Preparing for a Hurricane With Medication

Hurricane season is here (June 1st-November 30th), and that means more than making sure your generator has fuel and your windows are protected. For people taking medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder, it also means making sure you have access to the medications that support your recovery. If you are prescribed medications like Suboxone, naltrexone, acamprosate, or other medications (a lot of people call this “medication-assisted treatment”), staying on track can be vital for your recovery and well-being.

Here are the suggestions that our care team put together for Workit Health members at risk from hurricanes. They’ve included resources for before, during, and after inclement weather. We hope that these suggestions will help not only our own members, but anyone who uses medication for opioid or alcohol use disorder.

Emergency medication access

1. Request an early refill
   Contact your pharmacy as soon as a storm warning is issued to request an early refill of your prescription if you are likely to run out while pharmacies are closed.
2. Pharmacy transfers
   If you are evacuating, request to transfer your prescription to a pharmacy closer to where you’ll be. If you expect your pharmacy to close, request to transfer your prescription to a pharmacy in a safer location. It can be easier to transfer medications between branches of a chain pharmacy. But know that your provider can send your prescription to any pharmacy you wish, regardless of whether they are a local business or part of a chain.
3. Remember that Suboxone is a controlled substances
   Medications like Suboxone (which is a schedule III controlled substance) may be subject to stricter refill or transfer policies. Because of this, you may need to advocate more for emergency access than you would for other medications. If you’re a Workit Health member, our medical team is available to support you as you interact with pharmacies—please reach out if you face challenges! If you’re not a Workit Health member, make sure to loop your provider in and ask for their help if you need it.

In case of emergency

1. Emergency hotlines
   Keep a list of emergency numbers on hand:
   • 911 for medical emergencies
   • 988 for mental health crisis
   • 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
   • Hurricane Harvey Disability Hotline (800) 626-4959
   • SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline (800) 985-5990
2. ER visits
   If you run out of your medication and can’t reach your usual provider, the emergency room may be able to assist in providing a short-term supply or connecting you with urgent care services. Bring a copy of your prescription or a photo of your medication label, if possible, to help verify that you are prescribed this medication.
3. Avoiding risk of overdose
   During times of stress, it can be tempting to return to substance use. Remember that missing doses of your prescribed medication for opioid use disorder can lower your tolerance. Using substances after missed doses significantly increases the risk of overdose. Keeping yourself safe is your top priority—don’t hesitate to seek help.
4. Carry Narcan (naloxone)
   Always keep Narcan with you, especially during emergencies. It can reverse opioid overdoses and save lives. If you need Narcan, reach out to your care team—they can help you get some and provide information and training on how to use it.

Workit Health members: Let your care team help

If you’re a Workit Health member, contact us via in-app chat. Here’s how our teams can support you this hurricane season:

You can also join an online support group for group support, connection, and resources

Please stay safe, and remember that you are not alone. Preparedness is recovery protection.

Resources for before a hurricane

• Red Cross Hurricane Safety Preparation: Tools to help individuals prepare for hurricanes by determining the safest options against high winds and flooding, creating evacuation and shelter plans, and assembling necessary supplies and knowledge ahead of time.
• National Flood Insurance: The National Flood Insurance Program helps individuals and communities understand their flood risk, obtain flood insurance, prepare for potential flooding, and recover more quickly after flood events.
• Disability911: The Disability911 website was created to provide assistance in and information on disaster preparedness for people with disabilities.
• Ready for Pets: Your pets are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan. This includes information on how to care for your furry, scaly, and feathered friends during a disaster.
• BringFido: A directory of hotels, Airbnbs, and locations that welcome pets.

Resources for during a hurricane

• National Hurricane & Tropical Storm Tracker: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s analyses and forecasts.
• Radio-Locator: Listen to your local radio station for updates about the weather and emergency alerts.
• >Alert Florida: Emergency alerts and other public safety notifications tailored to your county and/or city.
• Shelter Directory: Directory of shelters listed by county.
• Guardian Recovery: Virtual support group for those impacted by storm events.
• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: Call or text (800) 985-5990

Resources for after a hurricane

• FEMA: The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides disaster assistance including financial aid, housing support, and emergency resources to help individuals and communities recover from federally declared emergencies and natural disasters.
• Red Cross Disaster Recovery Services: The American Red Cross offers comprehensive disaster relief and recovery services–including emergency shelter, food, health and mental health support, and assistance with recovery planning–to help individuals and communities affected by disasters rebuild their homes.
• Florida Division of Emergency Management: Comprehensive resources for disaster preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, including real-time weather updates, shelter information, and assistance programs for individuals and businesses.
• Salvation Army Disaster Relief: Immediate and long-term disaster relief services–including emergency shelter, food, emotional and spiritual care, and recovery assistance.
• Small Business Administration: Low-interest disaster loans to help homeowners, renters, and businesses of all sizes recover from declared disasters.
• D-SNAP Disaster Food Relief: A program that provides short-term funds for food if you are in a presidentially declared disaster area… You can receive D-SNAP if you are facing the following as a result of the disaster event: a loss of income, costly expenses, evacuation or relocation expenses, and a personal injury related to the disaster.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service: From floods to drought, fire or hurricanes, NRCS provides disaster recovery assistance to farmers, ranchers, landowners and communities through a variety of USDA programs.
• Free Legal Help: The hotline is available to connect those who are unable to afford an attorney to free legal services, survivors may call the toll-free legal services hotline anytime and leave a message for a callback at (866) 550-2929.
• My Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate: Get information about repair programs and information on how to protect yourself during recovery and ensure you are going through reputable and/or government disaster relief.
• Disaster Contractors Network: A list of Florida-licensed contractors and suppliers for home repairs. This also includes information on how to register with DCN.