How to Manage Your Chronic Disease During a Disaster

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, tornados, and wildfires, can be stressful if you are managing a chronic disease. Learn how to prepare and reduce your risk of serious illness during a disaster.

How to Stay Healthy During a Disaster If You Have....

Heart Disease

·        Stress from a disaster may increase blood pressure. Monitor your blood pressure regularly, especially if you have high blood pressure. Learn more about measuring and controlling blood pressure.

·        Stress from a disaster can lead to heart disease symptoms. Know the signs and symptoms of heart attacks and stroke.

·        Wildfire smoke and disaster-related air pollution can increase heart disease symptoms such as chest pain, heart attacks, trouble breathing, stroke, or an abnormal heartbeat, or can worse symptoms of heart failure. Seek medical attention if you or someone you know is having these symptoms.

·        Get enough sleep to protect your heart health. Learn some tips to help you get better sleep during disastersexternal icon.

Cancer

·        Put a summary of your cancer treatment plan in your disaster supply kit. Include the type of cancer you have, treatment received and when, physician contact information, and a list of your medicines and doses.

·        If you have a Cancer Survivorship Care Plan, keep it in your disaster supply kit. Bring it with you if you need to leave your home.

·        If you are being treated with chemotherapy, watch for signs of an infection, such as chills and sweats, a sore throat or new mouth sore, nasal congestion, or vomiting. Call a doctor right away if you notice any signs or symptoms.

·        Learn more about how to get ready for a natural disaster when you have cancerexternal icon and coping with cancer after a natural disasterexternal icon. For more information, call the National Cancer Information Centerexternal icon at 800-227-2345.

Diabetes

·        Follow the Diabetes Preparedness Plan pdf icon[PDF – 871 KB]external icon. Store at least 14 days of diabetes supplies in your disaster supply kit, and consider having an extra glucagon emergency kit.

·        Keep your insulin, supplies, and equipment in your disaster supply kit. Insulin loses some effectiveness at extreme temperatures but remains usable for 28 days at room temperature up to 86°F. Learn how to store insulinexternal icon.

·        Check your feet every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses, or any other change to the skin or nails. Call a health care provider as soon as possible if you see an injury or wound.

·        For more information visit the Diabetes Disaster Responseexternal icon website or call 1-800-342-2383.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

·        Talk to your doctor about preparing a COPD Management Plan pdf icon[PDF – 49 KB]external icon and a COPD Travel Packexternal icon. If you have these already, keep them in your disaster supply kit and bring them with you when leaving home.

·        If you receive oxygen therapy, talk to your doctor about recommendations for shelter and getting enough equipment and supplies to cover your needs during and after a disaster.

·        If you need to leave your home, talk with your doctor about recommendations for shelter. If you go to a shelter, make sure staff know that you have COPD.

·        Learn more about how to protect your lungs during a disasterexternal icon and tips for returning home after a disasterexternal icon.

Alzheimer’s Disease or Other Dementias

·        Disasters can be especially upsetting and confusing for people with Alzheimer’s or related dementiaexternal icon. Be aware of signs of anxiety or agitation in people with dementia and be prepared with strategies to calm them during times of stress.

·        If you have a family member in a residential facility, find out about its disaster plans and rules for visitors.

·        People with dementia sometimes wander. If evacuation becomes necessary, don’t leave the person with dementia alone.

Kidney Disease

·        Include information about your local dialysis center in your emergency plan and disaster supply kit

·        Ask your dialysis center for their disaster plans and where you will get treatments if the center is closed during a disaster. Your local health department may be able to help with transportation to the dialysis center or recommend another place if yours is closed. If you need more help, call the Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER)external icon Hotline at 866-901-3773.

·        If you are unable to get your treatments, follow the 3-Day Emergency Diet pdf icon[PDF – 188 KB]external icon and keep the foods on this diet in your disaster supply kit. If you are pregnant or have an infant or child who is on dialysis, talk to your doctor or dietitian about changes to this diet.

·        In case of a power failure, if you have a home dialysis machine, you may be able to do manual exchanges until the power comes back on.

More Tips to Stay Safe and Healthy During a Disaster

Get Emergency Alerts

·        Check with your state or local emergency management officeexternal icon to find out how to get emergency alerts.

·        Sign up for SMART911external icon or Code Redexternal icon for  local notifications.

Create an Emergency Plan

·        Make an emergency planexternal icon.

·        Know where to shelterexternal icon if you need to leave your home. Text “SHELTER” and your ZIP code to 43362. Example: Shelter 01234.

·        If you go to a group shelter, tell the shelter staff if you have any medical needs, including medicines that need to be refrigerated.

·        If you use electric medical equipment, learn how to prepare for and handle power outagesexternal icon. Consider buying a small backup generator.

·        Wash hands often to help prevent infection. If you don’t have soap and clean water, use hand sanitizer. Seek immediate medical care if a wound develops redness or swelling, or if you have other signs of infection, such as fever, increasing pain, shortness of breath, confusion, disorientation, or high heart rate.

·        Check if the Emergency Prescription Assistance Program (EPAP)external icon is activated after a disaster. This free service helps people without health insurance get prescription drugs, vaccinations, medical supplies, and equipment. Call 855-793-7470 to enroll or visit the EPAP websiteexternal icon. Check RX Openexternal iconto find open pharmacies.

·        Stock a 2-week supply of water and food if possible.

Create a Disaster Supply Kit

·        Have a disaster supply kitexternal icon ready to go that includes medicines, food, and water.

·        Keep medicines, supplies, and equipment safe, out of the heat, and in a waterproof container.

·        Protect important paperwork such as medical records, insurance information, and health care providers’ information in an airtight plastic bag.

·        Have at least a 3-day supply of water and food.

·        Have at least a 2-week supply of prescription and nonprescription medicines. Ask your doctor if you can get a 30-day (or longer) emergency prescription refill.

Keep Up Healthy Habits If Possible

·        During or after a natural disaster, it may be hard to find the food that you usually eat, particularly if you are on a special diet. Try to eat as healthy as possible.

·        Physical activity can help you reduce stress, manage your condition, and cope with a natural disaster. Try to find ways to be physically active even if you are sheltering in place at home or in another indoor space.

·        Practice healthy stress management. If you feel overwhelmed, reach out to family, friends, support groups, or a health care professional for support.

More Preparedness and Disaster Resources

Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters (Spanish pdf icon[PDF – 1 MB] version)

Going to a Public Disaster Shelter During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Spanish version)

Natural Disasters and Severe Weather (Spanish version)

Heat and People with Chronic Medical Conditions (Spanish version)

Safety Messages For Pregnant, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Women During Disasters (Spanish version)

Disaster Safety for Expecting and New Parents (Spanish version)

Disaster Planning: Infant and Child Feeding

Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults and Caregivers

Diabetes and Emergency Preparedness

https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/about/manage/disaster.htm?deliveryName=USCDC_201-DM37741