Following the Storm: Resources for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Ida

Healthcare Ready is ALERT for Hurricane Ida and its aftermath. Damage assessments have been completed in impacted areas. Current efforts are geared towards restoring power, fuel, and water access as well as bringing healthcare systems back to their full capabilities before the storm. Efforts are also underway to ensure that those with medical needs are getting the assistance that they need. This page provides local community organizations and residents with the resources and assistance they need to cope with the hurricanes’ aftermath.

Where to get help for basic needs:

Power/electricity updates:

Report outage 

Alabama Power (AL): 1-800-888-2726
Atlantic City Electric (NJ): 1-800-833-7476
Cleco (LA): 1-800-622-6537 or Text “OUT” to 25326
Con Edison (NY): 1-800-752-6633
DEMCO (LA): 1-844-693-3626, press option one
Entergy (LA, MS): 1-800-968-8243
First Energy (NJ, NY, PA): 1-888-544-4877
Magnolia Electric Power (MS): 601-684-4011
Philadelphia Electric Company (PA): 1-800-494-4000
Public Service Electric and Gas (NJ, NY): 1-800-436-7734 or Text “OUT” to 47734
Southern Pine Electric (MS): 800-231-5240, press one
WSTE (LA): 1-866-672-9773

Map of outages 

Alabama https://poweroutage.us/area/state/alabama
Louisiana https://poweroutage.us/area/state/louisiana
Mississippi https://poweroutage.us/area/state/mississippi
New Jersey https://poweroutage.us/area/state/new%20jersey
New York https://poweroutage.us/area/state/new%20york
Pennsylvania https://poweroutage.us/area/state/pennsylvania

Community Power Stations (NOLA) 

POWER OUTAGE TIPS

Always assume downed lines are still live so do not walk or drive over them.
- Ensure safety when using generators
- Have extra batteries on hand for devices you would need to remain operational during a power outage
- Food safety is important following a power outage. Don’t forget your refrigerated medications and check with your pharmacy about using these medications after a power outage.
- Ask about potential back up non-electricity dependent methods
- Talk to your electrical company and ask if they have programs for power-dependent people \

How to get shelter:

Find a nearby American Red Cross shelter https://maps.redcross.org/website/maps/ARC_Shelters.html

Hotlines

General
Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program: 800-621-3363
- Red Cross: 1-800-733-2767

LOUISIANA 

Text “lashelter” to 898-211
- Call 211 to determine if need to be diverted to medical shelter
- Operation Blue Roof: 1-888-766-3258

New Orleans-specific:

Text “DELTA” to 888777
Text “NOLAREADY” to 77295
Uber is offering free rides to resources in New Orleans with the code “IDARELIEF2021.”
Lyft is offering free rides to resources in New Orleans with the code “IDARELIEF21.”

MISSISSIPPI 

1-888-574-3583 (M-F 8-5:30)

TIPS FOR SEEKING SHELTER

Sheltering during COVID
- Ensure a personal kit has masks, soap, hand sanitizer, and disinfectant wipes
- Practice social distancing as best as possible
- More information: https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/hurricanes/covid-19/public-disaster-shelter-during-covid.html

For busing out of state, you’ll need:One carry-on-sized bag per person
- Essential family items
- Any assistive devices such as oxygen tanks and wheelchairs
- Pets in a carrier or on a leash
For Red Cross shelters, you’ll need:
- Bedding
- Clothing
- Medication
- Emergency kit
- Stuffed toy, blanket, other lovey for kids
- Ask about pet shelters

Food assistance:

Louisiana

New Orleans: https://ready.nola.gov/incidents/hurricane-ida/assistance/#assistance
State wide: https://gohsep.la.gov/emergency/HurricaneIda

FOOD ASSISTANCE TIPS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is evaluating impacts to agriculture and communities. The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program in Louisiana received a temporary waiver to allow participants to buy hot foods with their benefits and assisting with program flexibilities needed for mass feeding operations.

Disease- or health condition-specific assistance:

Pharmacies and dialysis centers open near you: https://rxopen.org/
Prescription refill regulations during an emergency in affected states
- Multi-state: TRICARE authorized the following temporary prescription refill waivers due to the storm:
  - Alabama through 09/28/21
  - Connecticut through 09/11/21
  - Louisiana through 09/27/21
  - Maryland through 09/10/21
  - Mississippi through 09/27/21
  - New Jersey through 09/11/21
  - New York through 09/11/21
  - Pennsylvania through 09/08/21
  - Virginia through 09/10/21
  - West Virginia through 09/10/21
  - To find a TRICARE network pharmacy call Express Scripts at 1-877-363-1303
- Louisiana
  - Under Rule 519 of the LA Board of Pharmacy, since a state of emergency is in effect for Louisiana, pharmacists may dispense a one-time emergency prescription of up to a 90-day supplyof prescribed medication.
  - Under the same Rule, a pharmacist licensed in another state may dispense prescription medications in Louisiana if they adhere to certain conditions in the Rule.