‘Be prepared’ isn’t just a scout motto as peak hurricane season arrivesFlooding was an issue at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, after Hurricane Irene in August 2011. (Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dennis Sloan)Hurricane Harvey has ushered in peak hurricane season — the period from mid-August to mid-October when the large, swirling storms are usually the most frequent and dangerous. With scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicting higher-than-normal activity this year, now’s the time to prepare for health care needs during severe weather.
TRICARE experts recommend making a list with your physician’s name and contact information, medications with dosage and frequency, and type and model number of medical devices. Those with chronic health conditions or issues with vision, hearing, or mobility should get medical alert tags or bracelets, and identify how they will get to safety.
Gather immunization records, insurance paperwork, and medical documents in a waterproof container that’s easy to carry, health care experts say. Put together a basic first-aid kit, and make sure you have enough medication to ride out a storm. TRICARE authorizes early prescription refills when a state of emergency is declared, as it was in several counties in Texas ahead of Hurricane Harvey.
Being prepared goes beyond the individual when the Military Health System is involved, and Air Force Brig. Gen. James “Jay” Burks is among those in the MHS who understand that role firsthand. Burks is chief of the medical service corps and director of manpower, personnel, and resources in the Office of the Air Force Surgeon General. In August 2011, he was a colonel commanding the 87th Medical Group at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, when Hurricane Irene hit. Only 14 months later, in October 2012, Hurricane Sandy struck.
In the days leading up to Hurricane Sandy, Burks’ team systematically canceled patient appointments, prepared for a surge of prescription refills, and worked with public affairs to advertise the timeline for when services would be shut down.
“My primary concern was the safety and well-being of our staff and our patients as we followed the installation commander’s guidance to prepare,” Burks said.
Additionally, cots and provisions were brought in to the medical facility so two ambulance crews could work in shifts around the clock. Computer systems were taken offline, and big-ticket equipment such as radiology machines were covered to protect them from possible water damage. Burks also contacted civilian hospitals in the area to check on their capacity in case it was needed.
Fortunately, the installation was largely spared from Sandy’s wrath. But many communities in the multistate region were devastated, Burks said. The joint base community of about 44,000 airmen, sailors, soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and family members grew by about 5,400 when responders with the Federal Emergency Management Agency arrived to use the installation as a staging area for recovery efforts.
The Military Health System is part of the DoD component of the National Disaster Medical System, which also includes the Departments of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs. The system provides health and medical support when requested by civilian authorities after disasters and other emergencies.
“We’re involved in the full spectrum of medical support, from national to state and local levels,” said Dr. Mark Gentilman, director of medical preparedness policy in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Health Readiness Policy and Oversight.
That support may include moving civilian hospital patients out of harm’s way, Gentilman said, and performing food safety operations and inspections through the Veterinary Service.
For more information on hurricanes and tips on preparing for them, go to www.ready.gov/hurricanes, or TRICARE.mil. If you are impacted by a disaster, find recovery resources at FEMA’s Disaster Assistance website.
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State of Emergency Declared in Louisiana and Texas due to Hurricane HarveyThe governors of Louisiana and Texas have declared a State of Emergency due to severe weather. Emergency refill procedures are in place from August 23, 2017 through September 05, 2017for several counties. To get an emergency refill, take your prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy.
The governors of Louisiana and Texas have declared a State of Emergency due to severe weather. Emergency refill procedures are in place from August 23, 2017 through September 05, 2017 for the following counties:
Texas Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kerr, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Polk, Refugio, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Tyler, Victoria, Waller, Walker, Washington, Wharton, Wilson and Wiilacy.
Louisiana All counties
Emergency RefillsTo get an emergency refill, take your prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy. To find a network pharmacy:
- Call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303
- Search the network pharmacy locator
- If you use a retail chain, you can fill your prescription at another store in that chain.
- If your provider is available, he or she may call in a new prescription to any network pharmacy.
- You can request assistance at another pharmacy, but it's at that pharmacy's discretion to help you.
If you are evacuated, you may not have to get a referral from your primary care manager to see a provider. This includes the following locations:
Texas Aransas, Austin, Bee, Calhoun, Chambers, Colorado, Brazoria, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Harris, Jackson, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kleberg, Lavaca, Liberty, Live Oak, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Waller, Wharton and Wilson Waiver
Effective Dates: August 24, 2017 - September 5, 2017To Get Care: Find a provider in the area where you're evacuated to schedule an appointment.
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