Walgreens Mobilizes in Advance of Hurricane Ian with Guidance for Florida’s Communities in Storm’s Path

Rhea-AI Summary

Walgreens is actively preparing for Hurricane Ian, prioritizing the safety of patients, customers, and team members in Florida. Under the State of Emergency, pharmacists can refill non-controlled medications for up to a 30-day supply without prescriber authorization. Walgreens will deploy mobile pharmacies and emergency power generators to areas potentially affected. The company emphasizes that customers should follow emergency directives and check the Walgreens website for updates. Senior VP Lisa Badgley affirmed the commitment to community well-being and operational readiness amidst the storm.

Positive

• Proactive measures for customer support during Hurricane Ian.
• Pharmacists can refill medications up to 30-day supply without prescriber authorization.
• Deployment of mobile pharmacies and emergency generators to maintain service.

Negative

• None.

Company focused on safety and preparedness for patients, customers, and Walgreens team members amid Florida’s State of Emergency

DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Walgreens is taking proactive measures to assist patients, customers and team members in the Florida communities that are in the projected path of Hurricane Ian. Preparations and services to support impacted regions include:

• Prescription Drug Preparedness: Walgreens is underscoring the importance of prescription preparedness for its pharmacy patients in areas that may be impacted. Under a State of Emergency, Florida pharmacists can refill medications up to a 30-day supply without requiring a prescriber’s refill authorization for any non-controlled substance. Walgreens suggests patients carry any current medications in a waterproof bag – even if the bottle is empty. The information on the prescription label will help pharmacy staff with refill requests. Heat, humidity and sunlight can degrade the effectiveness of medicine and therefore it is important to protect prescriptions from extreme weather conditions. Patients can contact pharmacy staff 24/7 through Pharmacy Chat on Walgreens.com and the mobile app as well as refill prescriptions and pick up at a nearby Walgreens pharmacy.
• Customer Support: Walgreens is proactively staging temporary mobile pharmacies near the region that can be deployed, if necessary, to drugstores that may be damaged or unable to reopen in a timely manner. Walgreens has also staged emergency power generators that can be deployed to drugstores in areas where there is a loss of power. Please check the store locator for store closures. The company will work to reopen those locations as soon as possible. Updates on store locations will be available on Walgreens.com.

Walgreens urges patients and customers to follow State of Emergency directives and if necessary, get to a safe location first and then refill medications at the nearest pharmacy.

“Our first priority is the safety and wellbeing of our patients, customers and team members, and Walgreens stands ready to help our communities as this dangerous storm approaches,” said Lisa Badgley, Senior Vice President, Field Support Operations, Walgreens. “We have a dedicated team in our Emergency Operations Center working to ensure we can rapidly restore operations in order to best serve our patients and customers.”

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the United States segment of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities. As America’s most loved pharmacy, health and beauty company, Walgreens purpose is to champion the health and well-being of every community in America. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walgreens is proud to be a neighborhood health destination serving approximately 9 million customers each day. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in the U.S. healthcare system by providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services. To best meet the needs of customers and patients, Walgreens offers a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms supported by the latest technology to deliver high-quality products and services in local communities nationwide.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220928005427/en/

Kris Lathan

media@walgreens.com

Source: Walgreens

FAQ

What actions is Walgreens taking for Hurricane Ian?

Walgreens is implementing proactive measures such as medication refills without prescriber authorization, staging mobile pharmacies, and preparing emergency power generators.

How can patients refill medications during Florida's State of Emergency?

Patients can refill non-controlled medications for up to a 30-day supply without a prescriber’s refill authorization.

Where can I find Walgreens updates during Hurricane Ian?

Updates on store closures and services are available on Walgreens.com.

What is Walgreens' commitment during Hurricane Ian?

Walgreens is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of patients, customers, and team members.

Who is responsible for Walgreens emergency operations?

The Emergency Operations Center at Walgreens is dedicated to restoring operations quickly and effectively.