TLP:GREEN

As of September 19, Hurricane Sally had moved into the Atlantic and weakened to a tropical depression. No further impacts are expected due to this storm. 

Impacts:

The flooding caused by Sally caused significant damage in impacted areas, including Escambia and Pensacola Counties. River flooding has started to fall in southwestern and south-central Alabama as well as across the Florida Panhandle. 

• Florida: Crestview, Florida and Century, Florida are seeing minor flooding. 
  • Food and water is being distributed at identified locations through Monday, September 21. More information on the distribution sites can be found here. 
  • For up to date road closure information, check FL511. 
• Alabama: Brewton, Alabama is seeing minor flooding. 
  • For up to date road closure information, check ALGO Traffic. 

State-Level Disaster Declarations

• Louisiana  
  • State of Emergency for Tropical Storm Sally declared by Governor Edwards on September 12 
  • FEMA Disaster Declaration declared on September 14 for all Louisiana parishes 
• Alabama  
  • State of Emergency declared by Governor Ivey on September 14 
    • A Supplement was issued on September 14 requiring all beaches to close and recommending evacuation for Mobile and Baldwin Counties and other areas prone to flooding 
  • FEMA Disaster Declaration declared on September 14 for all Alabama counties
• Mississippi  
  • State of Emergency declared by Governor Parson on September 13 
  • FEMA Disaster Declaration declared on September 14 for southern counties
• Florida
  • State of Emergency declared by Governor DeSantis on September 14 
  • FEMA Disaster Declaration approved on September 14 for northwestern FL counties 

Rx Open is currently activated for the nation. The map was updated at 2:00PM EDT on Saturday, September 19, 2020.  
 
Pharmacy operations are recovering in impacted areas after closures peaked on Wednesday, September 16. As of September 19: 

• Alabama is reporting 94.3% of its pharmacies as open. 
  • No counties in Alabama are all reporting less than 50% of pharmacies as open. 
• Florida is reporting 97.2% of its pharmacies as open. 
  • Liberty County is reporting less than 50% of pharmacies as open. 
• Louisiana is reporting 96.1% of its pharmacies as open. 
  • No counties in Louisiana are reporting less than 50% of pharmacies as open. 
• Mississippi is reporting 96.4% of its pharmacies as open. 
  • Perry and Kemper counties are reporting less than 50% of pharmacies as open. 

Healthcare Response Updates and Needs

• Healthcare Infrastructure Status:
  • Alabama: 
    • Mobile-based USA Health reopened all offices with electrical power service. University Hospital is on a limited schedule for electoral procedures. 
  • Florida: 
    • All Florida Department of Health - Escambia clinics and services were closed as of September 15. 
    • Community Health Northwest Florida opened two sites on September 19 to provide care for patients with urgent medical needs. All other sites remain closed at this time. 
• Prescription Refill Guidance: 
  • Louisiana: Under LA State Code, under a declared "State of Emergency”, a pharmacist may dispense a one-time emergency prescription of up to a 30-day supply of a prescribed medication.   
  • Alabama: The Alabama Board of Pharmacy issued emergency prescription authorization to remain in effect for the duration of the COVID-19 State of Emergency that allows a one-time 30-day refill of maintenance medications if the pharmacy has patient information on file. This is in effect for all of Alabama at this time. 
    • By regulations from the 2016 Code of Alabama, if unable to contact a prescriber, a pharmacist may dispense a one-time, 72-hour supply of a non-controlled prescription. 
  • Mississippi: Due to Hurricane Sally, the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy issued a Resolution allowing a one-time 30-day refill of non-controlled prescription medications between September 14 and 28. 
  • Florida: Florida law mandates that residents of counties under a State of Emergency, hurricane warning, or that have activated their Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or emergency management plan can receive a 30-day refill of their prescription medication.   
• Power: As of September 18, there were a total of 388,000 power outages across Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, down from a peak of over 600,000 outages. 
  • Louisiana: As of 10:00AM EDT on September 19, 22,079 outages were occurring in Calcasieu and Cameron parishes.
  • Alabama: As of 8:30PM EDT September 19, Baldwin County EMC reported approximately 46,470 customers without power.
  • Florida: As of 9:00AM EDT September 20, 45,428 customers were without power in Escambia County and 1,829 in Santa Rosa County.
• Communications:
  • According to the Federal Communications Commission, as of September 19 at 12:00PM EDT, some counties in Alabama and Florida were reporting cell site outages. Approximately 7.0% of cell sites in the affected area are out of service. Mississippi is no longer reporting significant outages.  
    • Alabama: Baldwin and Monroe Counties are reporting between 9.5-9.7% of cell sites out. 
    • Florida: Escambia County is reporting 9.8% of cell sites out. 
  • For additional outages, see the full report. 
• Access and Re-entry (Includes Curfews):
  • Louisiana  
    • Statewide Credentialing and Access Program  
  • Alabama 
    • A 7PM – 6AM curfew is in place for Baldwin Counties until further notice. 
    • There is no formal reentry program. Contact the county-level emergency management agency directly for local procedures. 
  • Mississippi 
    • Mississippi Emergency Access Program  
  • Florida  
    • Statewide Private Sector Re-Entry Program  
    • A 7PM – 6AM curfew is in place for Escambia County until Friday, when it will be reassessed. 
• Evacuations: All evacuation orders have been lifted in impacted areas. 
• Sheltering:  
  • Alabama
    • Two shelters are open in Mobile County.   
      • The shelter formerly located at Theodore High School has been relocated to Baker High School, 8901 Airport Blvd, Mobile, AL 36608. 
    • One shelter is open in Baldwin County. 
      • Three electrical support shelters are open in Baldwin County to support those who need power for essential medical equipment. 
    • The Alabama Department of Public Health issued an order of the state health officer requiring any organization or jurisdiction offering sheltering operations to provide non-congregate sheltering to individuals with increased risk.   
  • Mississippi
    • Shelters are open in Jackson, Harrison, Hancock, George, Stone, and Pearl River counties.   
    • Stone County has opened a medical needs shelter. 
    • The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency issued frequently asked questions for general population sheltering in a COVID-19 environment. The shelters will have 3 distinct areas: initial screening, dormitory, and isolation care. Residents and workers will be required to wear face coverings, and the space allocation is 60 square feet per person.  
  • Florida  
    • Shelters are open in Florida in the following counties: Santa Rosa (1, pet friendly) and Escambia (1)
• COVID-19 Testing:
  • Alabama: Test sites in affected areas have resumed normal operations. 
  • Florida: The Florida Division of Emergency Management announced that it had closed state-supported COVID-19 testing sites in Escambia and Okaloosa counties due to impacts from Hurricane Sally. Testing site re-openings will be announced via the Division’s social media channels. 
  • Georgia: Test sites in affected areas have resumed normal operations. 
  • Louisiana: Test sites in affected areas have resumed normal operations. 
  • Mississippi: Test sites in affected areas have resumed normal operations.