Drugstore companies prepare for Gustav

As Tropical Storm Gustav nears the Gulf Coast, drugstore operators say they are already seeing signs of greater demand and are preparing to meet increased need for emergency supplies.

With Gustav expected become a hurricane and to make landfall early next week, drugstores are stocking up on the essentials, including water, batteries, flashlights and over-the-counter medications.

"We're already seeing increased activity, particular in our New Orleans stores," said Mike DeAngelis, director of public relations for CVS. "People want to make sure they have their medication on them in the event they have to evacuate."

CVS Caremark Corp. has about 160 stores in the Gulf Coast, while Rite Aid Corp. has around 200 stores in the region, although that figure includes areas not defined as the Gulf Coast.

Cheryl Slavinsky of Rite Aid Corp. said if necessary, sales personnel and pharmacists will be brought to the area from other states to meet demand. Rite Aid set up mobile pharmacies in some locations following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, she said.

DeAngelis said that in 2005 Baton Rouge-area pharmacies were open 24 hours a day to handle greater business from Katrina evacuees and said the company might make similar moves if Gustav displaces large numbers of people.

Pharmacy benefits manager Medco Health Solutions Inc. works with health plan members to get their prescriptions to them if they are displaced by a natural disaster or emergency, the company said.

In afternoon trading, CVS stock dipped 10 cents to $36.90, and Rite Aid lost a penny to $1.19. Shares of Walgreen Co. gained 5 cents to $36.57.

Medco shares fell 52 cents to $47.24, and shares of rival Express Scripts Inc. shed 7 cents to $74.12.