Search and rescue efforts continue after more than a dozen tornadoes swept through portions of Alabama, Georgia and Florida on Sunday.

A tornado with wind speeds of 170 miles per hour ripped through Lee County, Alabama, where at least 23 people have died as a result of the storm.

 

Direct Relief has ongoing relationships with more than a dozen healthcare partners in the storm-impacted areas, and has offered emergency assistance to those facilities. Direct Relief’s medical inventory includes essential medicines and supplies to support patients with both acute and chronic needs after a disaster.

During events such as tornadoes, storms, or wildfires, shelters often open to care for people in the days and weeks following. Those who have quickly evacuated their homes may lack access to basic medicines and supplies needed to maintain their health, particularly in Alabama, where analysis data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows higher rates of chronic disease.

It’s critical to ensure access to medicines for diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other conditions, which can put patients at higher risk of a medical emergency.

Direct Relief’s Emergency Health Kits contain dozens of essential medicines and medical supplies for patient care during the first 72-hour period of an emergency, and the organization is ready to respond to ongoing health needs as requested.