The Deadly Season
The historic 2017 Atlantic hurricane season produced 17 named storms, most notably Harvey, Irma, and Maria that left hundreds dead, destroyed communities across the southern U.S. and Caribbean and caused an estimated $265 billion in damage – the most expensive hurricane season on record. Hurricane Harvey set a new mark for the most rainfall from a U.S. tropical storm. Hurricane Irma became one of the strongest Atlantic Ocean hurricanes ever recorded. Hurricane Maria was the most powerful hurricane to make landfall on the main island of Puerto Rico in 85 years.

August 17, 2017 – September 2, 2017
Hurricane Harvey
The Facts
- 51+ inches of U.S. record rainfall from a tropical storm– flooded an area in Texas the size of NJ
- More than 200,000 homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged.
- The strongest hurricane to strike Texas since 1961’s Hurricane Carla.
- Heavy impact areas: Corpus Christi, Houston, Port Arthur/Beaumont, Rockport

August 30, 2017 – September 16, 2017
Hurricane Irma
The Facts
- 185 mph winds – one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record – 780,000 people evacuated in Florida.
- Killed at least 69 people, destroyed homes and businesses and left millions without power.
- Heavy impact areas: St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. Martin, Florida (esp. Florida Keys)
- Severe damage to local health facilities on Caribbean Islands.

September 16, 2017 – October 3, 2017
Hurricane Maria
The Facts
- First Category 4 hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in 85 years.
- Left 3.3 million without power or water.
- Heavy impact areas: Dominica, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Death toll over 1,400 – estimated $94 billion in damage.
- Major infrastructure damage seriously limited health care access.
Americares Hurricane Response
Americares simultaneously responded to all three storms, deploying 75 Americares relief workers who spent more than 2,500 days in the field. The teams focused on meeting survivors’ health needs, increasing access to care and preparing safety net health facilities to better prepare for future storms. Our extensive U.S. Program partnerships with a network of local safety net clinics and health centers provides the foundation for the speed of our response and the magnitude and quality of our recovery efforts.
Our Recovery Priorities
- Restoration of health services
- Mental health and psychosocial support
- Emergency preparedness
Looking Ahead
The barrage of storms and the generous outpouring of donations allowed Americares to launch its largest disaster relief program since the 2004 Southeast Asia tsunami. We continue working in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, Dominica and the U.S Virgin Islands, helping to restore health care access, expand mental health services and improve preparedness for future storms. We are working with health facilities directly impacted by the hurricanes to assess the effectiveness of their level of emergency preparedness prior to and after the storms and then assist them to strengthen and expand their capabilities going forward. Our Hurricane Irma relief program is helping health centers serving the most vulnerable populations to better prepare for future storms.
Our long-term recovery programming is focusing on mental health and psychosocial needs. We are working to support 9,000 health workers in disaster-affected communities in Texas and Puerto Rico with mental health programming, support groups and educational resources. Both the physical and psychological recovery after a disaster require sustained support over the long term, and Americares has made that commitment.
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