Your Hurricane Plan Should Start With Your Medicine Cabinet

A power outage that lasts a few hours is just an inconvenience for most people. But if you depend on insulin, a GLP-1 medication, or another prescription that must stay cold, those same hours can turn into a real health risk.

NOAA is forecasting a below-normal 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, with 8 to 14 named storms between June and November. That sounds quiet, but as National Weather Service Director Ken Graham put it, it only takes one storm to turn a season bad — and Houston knows how true that is. Hurricane Beryl and the derecho before it knocked out power for days.

Legacy’s clinical pharmacy team saw the fallout. “Many patients lost access to medications because of pharmacy closures, transportation issues, or prolonged power outages,” said Wuen Hernandez, a clinical pharmacy specialist at Legacy. That’s why a little prep now matters.

What happens to your medication during an outage?

Many prescriptions are sensitive to heat, and some lose strength if they get too warm or freeze. Here’s how to protect the most common temperature-sensitive ones.

• Insulin: It normally stays refrigerated, but most insulins can sit at room temperature for a few weeks, depending on the product. If the power is out, keep it cool with ice packs in an insulated cooler, but don’t let it touch the ice or freeze, since freezing ruins it.
• GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: They live in the fridge before the first use and should never freeze. Once you start a pen, the room temperature limit varies a lot, from about two weeks for some up to 56 days for Ozempic. Because every product is different, ask your Legacy pharmacist what applies to yours.
• When the power comes back: Check anything that warmed up. If your insulin or a GLP-1 pen looks cloudy, discolored, or has crystals, don’t use it, and call your pharmacy first.

What should go in your medication kit?

Building a kit is easier than it sounds, and you probably have half of it already. Pack everything in a portable, waterproof bag. A good medication kit includes a few key things.

• At least a one to two-week supply of your prescriptions, more if you can
• Any rescue medicine you rely on, like a rescue inhaler, an EpiPen, or glucagon
• A small cooler with reusable ice packs for anything that has to stay cold
• A printed list of your medications and allergies, plus your insurance cards
• Your glucometer, lancets, and test strips if you check your blood sugar
• Everyday over-the-counter items like pain relievers, antihistamines, and antacids

For the bigger picture, Texas Ready and the Ready Harris Emergency Preparedness Guide have full checklists covering food, water, and more. If you rely on medical equipment or would need extra help in an emergency, register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry at stear.tdem.texas.gov or by dialing 2-1-1, so responders know your needs ahead of time.

How do you stay ahead of a refill gap?

“The biggest mistake is waiting until the last minute to refill medications,” Hernandez said. “I encourage patients to keep at least a one to two-week supply on hand and ask about 90-day prescriptions whenever possible, especially during hurricane season.”

So if a storm is in the forecast, don’t wait until your last dose. During a declared emergency, many plans allow a disaster override that lets you refill early, so it never hurts to ask. Ready.gov warns you may not reach a pharmacy for days or weeks after a storm, so build in a cushion.

Legacy patients can request refills, transfers, and home delivery through Legacy Pharmacy or the pharmacy app, and MyChart sends alerts about closures and weather updates. Every hurricane season, Legacy gears up to help patients stay ready. If you have questions, you can call any of Legacy’s three community pharmacies in Montrose, Lyons, and Sharpstown.

Don’t forget about the heat

The storm is not the only danger. Long outages can mean days without air conditioning, and that heat is its own risk, especially with water pills and blood pressure medicines that affect how your body holds onto fluid. Drink plenty of water, and if you lose power, a cooling center, mall, or library is a safe place to stay. Get care if you feel dizzy or unwell.

Make a medication plan now

At Legacy, your care doesn’t stop at the clinic door, which is the idea behind Health Beyond Care. Hurricane prep is a practical part of that. Hernandez’s advice is to start before a storm is even on the radar. “Make a medication emergency plan now,” he said. “Know which medications need refrigeration and keep a cooler with ice packs ready, so you can protect insulin and other temperature-sensitive medications if the power goes out.”

Storms are unpredictable, but your plan doesn’t have to be. Talk to your Legacy pharmacist, pack your kit, and refill early so you’re set no matter what the season brings.

Sources: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | Texas Division of Emergency Management | Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management | Ready.gov | Legacy Community Health