Emergency Preparedness Health: Doctor Recommendations for 2026

Introduction: Why Your Doctor Should Be Part of Your Emergency Plan

Only 26% of Americans feel “very” or “extremely” confident they know what to do in a major disaster, and nearly one in three have taken no preparedness action in the past 12 months, according to SafeHome.org. That confidence gap is increasingly dangerous. In 2024, the United States experienced 27 billion-dollar natural disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and flooding, making personal health emergency planning more urgent than ever.

Most emergency preparedness content stops at generic supply checklists: water, flashlights, and canned food. But physicians are essential partners in personal emergency planning, not just first responders who appear after disaster strikes. The 2026 global health landscape underscores this point. In May 2026, the World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, reinforcing why proactive planning matters at the individual and household level.

This article centers the physician’s voice to address the critical gaps most emergency content misses. It focuses on three core pillars: chronic disease-specific emergency planning, mental health preparedness, and proactive telehealth setup. Each represents a clinical conversation that should happen between patients and their doctors long before a crisis arrives.

The State of Emergency Preparedness in 2026: What Physicians Are Seeing

The national preparedness picture is sobering. A 2025 report from Trust for America’s Health found that 29 states placed in the middle or low-performance tier for emergency preparedness, concluding that all states can do more to strengthen readiness, per TFAH.

Funding trends raise additional concern. Fourteen states reduced public health funding in fiscal year 2024, three more than the eleven that cut funding the prior year, even as states face reductions in federal preparedness support. A February 2026 report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office noted that HHS awarded roughly $900 million to states and localities in FY 2024 through two emergency preparedness programs, yet coordination gaps remain.

Physicians are responding by calling for hospitals to be equipped for extreme weather with backup power, clean water supplies, and flood protection. The Joint Commission’s 2026 hospital performance goals now require emergency response staffing plans that address staff support, family support, and mental health and wellness needs.

When public health systems are strained, personal and family-level preparedness becomes even more critical, and physicians are uniquely positioned to guide patients through it.

What Doctors Recommend: Building a Physician-Guided Emergency Health Kit

This is the foundational layer every patient should establish in consultation with their physician.

Doctors recommend maintaining at least a one- to two-week supply of critical prescription medications, kept in original containers, with photocopies of all prescriptions stored alongside them. Patients should also prepare a written summary of all health conditions and medications that is legible to emergency responders, along with business cards from each physician’s office and copies of insurance ID cards.

Many physicians can authorize extended refills specifically for emergency planning purposes. This is a conversation worth initiating proactively rather than waiting until supplies run low.

FEMA’s 2025 National Preparedness Month theme, “Preparedness Starts at Home,” outlined four key actions that complement the medical layer:

• Know your risks for your specific region
• Make a family emergency plan
• Build an emergency supply kit
• Get involved in community preparedness

The next routine appointment is the ideal time to begin. Patients benefit from positioning their physician as a personal emergency preparedness advisor, not just a clinician consulted when something is wrong. The doctor-patient relationship is the foundation upon which effective emergency health planning is built.

Chronic Disease Emergency Planning: The Gap Most Preparedness Guides Miss

Very few emergency resources address the specific needs of patients managing chronic conditions, a major oversight given how many Americans live with diabetes, COPD, heart disease, and other ongoing conditions.

Diabetes and Insulin-Dependent Patients

Power outages can compromise insulin storage. Patients should ask their physician how long their specific insulin can remain unrefrigerated and what backup storage options exist. An emergency supply of glucose monitoring supplies, lancets, test strips, and a glucagon emergency kit is essential.

Patients who rely on continuous glucose monitors should ask about manual blood glucose monitoring as a backup if connectivity or power is lost. A written diabetes action plan that family members and responders can follow is critical if the patient becomes incapacitated.

Respiratory Conditions: Asthma and COPD

Doctors recommend a minimum two-week supply of inhalers (both rescue and maintenance) plus any nebulizer medications. Patients should discuss with their physician which medications are most critical to prioritize.

The climate connection is significant. Physicians are increasingly seeing climate-driven respiratory consequences from wildfires, air quality emergencies, and extreme heat, making inhaler continuity especially urgent. Because nebulizers require electricity, patients should ask their doctor about battery-powered or manual alternatives before a disaster strikes. A written asthma or COPD action plan outlining symptom escalation steps belongs in every emergency kit.

Cardiovascular Conditions and Anticoagulant Continuity

The stakes of anticoagulant interruption are high. Patients on blood thinners such as warfarin, apixaban, or rivaroxaban face serious risks if doses are missed, requiring a specific plan developed with a cardiologist or primary care physician.

