Emergency Preparedness | Alabama Retail Association

When disasters or health emergencies strike, the Alabama Retail Association compiles the latest information for its members, especially pharmacists whose services may be needed in such emergencies.

You’ll find Alabama’s latest health alerts or information on disasters related to retailers here and under the News section of this website.

A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ALABAMA

25 northern Alabama counties under winter state of emergency
(Jan. 14, 2024)

In case of a disaster in Alabama, the governor can make an emergency declaration and invoke Alabama’s price gouging law.

ALABAMA’S PRICE GOUGING LAW: Makes it unlawful for anyone to raise prices on commodities or lodging by more than 25 percent during the declared state of emergency. To avoid violating Alabama’s price gouging law, figure the price charged for each of the previous 30 days. Add the 30 daily prices, divide by 30, and multiply the price by .25, or 25 percent, to figure the maximum price increase allowed for any one day. The exception is if a wholesale price increases by more than 25 percent and merchants have no choice but to pass along the price increase.

The fine for violating Alabama’s price gouging law can be up to $1,000 per incident. Those who willfully and continually violate the law can be banned from doing business in Alabama.

COVID-19

Due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel human coronavirus, Alabama issued the emergency orders below. None are currently active. For current information related to preventing the spread of COVID, go to:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

Limited COVID-19 state of emergency related to healthcare and transportation of emergency supplies
Issued Aug. 13, 2021; Expired Oct. 31, 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prompts state of emergency in Alabama
Issued March 13, 2020; Expired July 6, 2021

Alabama issued these supplemental emergency orders to the original March 13 order:

27th,	26th	25th	24th	23rd	22nd
21st	20th	19th	18th	17th	16th	15th	14th	13th	12th
11th	10th	9th	8th	7th	6th	5th	4th	3rd	2nd

The state also issued a series of public health orders, which expired May 31, 2021.

View all COVID-19 health orders

PHARMACISTS:

Alabama Board of Pharmacy COVID-19 Emergency Orders

COVID-19 PANDEMIC RESOURCES
(Link above has more detailed resources)

ZIKA AND OTHER MOSQUITO-BORNE ILLNESSES

Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses such as the Zika Virus, Chikungunya, Dengue Fever and West Nile Virus have become more commonplace in recent years. Infected mosquito vectors in Alabama have been documented carrying other serious diseases such as Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Saint Louis Encephalitis, and La Crosse Encephalitis. Since 2018, no local mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission has been reported in the continental United States. On Jan. 4, 2017, 30 confirmed cases of the Zika virus were reported in Alabama, all considered travel-related cases. Pregnant women or women of child bearing age are most at risk. The following resources can be found on the Alabama Department of Public Health website:

Alabama Department of Public Health mosquito-borne disease landed pages

Mosquito bite prevention

2016 letter from Alabama’s State Health Officer on the Zika Virus

EBOLA GUIDELINES FOR PHARMACIES

What to do if a sick patient comes into a pharmacy

How to prepare your business for Ebola and other infectious diseases

EARTHQUAKES

Alabama is within four zones of frequent earthquake activity. Read more.

EMERGENCY AGENCY LINKS

Alabama Emergency Management Agency
List of all Alabama county Emergency Management Agencies
Ready Alabama
Alabama Department of Transportation Road Conditions
Alabama Department of Transportation Road Advisories
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal Disaster Relief (Apply here for federal disaster assistance)
Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Application
Portion of Credit Report Resourcing Guide dealing with disasters
U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service Disaster Assistance
Business Preparedness (Ready Business)
Ready Business Alabama
American Red Cross
Department of Homeland Security
National Weather Service, Southern Region
National Emergency Management Association (NEMA)
Alabama Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness
National Hurricane Center
NOAA Storm Prediction Center
Alabama Earthquake Information (U.S. Geological Survey, Geological Survey of Alabama)
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama, Alabama Member Service Hotline: 800-292-8868

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS

Being personally prepared greatly improves your outcome during an emergency situation. The Alabama Department of Public Health has compiled a list of the 10 items most needed during an emergency.

PREVIOUS EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS

Six Alabama counties included in tornado-related emergency; 10 eligible for assistance (Jan. 12, 2023)

Alabama’s coastal and western counties under state of emergency related to Hurricane Ida (Aug. 28, 2021)

Tropical Storm Claudette places eight Alabama counties under state of emergency (June 21, 2021 – Terminated July 21, 2021)

Tornadoes and flooding mean 46 counties under state of emergency (March 25, 2021)

Entire state under severe weather state of emergency (March 16, 2021)

28 counties under winter storm emergency (Feb. 14, 2021)

Hurricane Zeta creates state of emergency in Alabama (Oct. 27, 2020)

Mandatory visitor and tourist evacuation rescinded (Oct. 8, 2020)

Governor declares state of emergency as Hurricane Delta approaches (Oct. 6, 2020)

Governor declares state of emergency related to Hurricane Sally (Sept. 14, 2020)

Widespread flooding leads to statewide emergency declaration (Feb. 18, 2020)