Additional Medical Aid Set for Arkansas Ice Storm-Affected Areas

Total Medical Assistance Valued at $44,939

Direct Relief International has sent additional emergency aid to those still feeling the effects of the ice storm that swept across Arkansas and other southeastern states in late January.

Boston Mountain Rural Health Center in Marshall and Corning Area Health Center in Corning are both set to receive aid from Direct Relief’s Santa Barbara, California warehouse. The bulk of the shipments consist of personal care products like shampoo, conditioner, soap, lotion, toothpaste, and mouthwash, as well as analgesics and antihistamines. Shipping services have generously been donated by longtime Direct Relief corporate supporter FedEx.

To date, Direct Relief has supplied Arkansas partners with $44,939 worth of specifically requested material aid.

According to staff at Boston Mountain Rural Health Center, power has returned for businesses and residents near the town, but is still out in more rural areas and may remain so until March.  Temperature that reached into the 70s during the weekend assisted the ongoing cleanup effort. 

Both clinics have been distributing their requested materials to individuals and families being taken care of in shelters, and to fire departments for distribution to rural residents who may lack transportation into town.

Direct Relief partners with the National Association of Community Health Centers and over 1,200 community health centers around the United States, supplying these member clinics with ongoing, specifically requested medical material assistance. Since 2004, Direct Relief has provided these partners with more than $135 million in aid.

Direct Relief Overnights Emergency Aid to Arkansas Following Worst Ice Storm in Decades

FedEx donates delivery of 1,500 personal care packs for residents in need

February 5, 2009

To aid residents affected by the recent ice storms, Direct Relief International sent 1,500 personal care packs via FedEx to health center partners in northern Arkansas in the first wave of emergency assistance.

A state of emergency was declared January 28 in 48 counties in Arkansas, where ice storms have downed trees and caused massive power and water outages to 310,000 people. Residents have had to evacuate to emergency shelters during the biting cold.

Working in close contact with the National Association of Community Health Centers, Direct Relief’s Domestic Programs staff identified three health centers across the northern half of the state assisting with health care at shelters:

• St. Francis House, in Springdale;
• Boston Mountain Rural Health Centers, headquartered in Marshall; and
• Corning Area Healthcare in Corning.

In Corning, near the border with Missouri and Tennessee, a shelter has become temporary home to 750 people.

The 1,500 personal care packs include Neutrogena shampoo, conditioner, soap, and lotion, can have untold value for people forced to evacuate their homes. Within 24 hours after the request was received, the personal care packs were shipped via FedEx, which generously donates air freight services to Direct Relief.

Domestic Programs staff is working with clinics to identify and respond to other health needs in this emergency response. Clinic contacts reported this morning that they have been without power for 11 days, and are currently without water or gas for heating. They also said that when water service was restored briefly a few days ago, residents filled their bath tubs, sinks, and washing machines, but all tap water must be boiled before use.