Patients should discuss what to do if anticoagulants are lost, damaged, or unavailable during a prolonged emergency. For those on warfarin, INR monitoring during a disaster should be addressed in advance, including which symptoms warrant emergency care. A list of all cardiovascular medications with dosages, prescribing physicians, and pharmacy contacts should be kept in the kit. Patients with pacemakers or defibrillators should also keep device identification cards and manufacturer emergency contacts accessible.

Other Chronic Conditions Requiring Physician-Specific Planning

• Mental health medications: Abrupt discontinuation of antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers can be dangerous. Patients should discuss emergency supply strategies with their physician in advance.
• Renal disease: Dialysis patients should work with their physicians to identify backup facilities and understand emergency protocols.
• Oncology patients: Those in active treatment should discuss how to handle missed infusions or chemotherapy doses.
• Pregnancy: Pregnant patients should plan for emergency delivery, prenatal vitamin continuity, and access to obstetric care if their provider is unavailable.
• Pediatric chronic conditions: Parents should build a child-specific emergency health plan with their pediatrician.

Mental Health Preparedness: The Physician’s Role Before, During, and After a Disaster

Disaster behavioral health is critical and often overlooked. A study found that only 25% of physicians knew how to access mental health resources during and after natural or human-made disasters, per PMC research. Physicians are in a unique position to counsel patients on disaster-related anxiety, PTSD risk, and psychological resilience before a crisis occurs.

Pre-Disaster Mental Health Counseling

Physicians should proactively discuss disaster anxiety, particularly with patients who have pre-existing anxiety disorders, depression, or trauma histories. Patients can ask about psychological first aid principles they and their families can apply during a crisis. Those on psychiatric medications need an emergency supply plan and clear guidance on what to do if medications become inaccessible. Incorporating a brief disaster mental health readiness check into annual wellness visits is a simple but valuable step.

Mental Health Support During and After a Disaster

Common responses include acute stress reactions, grief, PTSD, depression, and increased substance use. Normalizing these reactions helps patients respond constructively. Identifying resources in advance (such as crisis hotlines, community mental health centers, and telehealth providers) is essential. Social connection is a powerful protective factor, and physicians can encourage patients to map their support networks before a disaster. Children, elderly individuals, and those with pre-existing conditions are especially vulnerable and may need extra support. The Joint Commission’s 2026 hospital goals now require emergency plans to address mental health care access, signaling broader recognition of behavioral health in disaster response.

Telehealth as a Continuity-of-Care Strategy: Setting Up Before the Crisis

Telehealth is a proactive preparedness tool, not just a reactive convenience. HHS recognizes telehealth as a crucial way to provide care during emergencies, with dedicated best practice guidance for providers. As the WHO declared the 2026 Ebola outbreak a PHEIC, telehealth and digital tools emerged as key resources for remote triage, disease surveillance, and continuity of care, consistent with findings highlighted at SEARCH 2026.

How to Set Up Telehealth Access With Your Doctor Before an Emergency

• Patients should ask their primary care physician and specialists whether they offer telehealth, then register and complete a test visit before any emergency arises.
• Downloading and familiarizing oneself with the provider’s platform, confirming device compatibility, and storing login credentials securely are important preparatory steps.
• Patients should ask their physician to document telehealth-accessible prescribing capabilities so a virtual visit can facilitate emergency refills if medications are lost.
• Identifying a backup telehealth provider (such as an urgent care service) in case the primary physician is unavailable is strongly recommended.
• A charged device, portable battery pack, and a data or Wi-Fi backup should be kept in the emergency kit, as telehealth is only effective if connectivity holds.

2026 Medicare Telehealth Policy and What It Means for Emergency Continuity

Medicare telehealth policies have evolved significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, with ongoing discussion about permanent flexibilities. Patients should ask their physician what telehealth services are covered under their current plan. CMS requires Medicare-participating providers to maintain emergency preparedness programs covering risk assessment, policies, communication plans, and training, and telehealth is increasingly integrated into these frameworks, per CMS guidance.

Older adults and Medicare beneficiaries should specifically ask about telehealth options at their next appointment, as these patients are often most vulnerable during disasters and most reliant on continuity of care. Patients should verify that the platform can prescribe medications, order labs, and make referrals remotely, because capabilities vary.

Special Populations: Physician Guidance for Vulnerable Groups

The Administration for Community Living emphasizes a “whole-community” approach because older adults and people with disabilities often live alone and depend on long-term services that disasters can disrupt, according to ACL.

