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United States: Hurricane Katrina (2005) and Gulf Oil Spill (2010) and Gulf Oil Spill (2010)—Hurricane Katrina devastated millions of Americans in New Orleans and throughout Gulf Coast states. AmeriCares responded immediately - delivering critically needed medicines, supporting doctors, aiding victims and helping local aid charities in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. "Pin It")
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Emergency
When Hurricane Katrina struck, inundating the city of New Orleans and leaving so much of the Gulf Coast in ruins, AmeriCares responded -- and stayed. The monstrous storm surges unleashed by Katrina breached levees and left more than 1 million people homeless. Hundreds of health clinics, pharmacies and doctor’s offices were destroyed. Within days of the disaster, our relief workers and aid shipments arrived.
Within a month, we sent $4 million in medicines and supplies to clinics serving the poor, sick and suffering. When the floodwaters receded, we continued to help, delivering a total of $24 million in medical aid and grants to the region over 7 years, including a large scale response to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
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Response
With the support of donors and partners, AmeriCares delivered $11 million in medicines, medical supplies and other disaster relief within the first year after the hurricane.
August 29, 2005: Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast on the Louisiana/Mississippi border; AmeriCares staff members are dispatched with 24 hours.
September 3, 2005: The first shipments of urgently-needed medical aid arrive in the disaster zone.
September 12, 2005: The AmeriCares Free Clinics mobile medical unit arrives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
October 2005: AmeriCares awards the St. Thomas Clinic in New Orleans with a grant to help them continue to provide care to those in need.
November 2005: St. Bernard Parish in New Orleans receives eight temporary shelter structures
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Recovery
As the recovery phase began, we supported local partners and key health initiatives:
April 2006: AmeriCares supported 57 local grassroots organizations with $1.3 million in grants to rebuild and restore services.
July 2006: Coastal Family Health Center opens a new mobile medical clinic made possible with AmeriCares support.
August 2006: In Louisiana, AmeriCares awards 34 mental and primary health care grants totaling $3.1 million.
In the months and years following Hurricane Katrina, wherever we could make a difference – from child immunization to dental care to mental health support – we have helped fill gaps to help people in crisis get the health care they need.
Since Katrina, we have vastly expanded our support for a network of safety net health clinics serving the poor and uninsured. In 2010, our support for safety net clinics provided critical health care access for many people struggling with the economic impact of the Gulf Oil Spill. Every day, we work nationwide to ensure these clinics have the medicines, supplies and equipment they need to help more people live longer, healthier lives.
Hurricane Katrina Grants:
5 Year Total: $12,392,429
Recommended News...
Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 17, 2013 – AmeriCares has deployed an emergency response expert to Colorado to assess needs and coordinate deliveries of medicines and relief supplies for flood survivors.
Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 10, 2013 – A new training program is teaching pediatricians to identify mental health issues in children affected by Hurricane Sandy. Participants receive instruction in how to recognize the signs and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, depression and other mental health issues in young patients.
“Daddy’s Home” co-creator, Tony Rubino grew up in New Jersey and now lives in New York City where he witnessed the Hurricane’s devastation.
Stamford, Conn. – July 2, 2013 – AmeriCares has awarded $200,000 in grants to help elderly, disabled and low-income New Jersey residents recover from Hurricane Sandy.
As the Northeast continues to recover from Hurricane Sandy, Atlantic hurricane season has begun amid forecasts of above average storm activity for 2013. AmeriCares is ready in advance long before a hurricane strikes – so that crucial medicines and relief supplies are in the hands of response partners and survivors as quickly as possible.
AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy relief and recovery team continues working with clinics, shelters, and partners to deliver aid and emergency grants to ease the suffering of families in need throughout the tri-state area.
Stamford, Conn. – May 2, 2013 – Twenty Sandy-damaged homes in Connecticut and New York are slated to get much-needed repairs from AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program.
Stamford, Conn. – April 29, 2013 – AmeriCares delivered $4.5 million in grants and donated relief supplies to help more than 400,000 storm victims recover from Hurricane Sandy, according to a new report from the global health and disaster relief organization. The six-month report, published today on americares.org, details the progress of AmeriCares Hurricane Sandy Relief Program in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
