title: Impact of Hurricane Ivan on pharmacies in Baldwin County, Alabama.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of Hurricane Ivan, which made landfall east of Mobile, Alabama, on September 16, 2004, on pharmacies in the affected areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baldwin County, Alabama.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pharmacy community rapid-needs-assessment survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  41 hospital and community (chain and independent) pharmacies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Posthurricane pharmacy hours of operations, prescription volumes, infrastructure damage, and prehurricane disaster planning.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the week of the hurricane, both chain and independent community pharmacies within the evacuation zone worked significantly fewer hours (46% and 49%, respectively) and dispensed significantly fewer prescriptions (37% and 52%) compared with the same week of the prior year. Overall, 40% of pharmacies depleted their supplies of certain medications (e.g., anxiolytics, antihypertensives). A total of 60% of the chain and independent pharmacies outside the evacuation zone closed because of loss of electricity, but pharmacies with a generator were significantly less likely to report having turned away patients. The proportion of pharmacies that had a disaster plan but turned away patients or rationed or ran out of medications was similar to that of pharmacies without a disaster plan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although Hurricane Ivan primarily affected the operation of pharmacies within the evacuation zone, pharmacies in the surrounding area were also affected because of loss of power. Emergency management officials should evaluate the efficacy of specific guidelines outlined in disaster plans and identify ways to deliver essential medications to people in disaster-affected areas.
authors.affiliation: Health Studies Branch, Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, Mailstop F46, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA. eha9@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Azziz-Baumgartner
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolkin
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Tesfaye
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bayleyegn
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kieszak
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oberst
authors.forename: Dahna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Batts
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rubin
mesh_terms: D000407:Alabama; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*