Older Adults

Older adults are more likely to have multiple chronic conditions, take multiple medications, face mobility limitations, and live alone. Physicians should discuss advance care planning (including living wills, healthcare proxies, and POLST forms) as part of preparedness rather than only end-of-life planning. Older patients should register with local emergency management agencies as individuals with access and functional needs. Physicians can assess heat vulnerability, fall risk, and cognitive status, and help connect patients to community resources to reduce social isolation, a major disaster risk factor.

People With Disabilities

Plans must account for assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, and communication tools, including backup power needs. Patients should build a personal support network plan identifying who will assist during evacuation or shelter-in-place situations. Those who rely on home health aides need a backup plan if caregivers are unavailable, and physicians can help identify accessible shelters that accommodate specific needs.

Pediatric Patients

Parents should work with their child’s pediatrician to create a child-specific plan including medication lists, allergy information, and emergency contacts. Children with asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, or severe allergies need written protocols accessible to caregivers and school personnel. Because children can experience significant psychological distress, parents should discuss age-appropriate coping strategies with their pediatrician. The family kit should include formula, diapers, child-appropriate medications, and comfort items.

Climate Change and Emerging Health Threats: What Physicians Want Patients to Know

Physicians are increasingly seeing climate-driven health consequences: respiratory conditions, heat-induced dehydration, vector-borne disease spread, and new infectious threats. This awareness is shaping the profession itself. According to PMC research, 83.9% of 600 medical students across 12 U.S. schools believe climate health should be a focus of their curricula.

Patients should discuss region-specific risks with their physician, including heat illness prevention, air quality management during wildfire smoke events, tick and mosquito-borne disease prevention, and flood-related infectious disease risks. PAHO called for strengthened preparedness in 2026 and issued recommendations to bolster measles surveillance and vaccination ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reinforcing that vaccination is core to preparedness. Notably, only 47% of the population was vaccinated during the 2023 to 2024 flu season, well short of the 70% Healthy People 2030 goal. Patients should discuss vaccination schedules with their physician as part of their emergency plan.

Starting the Conversation: How to Talk to Your Doctor About Emergency Preparedness

Many patients do not realize that preparedness is an appropriate topic for a medical appointment. It is. Patients are encouraged to bring the following questions to their next visit:

• “Can you authorize an extended refill for emergency preparedness?”
• “What should I do if I run out of [medication] during a disaster?”
• “Do you offer telehealth services I can set up in advance?”
• “What are the most important health risks I should plan for given my conditions?”

Patients should bring a written list of all current medications, dosages, and conditions to facilitate the conversation, and ask their physician to help complete a written emergency health summary that can be shared with responders, family members, and backup providers. Annual wellness visits and chronic disease management appointments are ideal opportunities for these discussions. Informed patients who proactively engage their physicians are far better positioned to protect their health when disasters strike, which is at the heart of Top Doctor Magazine’s patient empowerment mission.

Conclusion: Your Doctor Is Your Best Emergency Preparedness Partner

This article has addressed three critical pillars: chronic disease-specific emergency planning, mental health preparedness before and after disasters, and proactive telehealth setup as a continuity-of-care strategy. The central message is clear: emergency preparedness is not just about stockpiling water and flashlights. It is a clinical conversation that should happen between every patient and their physician.

The systemic context makes this urgent. With 29 states in middle or low preparedness tiers, state-level funding reductions, and ongoing global threats such as the 2026 Ebola PHEIC, individual preparedness has never mattered more. Physicians are uniquely positioned to provide personalized, clinically grounded guidance that generic checklists cannot offer. Patients who are informed, proactive, and engaged with their healthcare providers are the most resilient in the face of any emergency.

Take the Next Step: Connect With a Physician Who Prioritizes Your Preparedness

Top Doctor Magazine’s resources help readers find and connect with physicians who take a proactive, patient-centered approach to health, including emergency preparedness planning. Readers who know a doctor who has gone above and beyond in helping patients prepare for health emergencies are encouraged to nominate them through the Top Doctor Magazine Awards and recognition program.

Subscribe to the Top Doctor Magazine newsletter for ongoing, physician-backed health guidance, including updates on evolving emergency preparedness recommendations for 2026 and beyond.

Patients are encouraged to schedule an appointment with their doctor and bring this article as a starting point for a personal emergency health preparedness conversation.

To deepen your knowledge, explore Top Doctor Magazine’s related content on chronic disease management, telehealth, and mental health.