Response efforts to Hurricane Helene are ongoing, with Healthcare Ready actively supporting recovery across Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. RxOpen is available to assist with pharmacy access, as communities work to recover after Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday.
Partnership powers our work. As a 501c3 nonprofit, Healthcare Ready relies on funding from donations, grants, and sponsorships to make this crucial work possible. Contact us at contactus@healthcareready.org or click below today to learn more about sponsoring a situation report or contributing to our Crisis Fund.
Healthcare Ready is ENGAGED for this event.We are monitoring potential concerns for supply chain disruptions and impacts on healthcare services on our response page, listing resources and previous situation reports.
Response efforts to Hurricane Helene are ongoing, with Healthcare Ready actively supporting recovery across Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia after Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday.
As of September 30, Baxter’s North Cove plant located in Marion, North Carolina experienced flooding from Hurricane Helene and is currently closed for production.
The North Cove, North Carolina plant is the largest IV solutions plant in the US producing 1.5 million bags of IV solution/day and supplies 60% of IV solutions domestically.
As a reminder, Healthcare Ready is activated RxOpen and shows pharmacies’ status in affected areas. The map will be updated twice daily while we are engaged for Hurricane Helene.
Impacts to Healthcare
Healthcare Infrastructure
The table below provides a snapshot of pharmacy status across the potentially impacted areas. This information was pulled from RxOpen.
Public Health Emergencies
HHS declares a public health emergency (PHE) for North Carolina to help address health impacts of Hurricane Helene. PHE’s have also been declared for Georgia and Florida.
Healthcare Facility Closures
Tennessee
Unicoi County Hospital in Erwin remains closed due to flooding.
Ballad Health Greeneville Community Hospital and Sycamore Shoals Hospital in Elizabethton, Tennessee, have suspended services, although their emergency rooms remain open.
Power Outages
As of September 30 at 2:30pm ET, here are the number of power outages reported in the affected states:
Florida: 110,381
Georgia: 555,344
South Carolina: 719,803
North Carolina: 412,752
Virginia: 93,427
Tennessee: 9,460
Kentucky: 14,999
Emergency Prescription Refills
The Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) can be activated when states request it and that has not been done yet.
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.
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.
CVS Caremark has enabled pharmacy claims for an emergency refill of a 10-day supply of medication for members in affected regions.
Independence Blue Cross has lifted prescription refill restrictions for members impacted in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alabama.
TRICARE beneficiaries in Tennessee may receive emergency prescription refills through October 7.
Beneficiaries in Alabama may receive emergency prescription refills through October 6.
Beneficiaries in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia may receive emergency prescription refills through October 5.
Impacts to Supply Chain
Transportation Waivers
Georgia
Governor Kemp’s Executive Order declaring a state of emergency for Georgia also includes transportation waivers for suspending limiting hours of carriers to ensure the uninterrupted supply of services/supplies to respond to Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina
Governor Cooper's Executive Order declaring a state of emergency for North Carolina includes transportation waivers and suspension of motor vehicle regulations.
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.
Tennessee
Governor Lee’s Executive Order declaring a state of emergency for Tennessee, includes temporary transportation waivers and suspension of motor vehicle regulations.
Kentucky
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet issued Official Order No. 113789, which provides an exemption of hours of service and stoppage at weight stations.
Virginia
Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles temporary waiver authorizes carriers transporting essential emergency supplies and services. This provides a waiver of registration and licensing as well as normal weight and width restrictions for on roads.
As of September 30, all airports are open and operational however specific airlines might have cancellations and delays.
Logistics
UPS stated that services in North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia may be impacted by Hurricane Helene.
FedEx stated that delays and disruptions are likely for inbound and outbound shipments in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and other impacted areas.
Road Closures
In Florida, there are multiple road closures due to flooding and debris. Updates on road closures can be found here.
In Georgia, there are multiple road closures due to flooding and debris. Updates on road closures can be found here.
In South Carolina, there are multiple road closures due to downed power lines, flooding, and debris. Updates on road closures can be found here.
In North Carolina, there are multiple road closures due to flooding and debris. All roads in Western North Carolina should be considered closed. Updates on road closures can be found here.
This is impacting the movement of supplies, food, water, and services to a majority of the state – including emergency shelters that have exhausted resources.
In Tennessee, there are multiple road closures due to downed power lines, flooding, and debris. Updates on road closures can be found here.
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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