free crisis counseling through the Disaster Distress Helpline. This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. To connect with a trained counselor, call or text 1-800-985-5990.