Multiple fires continued to rage across the Los Angeles area this week, resulting in at least five fatalities, thousands of structures damaged or destroyed, and more than 130,000 evacuated.
On Thursday, Direct Relief staff fanned across Southern California to distribute medical aid at multiple locations, including evacuation centers and community health facilities.
Direct Relief maintains medical inventory commonly requested during large wildfire events, including N95 respirators, prescription medicines, Tdap vaccines, medical supplies, personal care items for evacuating people, and protective gear for post-fire recovery efforts.
A series of support shipments have been disbursed across the city and continued on Thursday.
One of those locations was the Arroyo Vista Community Health Center, where Direct Relief staff delivered N95 respirators, personal care products for evacuees, and solar chargers. Aid also arrived Thursday for the South Central Family Health Center, where Direct Relief staff delivered field medic packs, N95 respirators, personal care products for evacuees, and more.
The health center provides care for underserved and uninsured patients in South Los Angeles, and will be receiving more medical aid from Direct Relief, including prescription medications, later this week to support patients impacted by the fires.
Medical aid was also en route Thursday to AltaMed, a community health center with multiple sites in the Los Angeles area. The organization reported that one of its locations in Pasadena had been completely destroyed by the Eaton Fire this week. The organization requested 25,000 N95 respirators, which will be distributed to senior care facilities in Los Angeles and primary care patients in Pasadena.
Direct Relief staff also delivered support this week to the Pasadena Convention Center, where hundreds of people have been evacuated, including older adults living in nearby assisted living facilities.
The organization is continuing to coordinate with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, California Primary Care Association, California Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, Mobile Health Care Association, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, Health Center Partners of Southern California, local VOAD groups, and community health centers, free and charitable clinics, and other safety net providers in the impacted areas.
