Preparing for emergencies? Check your medications, too

By Rebecca Lahrman, PharmD, MS, BCACP
Originally published in Ohio State Health & Discovery

Spring marks the beginning of severe weather season.

In 2024, there were 27 individual weather and climate disasters with at least $1 billion in damages, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Before a disaster strikes, make sure that you and your family are ready.

Aside from making sure you have a weather radio and spare phone charger handy, your severe weather preparedness checklist should include enough prescription medication in case an emergency leaves you with limited access.

When to prepare for severe weather emergencies

Ideally, this is done when a major weather forecast is first reported, which may give you a few days. But, often, weather can happen unexpectedly, so being prepared ahead of the report can really help.

Top tips to help you stay prepared:

Know what medications you’re on and how you take them. Knowing how your medications treat your conditions can help when trying to evaluate if you have enough medications to get through a weather event. Be sure to have open conversations with your health care team when medications aren’t working or you’re having side effects.

Know your health conditions. Stress during an emergency can impact your health. For example, high blood pressure may worsen, or diabetes may cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate. Keeping tools like blood sugar monitors or blood pressure monitors handy can help assess your condition.

Fill your medications for 90 days or more. Many insurances cover 90 days for maintenance medications to help make sure you have enough on hand, for whatever reason.

Keep track of how many refills you have left. If you have refills, just give the pharmacy a call to start the refill process. If you are out of refills, then you will need to reach out to your providers to get a new prescription. This information is on your prescription label.

Keep over-the-counter medication on hand. Many of us keep over-the-counter medications for pain, allergy or cold symptoms, which can be helpful to have on hand in an emergency. It's always worth adding a review of your medicine cabinet to your spring-cleaning list to make sure things are in date or restock what you’ve used up.

Factors that determine an emergency refill

Any issued watches or warnings are certainly concerning and worth acting on if you’re in need of refills.

There is also an emergency prescription, where a pharmacist can authorize a refill on a maintenance medication if the medication is necessary to sustain life and not dispensing it could cause patient harm.

When weather strikes

Sometimes, even the most prepared of us run out of necessary items at the wrong moment.

Here are some tips to help you get refills:

Communicate your problem. Whether it's a long driveway in a remote area that’s blocked by downed trees, or you’re a sole full-time caregiver, communicate with your pharmacist for a tailored solution.

Too soon to fill. If your refill date coincides with bad weather, talk to your pharmacist about getting an early refill. You may also need to call your insurance provider for approval. This is sometimes called a vacation override, and most insurances offer them to ensure you have access to medication.

Understand the weather in your area. Knowing the typical extreme weather can help you prepare for the aftermath. Tornadoes are fast but devastating, and you may need to find safety initially and then travel outside the path for supplies. Flooding can render areas inaccessible for longer periods; understanding flood patterns can help you gauge accessibility.

Dealing with the aftermath

Some weather events take a long time to recover from, like Hurricane Helene in the Appalachian communities of Tennessee and North Carolina. Perhaps you can no longer go home, or you’re stuck in your home.

Trying to get connected with emergency responders is helpful to get to a safe place and get access to necessary supplies. Often in those response teams, there is a health care provider who can help you navigate getting your lifesaving medications. There may be additional support in disasters to help replace prescription medication, like the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program.

In emergencies, it’s OK for health numbers to be less than perfect as long as they aren't deadly. For example, blood pressure under 130/80 is ideal, but we only worry about an active heart attack or stroke at 180/120. Once you can visit your doctor, schedule an assessment to check your health and access needs after the weather event.

From minor weather events to life-altering weather events, a little bit of preparation and a lot of open communication can be helpful in navigating your health.

Rebecca Lahrman, PharmD, MS, BCACP, is an assistant professor in The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy and a pharmacist at OhioHealth at the O’Bleness Family Medicine GME Clinic in Athens, Ohio.