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Coping with Cancer in an Emergency or Natural Disaster
If you or a loved one has cancer, an emergency or natural disaster can make getting care harder. Planning and knowing what to do can help you stay safe and get the treatment you need.
How emergencies or disasters affect cancer care
Emergencies or disasters can disrupt cancer care in many ways. Clinics may close or travel may be unsafe, causing missed appointments or delayed treatments. Medicines and medical supplies may be hard to get, and power outages can affect devices like refrigerators and oxygen machines.
Risks of infection or injury are higher, especially if you have a weakened immune system. Stress and anxiety are common. Planning ahead and knowing what steps to take can help keep you safe and supported.
Prepare before an emergency or disaster
When possible, have a plan for the unexpected that fits your specific needs. Talk with your cancer care team about how emergencies or disasters could affect your treatment and what steps you should take if your access or appointments are disrupted. Create an emergency checklist to make sure you are prepared.
Know how to reach your doctor after hours or during a disaster. It’s also helpful to know where nearby hospitals or urgent care centers are, in case your regular clinic is closed.
Have an emergency kit with the supplies you need. Be sure to include:
- At least a 1-week supply of your medicines and medical supplies in their original containers and in a plastic bag if you can
- A short printed medical summary with your diagnosis, treatments, and any medicine or medical devices you use
- Copies of ID and insurance cards, plus a list of emergency contacts
- Basic safety items like a flashlight, batteries, and first aid kit (including a thermometer, bandages, and antiseptic spray).
If you live in an area prone to wildfires, keep respirator masks on hand in case the air becomes smoky or unsafe. For any type of emergency or disaster, keep several days’ worth of non-perishable food and water for you and your pets or animals.
Talk with your cancer care team about getting early refills for essential medicines, especially if a storm or disaster is expected. Make a backup plan for missed appointments so your treatment stays on track. If you have medicines that need to be kept cold, plan ahead for safe storage, such as a cooler with ice packs or access to a backup refrigerator.
Some medical devices, such as oxygen machines or infusion pumps, need electricity to work.Identify backup options such as batteries, to power your devices in the event of power loss. You may also consider buying a portable generator (and gas) to have on hand in the event of an emergency. If you do, make sure you know how to use it safely. Tell your power company about any medical devices you use. This can help make your home a priority if power needs to be restored after an emergency. If possible, have a plan for relocating to a place where power and equipment needs can be met.
Clear communication is essential during emergencies. Make a list of family members, caregivers, friends, or neighbors who know your plan and can help you. Identify backups to communicate if usual ways are not available during an emergency. If cell phone service or the internet is down, some options may include walkie-talkies or satellite phones. Standard corded, landline phones may also still work during a power outage. Share backup ways to reach your care team and emergency contacts.This can help reduce stress and make sure you get the support you need.
Learn the evacuation routes in your area and have a plan for how you will leave and where you will go, if you need to. It is also helpful to know where nearby shelters are located and which ones can meet your needs. If you have animals or pets, make a plan how they will be cared for. Keep this information in an easy to find spot so you can act quickly in the event of an emergency or disaster.
During an emergency or disaster
First, stay safe
Follow evacuation orders as soon as they are given as delays can put you at greater risk. Take your emergency kit with you, and don’t forget your printed medical summary and medication list. These documents will help health care providers understand your needs if you need care while away from home.
If you learn that your home or treatment center is likely to become unsafe, move to temporary shelter or housing early. Check with local emergency management offices, the Red Cross, hospitals, or community centers, and tell your care team where you will be staying. Some shelters have areas for people with special medical needs, which may be safer if your immune system is weak.
Talk with your doctor or an on-site health care provider to see if a special needs shelter is right for you. If you can’t get into one, take extra care to stay clean and avoid people who are sick. Follow any instructions from your doctor or health care staff.
If there are health care professionals on site, meet with them right away. Let them know that you have been getting cancer treatment and that you need to be put in contact with a doctor or hospital as soon as possible. If you need a ride to get there, be sure to let them know this, too.
If there are no health care professionals at the temporary shelter or housing, ask the shelter director, landlord, or person you’re staying with to help put you in touch with a local hospital, or call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.
During an emergency, make sure your medicines stay safe and dry. If you have your cancer medicines and know how to take them, keep taking them on schedule. If you need cancer medicine, are running low, or aren’t sure how to take it, ask the health care provider or shelter staff for help. They can help you contact a pharmacist, doctor, or your health insurance company. If you are taking a medicine through a clinical trial, contact your trial coordinator.
