Wildfire Season 2020
Healthcare Ready is ENGAGED for the 2020 wildfire season. This means that we are in close communication with private and public sector partners to monitor wildfires and recovery efforts in the Western U.S. We’re also standing ready to assist.
This page contains updates to provide situational awareness around wildfires as they occur as well as free resources and state-specific information information to assist healthcare facilities, communities, and individuals prepare for and respond to wildfires.
Support for the Healthcare Sector and Communities
Healthcare Ready provides support to healthcare and communities during disasters. Specific assistance includes:
- Rapid access to the right contacts in the private sector or government
- Coordination with federal, state and local officials, nonprofits and shelters to ensure coordination and assistance with access to medicine
- Coordination with HHS, FEMA, state EOCs, and private sector companies
- Assistance with donations to shelters
- Facilitating access to healthcare facilities to ensure deliveries and personnel have access into restricted areas or with resuming operations
- Sharing information and promoting the use of medicine assistance programs
Healthcare Ready Situation Reports
- 10/14/2020 – Healthcare Ready – 2020 Wildfire Season Update #6
- 10/07/2020 – Healthcare Ready – 2020 Wildfire Season Update #5
- 09/30/2020 – Healthcare Ready – 2020 Wildfire Season Update #4
- 09/23/2020 – Healthcare Ready – 2020 Wildfire Season Update #3
- 09/16/2020 – Healthcare Ready – 2020 Wildfire Season Update #2
- 09/11/2020 – Healthcare Ready – 2020 Wildfire Season Update #1
- 09/03/2020 – Healthcare Ready Threat Assessment #3 – Hurricane Laura and Wildfires in Western US
- 08/26/2020 – Healthcare Ready Threat Assessment #2 – Hurricane Laura and California Wildfires
Rx Open
Rx Open is an interactive map showing whether pharmacies and dialysis centers are open across all US states and territories.
Resources
Situation Resources
- AirNow National Fire and Smoke Map
- Incident Information System National Fire Location Map / Table of Incidents – InciWeb
- Shelter Locator – American Red Cross
State Resources
- Visit the CalFire Incident Map and Information for current fire conditions statewide.
- Declarations:
- FEMA issued a Major Disaster Declaration on August 22 for the California Wildfires, covering an incident period beginning August 14. The declaration affects the following counties: Lake, Monterey, Napa, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo. Three additional counties (Plumas, Butte, and Yuba) are eligible for Public Assistance.
- Governor Newsom issued a statewide State of Emergency on August 18 due to fires and extreme heat conditions.
- Governor Newsom also declared a State of Emergency for specific counties affected by fires including Fresno, Madera, Mariposa, San Bernardino, San Diego and Siskiyou.
- Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency for Napa, Sanoma, and Shasta Counties on September 28.
- Prescription Refill Guidance:
- Under the 2007 California Health and Safety Code, a prescription for a non-schedule II drug may be refilled without authorization from the prescriber if the prescriber is unavailable and if the pharmacist believes that not refilling would be a hazard to the patient’s health. The refill should only be a reasonable amount that can sustain the patient until the prescriber can be reached.
- Visit the Oregon Department of Forestry site and map for current fire information.
- Declarations:
- FEMA declared an Emergency on September 10 for the Oregon Wildfires, covering an incident period beginning September 8. The Declaration affects the following counties: Tillamook, Washington, Clackamas, Marion, Lincoln, Jefferson, Linn, Lane, Douglas, Jackson, and Klamath.
- On August 19, Governor Brown issued Executive Order No. 20-35, proclaiming a statewide State of Emergency due to the imminent threat of wildfire.
- Subsequently, on September 9, Governor Brown issued Executive Order No. 20-41, invoking the Emergency Conflagration Act statewide due to the ongoing fires and statewide threat of fire.
- On September 16, the Department of Health and Human Services declared a Public Health Emergency in Oregon due to dangerous air quality, retroactive to September 8.
- Prescription Refill Guidance:
- Under a declared emergency or in an area engaged in disaster assistance, a pharmacist may dispense up to a 30-day refill of a prescription drug without a valid prescription.
Healthcare Sector Resources:
Patient Resources:
Wildfire Preparedness Resources
- How to prepare for wildfires
Prescription and Medical Assistance
- Prescription Refill Guidance:
- Washington: When under a State of Emergency, pharmacists in Washington may issue up to a 30-day refill for non-controlled prescriptions or up to a 7-day refill for certain controlled substances.
Health Condition / Disease-Specific Resources:
End Stage Renal Disease
- Kidney Community Emergency Response (KCER) Coalition – Diabetes Emergency Preparedness
- KCER Hotline: (866) 901-3773
- Email: KCERInfo@hsag.com
- Kidney patients can visit the National Kidney Foundation
Diabetic patients
- For insulin assistance, visit the Lilly Diabetes Solution Center or American Diabetes Association
- Information Regarding Insulin Storage and Switching Between Products in an Emergency
- Blood Glucose Meters and Hurricane Disasters
- Diabetes Disaster Preparedness
- Foot Care for People with Diabetes Those with chronic lung conditions can visit the American Lung Association
Additional Resources:
- HHS emPower Map – Health & Human Services
- Pharmacy/Pharmacist Disaster Prep – a plan for pharmacist managers to follow in case of a natural disaster
- NIH Health Information Guide – Fires and Wildfires
Social Media
Share tips with your network by sharing our graphics on social media
About Healthcare Ready:
Healthcare Ready is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supported by both public and private sector partners that works to ensure patient access to healthcare, including medicines, during times of disaster.
If you would like to request assistance from Healthcare Ready email us at Alerts@HealthcareReady.org or call (866-247-2694).
Support Healthcare Ready
Healthcare Ready is a non-profit organization that operates on the generous donations of our partners and members. If you would like to support us, please donate here
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