As part of a prolonged U.S. disaster relief operation, AmeriCares delivered three new
shipments of emergency aid to help storm and wildfire victims, and continues
its $500,000 recovery grant program to support communities in need.
On September 15, a new shipment containing 50 doses of
tetanus vaccines were delivered to the Nash County Health Department in North
Carolina, an area hard hit by Hurricane Irene-related
flooding and wind damage. The health department will distribute the vaccines to
people at risk for tetanus due to injuries sustained while clearing debris from
their homes. Read about our earlier Hurricane Irene response here.
Many regions still struggling in the aftermath of Irene
faced record flooding when Tropical
Storm Lee swelled rivers in New York, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. To help
families left without water when flooding compromised local purification
centers, AmeriCares delivered three truckloads containing 96,000 bottles of
water to our partner in Schenectady, NY on September 13. Two additional trucks
of water are pending delivery to Hanover, PA.
Meanwhile, winds from Tropical Storm Lee swept through
Texas, spreading 190 wildfires across the drought-ravaged state, forcing
hundreds of families to evacuate their homes. In response to an urgent request
from a partner clinic, a shipment of inhalers to alleviate smoke-related
respiratory ailments, along with baby blankets and supplies, personal health items,
face masks and protective eyewear arrived in Texas this week.
Photo courtesy of Lars Gange & Mansfield Heliflight
A huge section of road in Cavendish, Vermont was eroded away during a recent storm, leaving a massive hole in the highway.
U.S. Disaster
Recovery Grants
On August 31, AmeriCares launched a $500,000 U.S. Disaster
Recovery Initiative to aid survivors of Irene and other recent disasters.
AmeriCares is awarding grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 for projects in
the health sector with an emphasis on medical and dental care for the
uninsured, mental health and psychosocial support services, as well as
preparedness for future disasters. Applications will be reviewed and awarded
on a rolling basis, with funds available on a first-come, first-served basis
through Oct. 31, 2011. Learn more about the grants program here.
AmeriCares aids survivors of natural disasters, political
conflict and extreme poverty around the world and across the United States,
saving lives and restoring health and hope. In the United States, AmeriCares
also provides ongoing aid for more than 300 health clinics serving the poor and
uninsured.
