A series of powerful storms tore through the U.S. heartland over the weekend, killing at least five people in Oklahoma, including an infant, and injuring over 100 people. The tornadoes caused severe property damage to communities across parts of Texas, Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency in 12 counties, effective for 30 days.

In Sulphur, Okla., a small town about 80 miles south of Oklahoma City, which sustained casualties, temporary shelters have been set up for those displaced by the storms. Local media also reported widespread damage to buildings, houses and a hospital in Marietta, Okla., which also saw casualties and endured an EF-4-rated tornado. This is the first EF-4 tornado, a classification which records wind gusts between 166 to 200 miles per hour, to hit the state since 2016, according to the National Weather Service.

Severe weather often impacts health outcomes long-term, especially for vulnerable communities such as those with chronic conditions, the young and elderly, and those without access to reliable transportation. This can occur due to interruptions in health care as a result of damage to a local facility, power outages, and other stresses that occur in the wake of a storm, such as a loss of housing.

Direct Relief has issued offers of support to health facilities, including community health centers and free and charitable clinics in Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma, and will respond to requests as needed. Based on learnings from past severe weather events, Direct Relief maintains an inventory of chronic disease medications often requested after disasters, including therapies for diabetes, high blood pressure and asthma.

People who evacuate without a supply of medications needed to maintain their health can end up in the emergency room in medical crisis. The organization also maintains inventory for people displaced from their homes and living in shelter environments, including personal care kits that contain soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, and more.

These kits, which were shipped earlier this month to a clinic in Slidell, La. after tornadoes struck there, have been made available to partner clinics in the Midwest in addition to all available inventory should it be requested.

Direct Relief will continue to respond as requests become known.