Stopping some medicines suddenly can be dangerous. These include:
- Pain medicines
- Depression, anxiety, or sleeping medicines
- Medicines for chronic conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, seizures, or low thyroid hormones.
When you contact your doctor, a new doctor, or a pharmacy, tell them all the medicines you take. Be ready to tell them if you are still taking your medicines, have cut down on how much you’re taking, or have run out, and if so – how long you have been without them.
If you have medical devices like a port, IV line or catheter, or a wound that needs care, follow the instructions from your care team. Stock up on additional supplies to have with you in the event of an emergency. If you run out, ask shelter staff, emergency responders, or your care team for help. Many communities can provide temporary medical support.
Emergencies may cause you to miss treatments like chemotherapy (chemo), radiation, or immunotherapy. Call your care team as soon as possible to let them know what happened. They can tell you if your treatment should be rescheduled immediately or if it is safe to wait a short time. Having a plan can help reduce delays and keep your care on track.
If you had to leave the area where you were getting treatment and you won’t be able to return right away, you may need to find a new cancer doctor and treatment center. Ask for help from shelter staff, Red Cross, Salvation Army, local health department or go to a local hospital and ask for help.
When sharing your information with a new doctor, write down everything you can remember about your treatment. Include:
- Type and stage of cancer if you know it
- Type of treatment you had (chemo, radiation, or surgery)
- Date of your last treatment
- Name of your doctor and treatment center
- Any medicine you take, including cancer and other medicines. If you don’t know the names, describe their color, size, shape, form (shot, pill or IV bag), and how often you take them
- Any other illnesses or health problems you have
Consider carrying a card in your wallet or purse that contains this information.
Prevent infection
During emergencies or disasters, it’s important to protect yourself from infection.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer if water is limited. Wear a mask if you are around others. If your immune system is weak, avoid crowded shelters whenever possible. Try to avoid touching surfaces that many people touch, like handrails. If you must touch these surfaces, clean your hands right away.
To help reduce your risk of infection
- Only drink safe water—bottled or boiled for at least 1 minute
- Wash fruits and vegetables. Cook meat all the way through (well done)
- Don’t eat cooked food left out for more than 2 hours
- Keep cuts and wounds clean and covered. Use antibiotic ointment if your doctor says it’s okay
- Bathe or shower when you can and use clean towels
Don’t share toothbrushes, cups, or eating utensils Small steps like these can help keep you safe while you wait for care or recover from an emergency or disaster. If you develop any of these symptoms of an infection, get treatment at the nearest emergency room: Fever, shaking chills, or sweats
- Redness, swelling, warmth, tenderness, or drainage at a wound, catheter, or anywhere on the skin
- New pain or one that’s getting worse
- Sinus pain, headache, or stiff neck
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath or cough
- Painful, bloody, or cloudy urine
Once you’re at the emergency room, make sure you tell them about your cancer and if you don’t have a new doctor yet, ask them for help finding one.
After an emergency or disaster
Contact your cancer care team
After the emergency, contact your cancer care team as soon as you can. Tell them if you missed any treatments or had problems getting your medicines. Schedule follow-up appointments to make sure your treatment stays on track and any issues are addressed quickly.
If you want to go back to your previous doctor or treatment center, tell your new doctor. As treatment centers reopen, they can let you know about the openings that affect you. Ask for a copy of current medical records to take back to your old center. Also, contact your health insurance company to make sure your treatments will be covered.
Watch out for symptoms
Pay close attention to your health after the emergency. Call your cancer care team right away if you have a fever, trouble breathing, any signs of infection, swelling, or unusual pain. Knowing when to seek emergency care can help prevent serious problems.
Replace damaged medicines and supplies
Check your medicines and medical supplies for damage. Throw away any that have been exposed to heat, water, or unknown conditions. Replacing them promptly will help you stay on schedule with your treatment and reduce the risk of problems.
Emotional health and recovery
Emergencies can be stressful and upsetting. It’s normal to feel anxious, sad, or overwhelmed after a crisis. Reach out for support from counselors, support groups, or mental health professionals if you need help coping with your feelings. Taking care of your emotional health is an important part of recovering from both the emergency and your cancer treatment.
What are the biggest health risks following a hurricane or flood?
In addition to the potential for infection, the biggest health risks for people with cancer following a hurricane or flood include health problems from unsafe air or water, damaged buildings, debris, and downed power lines.
Tips to avoid illness or injury
- Don’t drive, walk, or swim through floodwater until it is safe.
