GET A 30-DAY SUPPLY OF
NECESSARY MEDICATIONS
If you are taking prescription medications
and normally purchase them from your local
pharmacy, try to have a 30-day supply on
hand. This is not as easy as it sounds — many
insurance companies will not authorize the
filling of additional days or months worth of
a medication unless ordered by the state to
do so in emergency situations, such as natural
disasters. Make your medication plan now.
This plan should include speaking with a
health insurance representative, pharmacist or
your physician about options to acquire extra
medications, one of which may include paying
cash for your 30-day supply.
CALL YOUR DIALYSIS CENTER FOR
A TEMPORARY PLAN OF CARE
If you are on dialysis, call your dialysis center
to make a plan of action for your care.
Do not miss a treatment prior to bad weather
and make sure to follow your doctor-ordered
diet very closely. Read the patient care
information provided to you by your doctor.
It includes medical information to assist you
and phone numbers to the End Stage Renal
Disease (ESRD) Network. Only your doctor
can recommend if it is medically safe for you
to miss treatments and can advise you on
whether or not you should be admitted to
a hospital during a hurricane. Special needs
shelters do not offer dialysis and some centers
may be closed during a hurricane. When the
storm passes, contact your dialysis center for
further instructions or go to your hospital for
short-term care if your center is closed.
THE HOSPITAL IS NOT A COUNTY SHELTER
County shelters are designated throughout
the county, mostly in elementary schools.
The hospital is not a designated shelter
and does not take evacuees. For more
helpful information visit http://www.
brevardfl.gov/EmergencyManagement.
For hurricane updates and other emergency
information from Brevard County, you may
text BREVARDEOC to 888777. This will enroll
you in text alerts in case of weather and other
emergencies impacting our county.
IF YOU ARE OXYGEN DEPENDENT,
MAKE SHELTER ARRANGEMENTS
You may be eligible for care at a special needs
shelter, based on your medical needs and
availability. If you are an oxygen-dependent
person, be sure to get your oxygen tanks
filled. You should try to have two days
worth of oxygen on hand. Also make shelter
arrangements now. If you do not plan to
evacuate, contact the Brevard County Office of
Emergency Management at 321-637-6670 or
visit their website at http://www.brevardfl.gov/
EmergencyManagement for more information
on how to register for special needs shelter. If
you wait until a hurricane hits to make shelter
arrangements, it may be too late.
52: SPACE COAST LIVING | SPACECOASTLIVING.COM
GENERAL PREPARATION FOR A HURRICANE
For complete information on what
you can do to prepare for a disaster or
hurricane, or assistance making a plan
for emergencies, please visit the Brevard
County Office of Emergency Management
website at http://www.brevardfl.gov/
EmergencyManagement/BePrepared/
Step3HaveAPlan. You will find valuable
information to help prepare your home and
family before a hurricane or other emergency
strikes. You may also find more information
about preparing for hurricanes by visiting
cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes
SPONSORED CONTENT
PREPARE FOR A HURRICANE WITH
THESE MEDICAL REMINDERS
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