This article was cross-posted from the AIDS.gov blog.

As if the tornadoes that recently devastated several communities including Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the flooding along the Mississippi River weren't enough, June 1 marks the start of hurricane season. These are all stark reminders of the stunning impacts these forces of nature can have on anyone and the importance of doing what we can to be prepared to the extent we can.

The effects of these disasters on people living with HIV and AIDS can be particularly severe:

• Natural disasters may affect things like air and water quality—which can make a person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) susceptible to infections.
• People living with HIV may lose or run out of medications during a disaster, resulting in possible interruption in treatment.
• Access to care can be hampered due either to the destruction of a health care facility or the PLWH's relocation to another community.
• A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or even weeks which can impede benefits such as Social Security or Medicare. Similarly, receipt of benefit checks (but not electronic payments) can be disrupted due to the need to relocate.

Any of these circumstances can disrupt the continuity of care for those living with HIV and result in negative health consequences. It is possible, however, to mitigate some of these possible outcomes with some planning.

Preparedness Matters

Now is the time to plan ahead for what you may need to stay safe, healthy, informed, mobile, and independent during a disaster. CDC's recent advisory regarding preparedness for a zombie apocalypse (or hurricanes, flood or other emergencies) offers a number of useful preparedness tips that we may all wish to pause and consider. In addition, read our AIDS.gov page about Natural Disasters and People Living with HIV/AIDS for more information and tips to help you prepare your plan. Finally, visit Ready.gov for more information on what you can do to make preparations for dealing with a natural disaster or other emergency situation. The site includes a page on special considerations for people with disabilities, some of which may be relevant for you to consider. We hope you'll never need it, but we'll be glad that you have a plan in the unfortunate event that a disaster does strike your community.

Do you have an emergency plan? What special features would you recommend be considered by people living with HIV/AIDS? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Miguel Gomez is the AIDS.gov Director.

Get e-mail notifications every time Positive Policy is updated.

Ten Things You Can Do to Enhance Your Emotional Well-Being More Advice on Coping With HIV/AIDS

BLOG:
Positive Policy

Positive Policy is a multi-blogger forum for sharing developments in law, policy and activism relevant to people living with, working in and otherwise affected by HIV/AIDS.

Recent Posts:

View All Posts

A Brief Disclaimer:

The opinions expressed by TheBody.com's bloggers are entirely their own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of TheBody.com itself.

New! TheBody.com App My Health Tracker Medication and Health Reminders Assess Your Risk for HIV Follow Us: Facebook, Twitter, RSS U.S. ASO Finder

The Body: About The Body | Contact The Body | Content Policy | Content Providers | Advertise With Us | Site Map

Remedy Health Media: About Remedy Health Media | Contact Remedy Health Media | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 500 5th Avenue, 19th Floor, New York, NY 10110. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.