As of October 4, some communities and residents impacted by Hurricane Helene remain without power and communication. Search and rescue are still the main priorities in many of the affected regions and damage assessments are still ongoing.
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.
As of October 4, some communities and residents impacted by Hurricane Helene remain without power and communication. Search and rescue are still the main priorities in many of the affected regions and damage assessments are still ongoing.
As of October 4, the Administration for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for certain counties in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene.
On October 2, the Biden Administration amended disaster declarations for North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. Federal funds for debris removal and emergency protective measures have been increased to 100% of the total eligible costs.
As a reminder, Healthcare Ready has activated RxOpen and shows pharmacies’ status in affected areas. The map will be updated daily while we are engaged for Hurricane Helene.
Impacts to Healthcare
The table below provides a snapshot of pharmacy status across South Carolina and North Carolina. This information was pulled from RxOpen. As a reminder, facility status is shown in four different buckets:
Open: Operational
Closed: Not providing services
Unknown: Operational status uncertain
Not Participating: Specific to pharmacies not sharing data
As of October 4 at 2:00pm ET, the number of power outages are steadily declining in affected states:
Georgia: 193,466
South Carolina: 260,943
North Carolina: 221,880
Emergency Prescription Refills
ASPR activated the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP) for certain counties in North Carolina. This will assist uninsured residents in replacing medications and medical equipment that was lost or damaged by Hurricane Helene.
Tennessee
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 105, during a state of emergency, pharmacists are allowed to dispense a 30-day supply of a prescription drug without proper authorization to affected individuals of Hurricane Helene.
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.
South Carolina
In South Carolina, during a state of emergency, emergency prescription refills are allowed. Additionally, out-of-state pharmacists may dispense prescription medications in affected counties during the time a state of emergency exists.
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.
Georgia amended the EO to extend the state of emergency declaration until October 9 unless renewed.
The North Carolina EO includes a state of emergency declaration and transportation waivers which expire on October 8 unless renewed.
A second North Carolina EO was issued on October 3, which permits the use, sale, and distribution of certain non-highway diesel fuels in support of response efforts for the duration of the emergency.
The South Carolina EO includes a state of emergency declaration and transportation waivers which expire on January 22, 2025 unless renewed.
The South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles issued an official notice extending the of expirations dates for certain identification cards and vehicle registrations through November 1.
The Tennessee EO includes a state of emergency declaration and transportation waivers which expire on November 10 unless renewed.
On September 30, an Executive Order Amendment was issued to allow for emergency transportation repairs.
On September 30, the Tennessee Department of Revenue granted a temporary suspension of requirements for the International Registration Plan and International Fuel Tax Agreement for carriers engaged in interstate disaster relief efforts through October 30.
As of October 4, UPS has listed two ZIP codes in North Carolina, encompassing Lake Toxaway, Wolf Ridge, Chimney Rock, and Lake Lure, where services are impacted by Hurricane Helene.
As of October 4, FedEx has listed service status (limited service) in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee due to Hurricane Helene.
Road Closures
As of October 4, road conditions remain dangerous in western North Carolina and access is limited to local and hurricane response traffic only. 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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