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Hurricane Helene SPOTREP #2

September 26, 2024  /  TLP:CLEAR

Healthcare Ready is ENGAGED for this event. We are monitoring potential concerns for supply chain disruptions and impacts on healthcare services on our Alert Hub.

Contents

• Situation Overview and Key Updates
• Transportation Waivers and Re-Entry Procedures
• Impacts to Healthcare
• Shelters and Evacuation Orders

Situation Overview and Key Updates

• As of September 26, Hurricane Helene is expected to make landfall at Florida’s Big Bend later today as, at least, a category 3 hurricane.
  • Catastrophic storm surge and hurricane-force winds are expected along the Big Bend coastline and life-threatening storm surge can be expected along the rest of the west coast of Florida.
  • This storm will move northward through Georgia up into Tennessee and Kentucky through Friday and into the weekend.
• On September 25, Governor McMaster (South Carolina) issued Executive Order 2024-24 declaring a state of emergency.
• On September 25, Governor Youngkin (Virginia) issued Executive Order 37 (2024) declaring a state of emergency.
• Healthcare Ready’s Rx Open 3.0, a mapping tool to help patients and providers locate open pharmacies in impacted areas, has been activated for Hurricane Helene.
  • We will be updating Rx Open 3.0 twice a day through the weekend as we are engaged for Hurricane Helene.

Transportation Waivers and Re-Entry Procedures

• South Carolina
  • Governor McMaster’s Executive Order 2024-24, declaring a state of emergency for South Carolina, includes temporary transportation waivers and suspension of motor vehicle regulations. 
• Re-entry Procedures
  • North Carolina
    • Businesses must apply for re-entry certification.
  • South Carolina
    • Businesses must be registered for post-disaster re-entry certification.

Impacts to Healthcare

• Emergency Prescription Refills
  • Florida
    • In the event of a state of emergency, emergency prescription refills are allowed.
    • TRICARE beneficiaries in 61 Florida counties may receive emergency prescription refills through October 3 due to Hurricane Helene.
  • Georgia
    • The Georgia Board of Pharmacy released a statement reminding pharmacy licensees that they can provide refills of certain medications for up to 30 days due to Governor Kemp’s emergency declaration.
    • TRICARE beneficiaries in Georgia may receive emergency prescription refills through October 5 due to Hurricane Helene.
  • North Carolina
    • The North Carolina Department of Insurance released a bulletin reminding health benefit plans of their obligation to comply with regulations for providing extra prescription refills during a declared state of emergency.
    • The North Carolina Board of Pharmacy issued an emergency services waiver allowing licensed pharmacists and nationally-certified pharmacy technicians from other states to practice in North Carolina during the state of emergency, provided they meet specific conditions.
• Healthcare Infrastructure
  • The table below provides a snapshot of pharmacies' status across Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee. This information was pulled from Rx Open 3.0.
  • Facility status changes when the map is activated:
    • Open: Operational
    • Closed: Not providing services
    • Unknown: Operational status uncertain
    • Not Participating: Specific to pharmacies not sharing data

Shelters and Evacuation Orders

• Shelters
  • Florida
    • As of September 26, Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has released an updated list of open shelters in Florida.
      • General population shelters are open in the following counties: Hernando, Manatee, Pinellas, Dixie, Union, Sarasota, Alachua, Pasco, Jackson, Charlotte, St. Johns, Leon, Hillsborough, Columbia, Gulf, Putnam, Gilchrist, Sumter, Suwannee, and Walton.
    • VISIT FLORIDA has activated Emergency Accommodation Modules on Expedia and Priceline which provides real-time hotel availability for residents seeking lodging.
    • Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has accommodations for evacuees.
    • Rosen Hotels & Resorts activated its Florida Resident Distress Rates.
  • Georgia
    • On September 25, Georgia’s Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency has released a list of shelters opening September 26 in preparation for Hurricane Helene.
      • Shelters are open as of today in the following counties: Camden, Cook, Coffee, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Lowndes, Newton, and Thomas.
  • North Carolina
    • As of September 26, North Carolina’s readiness website has listed Glenwood Baptist Church as an open shelter.
• Evacuation Orders
  • Florida
    • A list of mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders for Florida can be found here.
  • North Carolina
    • A list of mandatory and voluntary evacuations for North Carolina can be found here.

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