As Hurricane Ike sweeps the Gulf Coast, Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas isn't just canceling appointments for the next two days.  They're making sure that women who had appointments scheduled for a birth control prescription refill, for abortion care, or for a Depro-Provera shot know how to protect themselves with backup plans while the clinic is out of commission.

"Women's reproductive health care is based on timing, and when you have a natural disaster, timing goes out the window," says Rochelle Lafolla, vice-president of Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas.  When PPHST closes its health centers, its staff calls women ahead of time to inform them what impact the delay in services will have on their health care.  Women seeking birth control are encouraged to use condoms, and reminded about the availability of emergency contraception.  When women who have scheduled appointments for abortion, providers will talk through what the delay means, and whether a different procedure will be needed.

 "Unfortunately people don't really think about it in emergency situations or natural disasters.  Most people go to very basic health care, basic needs.  And we have to remind people birth control is basic health care for women," says Lafolla.

Nearly one million residents of the Texas coast have been told to evacuate.  Houston residents, though, have been told to stay put, as local officials sought to prevent traffic jams. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, PPHST staff distributed free emergency contraception, condoms, and birth control at many of the shelters housing New Orleans evacuees, and its staff will reach out to shelters, again, should Texans find themselves gathered there.

"We keep reminding people, the mantra is, back up your birth control," says Lafolla.