Importance of stocking up on medication before storms

McALLEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — During a severe weather event, among those most vulnerable are those with underlying health conditions.

Doctors recommend that people stock up on medications and any needed equipment before a storm hits.

A trip to the pharmacy might be difficult during a storm which is why doctors recommend refilling medication and making sure you have the necessary equipment beforehand.

Dr. Sujan Gogu recommends you have at least a two-week extra supply of medication. He says people should also develop plans to keep medication like insulin refrigerated.

“If you don't have power, you're in big trouble," Dr. Gogu said. "And, so that's why it's so important to have a generator, you know, to have, you know, some battery mechanism to have an extra, you know, portable oxygen tank or even an extra, you know, a way of going to a place even a shelter.”

Ray Sanchez, from Smiles From Heaven, created the organization after his young daughter died of pediatric cancer. Since then, he has helped families from throughout South Texas to get to appointments and medication.

He says it is important for parents to talk to their doctors now.

“Communicating with the health care provider about the medicines, steroids, antibiotics and letting them know that you are low in medication during those days that you cannot travel out of town during a storm or during flooding make sure to relate that information and that you are stock up," Sanchez said.

Sanchez also recommends parents have thermometers as a fever can be an emergency in delicate patients.

Dr. Gogu says that doctors might also struggle to work if a storm is destructive.

“If there's a storm or there's, you know, a hurricane or a flood, you know, it's very difficult for us to get to our own practice," Dr. Gogu said. "It's very difficult for us to treat our own patients and so that's also something to keep in mind.”