Four Things to Know About Hurricane Preparedness

Nearly 80% of Americans say they are not prepared for disasters when it comes to stocking up on water and food.¹ This is especially interesting since research shows six in 10 Americans believe they’ll be impacted by a natural disaster in the next 3-5 years.²    
 

At Alliancerxwp.com, we believe a little planning goes a long way — especially when it comes to your family’s medications. We are available 24/7 throughout any storm or natural disaster. We offer valuable information and educational content to help answer questions patients may have about their prescriptions or how to order them online.  

 

We Prepare Before the Storm 

At AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, we have robust hurricane preparedness plan designed to get patients the medicine they need before a hurricane hits, to give them peace of mind. Caring for our team members and ensuring their safety during hurricanes or other scenarios is also a priority for us because if our team members aren’t cared for, then neither are our patients. The nice thing about having locations across the country is that we can shift work, whether it’s hurricanes in the summer or blizzards in the winter. 
 

Ahead of Hurricane Ian or any other weather emergency, we proactively reach out to patients in potentially affected areas via phone, text and email to mitigate risk and delays in therapy. We also proactively work with patients’ insurance companies to fill those prescriptions early and deliver them before the hurricane. We can also work with the insurance companies to obtain overrides to have patients’ medications filled at a local store if we are unable to ship. We schedule delivery for potentially impacted locations ahead of the storm and partner with our shipping carriers to confirm shipping for patients. We also coordinate with alternate sites not in the path of the storm to continue business as needed in the event there is an impact to our Orlando location.  
 

We also work with our parent company, Walgreens, to coordinate patient needs. We prepare the site for any potential impact, including ensuring all our backup systems and supplies are in order. 

 

Patient and Team Member Safety Is a Top Priority 

Our team members in locations across the county, so we're able to continue servicing patients when a disaster occurs in an area.  
 

Nearly 85% of our team members work from home, which means they can work without the risk of having to drive to work during bad weather, etc. If they don’t have access to internet or electricity, they can work from one of our on-site facilities. 
 

Pharmacists Can Help Patients Ahead of the Storm 

Ahead of any weather event, helping ensure patients have their medicine is top of mind for our pharmacists. Pharmacists can also answer any questions patients may have about how to store their medicine in unique situations. They are also available to make sure patients understand about any potential side effects, impact of missed doses, etc. 
 

And pharmacists are helpful in making sure patients have any support resources they may need, whether pertaining to their medication or to the disaster at hand (i.e., Red Cross, etc.) Pharmacists also help coordinate in the event an emergency fill is necessary to meet the patient’s clinical needs. 

 

Patients Can Take Steps to Prepare 

At AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy, we recommend patients:   
 

•  Always have a seven-day supply of their prescription medication, 

•  Work with their doctor to get a copy of their prescriptions,

•  Talk with their pharmacist about how to store their medications, and 

•  Call us and let us know if they will be at a temporary location so we can get their medication to them at the right place  

 

We also think it’s a good idea for patients to have an emergency medication kit that includes: 
 

•  Their prescription medications (including prescription eyeglasses) 

•  Medical devices and supplies

•  Non-prescription medications such as pain relievers and antacids 

•  A list of current prescriptions and over-the-counter medications  

 

Remember, we are available 24/7 throughout any storm or natural disaster. And, if patients have concerns about the delivery of their medications, they can check their Prescription Status after logging into their account.
 

Sources
¹Poll: 78% of Americans Aren’t Prepared for a Disaster When it Comes to Food and Water 

²Majority of Americans Believe They are Likely to Be Impacted by a Natural Disaster, Few are Financially Prepared 

---

 

Back to Blog > Blog Stories