HCA Gulf Coast hospitals and providers stand united in serving existing patients and others affected by Hurricane Harvey. As your community health system, we remain committed to your health and wellness, without exception. Family, friends, neighbors and colleagues are all working together to rise above this adversity.
Please refer to the content below and links to additional resources in planning for the days ahead.
Emergency information for special health conditions
Information and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Diabetes Association (ADA) for what to do during emergency situations are available below, if you are:
- Diabetic (ADA)
- Disabled (CDC)
- Undergoing dialysis treatment (CDC)
- Pregnant or have a newborn (CDC)
- Someone with a blood disorder (CDC)
Key local/regional resources
- Updated list of available shelters
- Find an open pharmacy nearby in case you are out of medications.
- Red Cross – Texas Gulf Coast Region. Find response information, open shelters and other resources
- Highway conditions. View current highway conditions (including flooded roads) in your area
- Evacuation Maps. Download evacuation maps for the 13-county Houston region
- AlertHouston. Sign up for emergency alerts from the City of Houston
- CenterPoint Energy Outage Tracking. Locate power outages in the Greater Houston area
- Hide from the Wind. Enter your ZIP code to see the wind speed for a storm in your area. Updated regularly when a storm is expected to threaten Houston
- Harris County Flood Warning System. The Harris County Flood Control District’s Flood Warning System measures rainfall amounts and monitors water levels in bayous and major streams on a real-time basis to inform you of dangerous weather conditions
- Dial 311. Call 311 to submit a service request to the City of Houston government
- Houston Metro. Get up-to-date information about mass transit in the Houston area
- Houston Airport Information. Get up-to-date information about air travel from Houston’s airports
- CDC flood safety tips. Find out how to avoid dangers presented by flood waters
- DisasterAssistance.gov. Apply for assistance from FEMA
- https://www.healthcareready.org/rxopen. Find an open pharmacy nearby in case you are out of medications
Resources available for employees affected by Hurricane Harvey
CVS Caremark
Customer Care will approve emergency refills of a 10-day supply of medication for participants in areas declared to be in a state of emergency. Once Customer Care has processed the emergency fill request, participants can access the additional supplies at their local pharmacy. Participants who have questions about a medication delivery should call Customer Care at (866) 216-5767.
Employee Assistance Program
Click here* for more information on the Beacon Health Options Critical Incident Reponses Services. The EAP website has also been updated to address hurricane resources. Employees can call (800) 434-5100 for individual assistance and counseling services.
More resources from Beacon Health
Hurricane Preparation and Recovery Guide*
Hurricane Harvey Resources*
* must be on network to access
The Time Away From Work program (TAFW)
The TAFW Service Center is allowing a 30-day “grace period” for the submission of any TAFW-related materials for employees in affected areas. In addition, the TAFW Service Center will be available for any leave requests. For assistance, call the TAFW Service Center at (855) 858-7557, or log on to HCArewards.com and select “Time Away From Work.”
United Healthcare (UHC)
The dedicated United Customer Support team is available to assist with any medical needs at (877) 885-8451.
UHC is also offering a free emotional support helpline for affected participants. The helpline will provide access to specially trained Optum mental health specialists, who can help participants manage stress and anxiety so they can continue to address their everyday needs. Participants may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, including financial and legal matters.
A public toll-free helpline is available at (866) 342-6892. The service will be available 24/7 for as long as necessary, and is offered free of charge to anyone.
How you can help
- Anyone with a boat who is able to volunteer is asked to call the Houston Police Department at (713) 881-3100.
- Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS or text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation, and, if logistics permit, consider donating blood.
- HCA Healthcare is providing dollar-for-dollar matching on employee donations to the HCA Hope Fund. A 501(c)3 charity, the Hope Fund is designed to help HCA employees and their immediate families who are affected by hardship such as natural disasters. For more information visit https://www.hcahopefund.com.
What to consider after a hurricane
The following link from the CDC is a good resource going forward in the days and weeks following Hurricane Harvey.
If you have been evacuated, listen to local news outlets to find out when it is safe to return to your home. Do not return until local officials have given your neighborhood the go-ahead.
Safety tips for hurricane clean-up
Once you return home, be sure to put safety first. Follow these guidelines:
- Stay away from loose or dangling power lines.
- Avoid drinking or using tap water until you are sure it has not been contaminated.
- Don't eat food from your refrigerator if its temperature has risen above 40° F for two hours or longer.
- Stay out of any building that is surrounded with water.
- Wear protective clothing and be cautious when cleaning up to avoid injury.
- Be on the lookout for loose tree branches, parts of buildings or other types of debris when you are outside.
- Drive only when absolutely necessary and avoid flooded roads and washed-out bridges.