In short
Before hurricane season in Houston, keep your Medicare card, any plan card and a list of your medicines with your emergency supplies. If you would need help in an emergency, you can register with the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry (STEAR) online or by dialing 2-1-1; registering does not guarantee a service. After a storm, Medicare says to contact your Medicare drug plan about a closed pharmacy or lost medicines.
A useful next step
- Keep your Medicare card, any plan card, a list of your medicines and your pharmacy’s number with your emergency supplies.
- If you would need help evacuating or have medical needs in an emergency, register with STEAR online or by dialing 2-1-1. Registering does not guarantee a service.
- After a storm, call your Medicare drug plan about a closed pharmacy or lost medicines. Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 if you cannot find your plan’s number.
A question to keep
Ask Medicare or my Medicare plan about the problem getting care or prescriptions and the steps available now.
Questions people in Houston ask
- How do I sign up for the Texas emergency assistance registry in Houston?
- Register for STEAR, the State of Texas Emergency Assistance Registry, online or by dialing 2-1-1 (877-541-7905). It gives local emergency planners and responders information about needs in the community. Registration is voluntary and does not guarantee a specific service, so keep your own plan too.
- My pharmacy closed after a storm in Harris County. What can my Medicare drug plan do?
- When your area is declared an emergency or disaster, Medicare says your drug plan can help you find another in-network pharmacy, replace lost or damaged medicines, and explain its rules for out-of-network pharmacies. Call the number on your plan card, or Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 if you lost it.
- What if I get dialysis and a storm closes my center?
- With Original Medicare, your End-Stage Renal Disease Network can help you find treatment and supplies. With a Medicare Advantage Plan, contact your plan for help finding a dialysis facility and to learn which rules change during a disaster. Ask before the season starts and keep the numbers handy.
- Where can I find Harris County hurricane information in Vietnamese or Spanish?
- ReadyHarris, from Harris County’s emergency management office, posts hurricane brochures in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Arabic, along with evacuation zone maps and STEAR details. For Medicare questions in your language, call 1-800-633-4227 and ask for an interpreter.
Official starting point
Read the official resource ↗Preparation guidance checked October 10, 2026. Ask the responsible service to confirm what applies to you.