- Avoid bridges over fast-moving water and stay away from downed power lines.
- Only return home when local authorities say it is safe.
- When cleaning up after the storm, wear gloves and protective clothing and boots.
- Use a mask if you are cleaning mold or debris.
- If your immune system is weak, do not enter buildings with water leaks or mold.
- If you use a generator for power, keep it outdoors and away from windows.
Should I get immunizations or vaccines if they are offered?
People with cancer should get any needed vaccines before starting treatment whenever possible. In some situations—like disease outbreaks or unsafe water after a natural disaster—you may be offered vaccines. While these vaccines are safe and may be needed, make sure the person giving the shots knows you have cancer and when you last had treatment. If you can, talk to a doctor, yours or a local doctor before you get any shots.
Don’t get any “live” vaccines unless a cancer doctor who knows your medical history says it’s okay. Live vaccines include the flu nasal spray, chickenpox or shingles (varicella zoster), measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), and smallpox. Live vaccines can cause serious problems for people with weak immune systems. Also, try to avoid close contact with people who have gotten live virus vaccines.
What should I do if the air has smoke, dust, or pollutants and isn’t safe?
Wildfire smoke can cause unhealthy air conditions not just near the fire, but also in areas far away--sometimes hundreds of miles. Smoke contains gases, water vapor, and small particles that can get into your eyes or lungs and can lead to health issues.
If you have cancer and are near a wildfire, check air quality reports often. When the air quality is poor:
- Stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed to limit smoke getting inside.
- If you need to go outside, wear eye protection and an N95 mask to help reduce your exposure.
You may be more sensitive to smoke if you:
- Have certain cancers or are getting treatments that involve the mouth, neck, or lungs.
- Have underlying asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
If you have new or worsening symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath, eye irritation, wheezing, or chest pain, try to avoid further exposure. Call your cancer care team. They can help decide if you need treatments such as drugs, inhalers, or oxygen.
What should I do when I return home after a wildfire?
- First, only return home once local authorities say it is safe.
- Stay away from smoldering debris, hot ash, or live embers.
- When cleaning up after the fire, wear gloves, and protective clothing and boots.
- Use a respirator mask and wet down debris to reduce breathing in dust particles.
What are the biggest health risks after an earthquake?
After an earthquake, people with cancer face health risks from falling debris, dust or smoke that can affect the lungs, and unsafe water that can cause infections.
Tips to avoid illness or injury
- Watch for aftershocks after the main earthquake
- If your building is damaged, go outside safely and move away from it to avoid injury
- Don’t enter damaged buildings
- When cleaning up after an earthquake, wear gloves, and protective clothing and boots
- Use a mask if you are cleaning mold or debris
- If your immune system is weak, don’t enter buildings with water leaks or mold
What steps can I take before an earthquake to better prepare?
If you live in an area with earthquakes, take steps to protect yourself.
- Secure heavy items like refrigerators and bookcases
- hang wall items safely
- Keep heavy or breakable objects on low shelves to reduce the risk of injury if they fall
Also, think about getting earthquake insurance, as standard homeowner insurance usually doesn’t cover earthquake damage.
What are the biggest health risks following a tornado?
After a tornado, people with cancer face serious risks from fallen power lines, debris, and unsafe water.
- Avoid any fallen power lines or broken utility lines.
- Don’t drink water unless you know it is safe.
- When cleaning up after the storm, wear gloves, and protective clothing and boots. Use a mask if you are cleaning mold or debris.
- If your immune system is weak, don’t enter buildings with water leaks or mold.
If you use a generator for power, keep it outdoors and away from windows.
Additional resources for those facing emergencies or natural disasters
The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, and emotional support for those affected by natural disasters. Contact the Red Cross at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).
If your losses occurred in a region that was declared a disaster area, you may qualify for federal relief funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Go to www.disasterassistance.gov/, call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362), or TTY users can dial 1-800-462-7585 to find out whether you are eligible.
- Written by
- References
Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
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US Department of Homeland Security. Hurricanes. Updated September 4, 2025. Accessed at ready.gov/hurricanes on December 5, 2025.
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US Department of Homeland Security. Wildfires. Updated July 10, 2025. Accessed at ready.gov/wildfires on December 5, 2025.
US Food and Drug Administration. Food and water safety during power outages and floods. March 5, 2024. Accessed at https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/food-and-water-safety-during-power-outages-and-floods on December 5, 2025.
Last Revised: December 5, 2025
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
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