Impact of Hurricane Ivan on pharmacies in Baldwin County, Alabama.
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.
Azziz-Baumgartner
Eduardo
E
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
Wolkin
Amy
A
Sanchez
Carlos
C
Bayleyegn
Tesfaye
T
Young
Stacy
S
Kieszak
Stephanie
S
Oberst
Kathleen
K
Batts
Dahna
D
Thomas
Charles C
CC
Rubin
Carol
C
D000407:Alabama; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004190:Disasters; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012066:Relief Work / Q000458:organization & administration*