×

News publications and other organizations are encouraged to reuse Direct Relief-published content for free under a Creative Commons License (Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 International), given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

When republishing:

  • Include a byline with the reporter’s name and Direct Relief in the following format: "Author Name, Direct Relief." If attribution in that format is not possible, include the following language at the top of the story: "This story was originally published by Direct Relief."
  • If publishing online, please link to the original URL of the story.
  • Maintain any tagline at the bottom of the story.
  • With Direct Relief's permission, news publications can make changes such as localizing the content for a particular area, using a different headline, or shortening story text. To confirm edits are acceptable, please check with Direct Relief by clicking this link.
  • If new content is added to the original story — for example, a comment from a local official — a note with language to the effect of the following must be included: "Additional reporting by [reporter and organization]."
  • If republished stories are shared on social media, Direct Relief appreciates being tagged in the posts:
    • Twitter (@DirectRelief)
    • Facebook (@DirectRelief)
    • Instagram (@DirectRelief)

Republishing Images:

Unless stated otherwise, images shot by Direct Relief may be republished for non-commercial purposes with proper attribution, given the republisher complies with the requirements identified below.

  • Maintain correct caption information.
  • Credit the photographer and Direct Relief in the caption. For example: "First and Last Name / Direct Relief."
  • Do not digitally alter images.

Direct Relief often contracts with freelance photographers who usually, but not always, allow their work to be published by Direct Relief’s media partners. Contact Direct Relief for permission to use images in which Direct Relief is not credited in the caption by clicking here.

Other Requirements:

  • Do not state or imply that donations to any third-party organization support Direct Relief's work.
  • Republishers may not sell Direct Relief's content.
  • Direct Relief's work is prohibited from populating web pages designed to improve rankings on search engines or solely to gain revenue from network-based advertisements.
  • Advance permission is required to translate Direct Relief's stories into a language different from the original language of publication. To inquire, contact us here.
  • If Direct Relief requests a change to or removal of republished Direct Relief content from a site or on-air, the republisher must comply.

For any additional questions about republishing Direct Relief content, please email the team here.

Hurricane Helene Strengthens As It Tracks Towards Florida Coastline

The Big Bend area of Florida is bracing for impact, which is expected to occur on Thursday. Direct Relief is mobilizing medical resources ahead of the storm's hit.

News

Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene approaches Florida's Big Bend on Wednesday. Evacuations, flood watches, and states of emergency are active in much of the state in preparation for Helene's predicted Thursday landfall. (Image courtesy of the NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center)
By Lara Cooper

Hurricane Helene rapidly intensified as it tracked toward Florida’s Big Bend area, with the storm expected to make landfall on Thursday, potentially as a Category 3 hurricane.

The storm presents “danger of life-threatening storm surge… along the entire Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend, where a storm surge warning is in effect,” according to the National Hurricane Center.

More than 32 million people are under flood watch, and 61 counties in Florida are currently under a state of emergency declaration.

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to hurricanes in the U.S., including Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in 2022 in the Fort Myers area, and Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that had devastating impacts in 2018 on the Mexico Beach community, which is currently near Helene’s projected path.

In advance of the storm, Direct Relief is in contact with national, regional, state, and local organizations about potential medical needs expected from Helene’s impacts.

These include the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, the Florida Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the National Association of Community Health Centers, the National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, the Mobile Healthcare Association, as well as Direct Relief-supported health facilities in the expected area of impact.

In advance of hurricane season, Direct Relief pre-positions caches of essential medicines in storm-prone areas of the U.S. Gulf Coast and Caribbean. These hurricane preparedness packs are designed to contain medical essentials needed to sustain health services. Multiple clinics in the storm’s projected path are equipped with these modules, and have access to these medications if needed.

The organization also maintains a medical inventory to address health issues that often arise from a hurricane’s aftermath. People who depend on medication to manage chronic diseases, including diabetes and high blood pressure, can end up in medical crisis without access to these medications, which can be left behind during evacuation. Field medic packs are often requested for those providing triage care outside of clinic walls, and personal protective equipment, including masks and gloves, have been used during the recovery phase of a storm, as well as tetanus vaccine and other protective measures for those involved in debris and storm cleanup.

Direct Relief will respond to needs as they become known.

Filed Under: , , , , ,

Giving is Good Medicine

You don't have to donate. That's why it's so extraordinary if you do.