While making your hurricane preparations, it's important not to forget
to take care of health concerns. In addition to preparing an emergency
kit and evacuation plan, you should also prepare yourself and your family
members by taking care of health needs in advance. Being prepared beforehand
can help minimize health problems and stressful situations.
Here are some important steps to help you medically prepare for hurricane season:
- Have at least a 14-day supply of prescription medications on hand.
- Have a complete list of all prescription and non-prescription medications
you take regularly, along with the dosage for each and the name, address
and telephone number of your regular pharmacy. Be sure you include a list
of any allergies.
- Have the name, specialty, address and phone number of any physician you
visit on a regular basis. Store all papers in a waterproof, portable container.
- If there is a family member in your home that is on continuous oxygen,
ventilator support, tube feedings, etc., please plan to evacuate to a
special needs shelter if you do not have a generator. Check with your
medical equipment provider early in the hurricane season to get guidance
on medical supplies to keep on hand.
- If you are on dialysis, check with your dialysis provider for alternative
plans to receive your dialysis in the event of power outages.
- If you have medical needs, the best advice is to check with all of your
providers of medical care to obtain their recommendations on which course
of action you should take in the event of a disaster.
Contact your health care provider to learn more about preparations you
should take to ensure your individual medical needs are provided for before
a hurricane threatens our community.
For more information on how those with special needs should prepare for
hurricane season,
click here.