A powerful storm system moved through California this week, with more disruption expected in the coming days.

An atmospheric river moved through the state Wednesday, causing major flooding in areas that were already saturated by earlier heavy rains. Northern California communities were particularly impacted, with power outages, infrastructure damage, and even several levee breaches.

California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday, and Direct Relief has been in contact with numerous state and county agencies about medical needs.

Multiple shipments departed Direct Relief’s warehouse on Thursday, including the shipment of 400 personal care kits for Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless in Northern California. The kits contain items like soap, shampoo, and dental hygiene supplies.

David Modersbach, grants manager with Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, said that the organization is concerned with how people who are unhoused will manage during and after the storms.

“We’re really focused on supporting unsheltered people immediately through helping unsheltered, and other weather-affected vulnerable people, access emergency storm/warming centers, which are being operated by local cities, and after the end of the storm, we will be working to help people dry their belongings and safely resettle after emergency warming facilities are closed,” Modersbach said.

“Hygiene kits will be important, as well as other supplies that we are sourcing, such as tarps, tents, access to laundry and dryers.”

Shipments also departed for the San Francisco Free Clinic, as well as Primary Care at Home in Oakland.

Direct Relief also received requests from North East Medical Services, which has operations across the Bay Area, as well as other health facilities in California and will be filling those shipments in the coming days.