As of August 6, Tropical Storm Debby is situated over southeastern Georgia. The storm is slowly advancing across the southeastern states, generating significant rainfall and causing severe flooding.
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Contents
Key Updates and Situation Overview
Impacts to Healthcare
Impacts to Supply Chain and Logistics
Key Updates and Situation Overview
Situation Overview
As of August 6, Tropical Storm Debby is situated over southeastern Georgia. The storm is slowly advancing across the southeastern states, generating significant rainfall and causing severe flooding.
On August 5, Hurricane Debby made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida as a Category 1 hurricane. Since its landfall, it has been downgraded to a tropical storm.
On August 3, Governor McMaster issued Executive Order 2024-15, answering Florida’s request for emergency assistance to prepare for Tropical Storm Debby. The South Carolina National Guard will activate 70 service members, deploy 30 high-water vehicles, and provide additional resources as needed.
On August 3, Governor Kemp declared a state of emergency for all 159 counties in Georgia. The State Operations Center (SOC) will elevate to full-scale activation today and will continue to monitor the storm and assist local emergency management agencies when necessary.
On August 2, Florida issued Executive Order 24-157, declaring a state of emergency for 61 counties and allows state officials to make critical resources available to any potential communities that might be impacted by the storm.
We can expect these numbers to fluctuate as Tropical Storm Debby continues to move across the southeastern states.
Impacts to Health Care
Evacuations
As of August 6, Colleton County, South Carolina officials released a statement urging residents to evacuate due to the risk of the McGrady dam failing.
Evacuation orders (mandatory, voluntary, and lifted) for Florida counties can be found here.
As of August 6, mandatory evacuation orders are in effect for the following counties: Citrus and Taylor.
Additionally, TRICARE beneficiaries in eight South Carolina counties (Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Horry, and Jasper) may receive emergency prescription refills through August 14.
Blue Cross NC beneficiaries may receive early prescription refills in all North Carolina counties through August 19.
CVS Caremark is enabling pharmacy claims for one-time emergency refills of a 10-day supply for members in impacted areas.
Critical Health Care Services
There are several community health centers reporting closures in affected states due to weather or power outages, but impacts may be temporary; no major impacts have been reported to-date.
Some hospitals have or are planning to shut down, rescheduling some patient procedures as a precautionary measure.
Florida
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in Sarasota is closed; two Tampa Veterans Administration clinics that were closed on Monday 8/5 are expected to be fully operational by Tuesday, 8/6
South Carolina
The Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) campus closed at 3pm ET on August 5 and will remain closed through August 8. Appointments will be virtual, canceled, or rescheduled.
As of August 6, Roper St. Francis Healthcare System’s physician partners offices will be virtual August 6 through August 7. Express Care locations will be closed August 6 and August 7. Additionally, Roper Hospital Diagnostics and ER, Moncks Corner Medical Plaza, Waring Senior Center, Lowcountry Senior Center, Roper Learning Center, and Roper St. Francis Office Park are all closed August 6 through August 7.
As of August 6, Hinesville, Savannah, and Beaufort VA clinics are closed through August 7. The Downtown Medical Center, Goose Creek, North Charleston, Trident Clinic, and Myrtle Beach VA clinics
Georgia
In Savannah, Georgia, both Memorial Hospital and St. Joseph’s/Candler will remain open and continue normal operations besides a few selected closures to some services and satellite offices.
As of August 6, Optim Health System reported that there are multiple clinic closures (orthopedics, interventional pain management, primary care) across a number of Georgia counties:
Based on the HHS emPOWER Map (which displays the total number of at-risk electricity-dependent Medicare beneficiaries):
Florida has over five million Medicare beneficiaries – the second most in the US – with 195,065 being at-risk beneficiaries.
Georgia has 1.9 million Medicare beneficiaries with 93,498 being at-risk beneficiaries.
South Carolina has 1.2 million Medicare beneficiaries with 52,507 being at-risk beneficiaries.
At-risk beneficiaries are people that rely on certain essential health care services and electricity-dependent durable medical equipment, so it’ll be important to monitor the impacts of Tropical Storm Debby.
Impacts to Supply Chain and Logistics
Seaports
Florida
As of August 6, JAXPORT (Jacksonville) is closed to incoming vessel traffic. Landside operations remain open.
As of August 5, Port Tampa Bay has reopened shipping lanes and waterways.
As of August 5, Port St. Pete, Seaport Manatee, and Port of Port St. Joe are closed waterside according to the latest updates from FDEM.
Georgia
As of August 6, the Port of Savannah, including Garden City and Ocean Terminal, will remain closed and plans to reopen with a delayed start on August 7.
As of August 6, the Port of Brunswick, including Colonel’s Island and Mayor’s Point Terminal, will remain closed and plan to reopen on August 7, subject to weather conditions.
South Carolina
As of August 5, the South Carolina Ports Authority will operate normal gate hours. Container terminals in Charleston will be open.
Airports
Florida
According to the latest updates from FDEM, all commercial service airports are open and operational. Delays and cancellations are expected.
As of August 6, there are multiple road closures due to flooding across Jasper, Lexington, Marlboro, Richland, Hampton, Dorchester, Colleton, Berkeley, and Beaufort counties in South Carolina. Updates on road conditions in South Carolina can be found here.
As of August 6, there are multiple road closures due to flooding in Florida. Updates on road conditions in Florida can be found here.
As of August 6, southeast Georgia could experience historic rainfall – anywhere from 10 to 20 inches. Some road closures have already been reported due to flooding. Updates on road conditions in Georgia can be found here.
As of August 3, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) authorized emergency response vehicles to bypass all FDOT weigh station facilities through August 16 to expedite emergency response.
The authorization does not include vehicles that require permits to operate on Florida’s roadways.
On August 2, FDOT issued a letter to suspend the size and weight restrictions for divisible loads on any vehicles transporting emergency equipment, services, supplies, personnel, or FEMA mobile homes.
When an area is determined safe enough to return to, individuals and businesses seeking to provide essential commodities and services will be allowed reentry by presenting the following to local officials:
A valid government-issued ID (driver’s license or passport)
Proof of employment
Demonstrated need to enter the area (work order, inventory list, employer authorization)
There is a phased approach to re-entry for areas that might be affected. Initially, re-entry access will be limited to entities in life safety, mitigation of hazardous conditions, and critical infrastructure restoration.
Businesses must apply for re-entry certification here.
The application process should take less than five minutes and once complete, the business will receive a memorandum of agreement (MOA) which is valid for three years.
Only one registration is required for businesses with multiple locations and employees.
Paper copy of the signed and completed MOA serves as the re-entry certification.
Local public safety officials can still deny individuals to an area deemed unsafe. The South Carolina business re-entry certification does not supersede county and local re-entry programs.
About Healthcare Ready
Healthcare Ready is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to ensure patient access to healthcare in times of disaster, emergency, and disease outbreaks. We leverage unique relationships with government, nonprofit and medical supply chains to build and enhance the resiliency of communities before, during and after disasters. Learn more about Healthcare Ready
Healthcare Ready leverages unique relationships with government, nonprofit and medical supply chains to build and enhance the resiliency of communities before, during and after disasters.
Healthcare Ready is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (C)(3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Healthcare Ready's Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 46-3134601.
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