Direct Relief today committed an initial $250,000 in financial support to communities impacted by Hurricane Helene. More than 121 people across six states have been killed, and more than a million people remain without power.
The Category 4 storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region last week, and heavy rains and high winds wreaked havoc in neighboring states, causing widespread power outages, infrastructure damage to roadways and public service facilities, including municipal water supplies. The organization opened up access to its $74 million inventory of emergency medicines for needs arising from the storms.
As a result, Direct Relief has shipped and continues to mobilize medical aid for local organizations, including health organizations in Florida, Tennessee, and Asheville, North Carolina, which have requested emergency support, including field medic packs, which include first aid essentials and personal care kits, containing hygiene items including soap and shampoo, for people displaced by the storms.
In the wake of a disaster, healthcare organizations most frequently make requests for medical aid in the days and weeks after the most immediate threat has subsided, once it becomes possible to accurately evaluate local medical needs.
For that reason, Direct Relief will continue to communicate with organizations on the ground and make its extensive medical inventory available to regional healthcare providers. Direct Relief has staff in Florida and Georgia currently assessing continued needs.
In the wake of a storm or other natural disaster, continuity of care is often disrupted, making it difficult for people who need medication and supplies to manage chronic health conditions.
If conditions like diabetes and hypertension are left unmanaged, they can quickly become life-threatening, which is particularly dangerous when emergency resources are taxed.
While death counts generally only include fatalities directly connected to the storms, indirect deaths are a real and widespread concern. On Monday, more than 1.7 million customers were without power in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, according to PowerOutage.us. Large-scale power outages can create their own health risks and add another layer of complexity to emergency response. Lack of access to power can harm people who rely on medical devices, rendering home supplies of insulin unusable, and exacerbating existing health issues.
Direct Relief will continue to closely monitor the health situation in Hurricane Helene-impacted areas.
