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Crisis Alert: We are responding to Hurricane Helene

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Medicines and Emergency Aid Rushed to Joplin

  • May 27, 2011

Shipments to Partner Clinics Address Shattered City’s “Urgent Need.”

americares quoteChronic care medications, pain relievers and antibiotics are in short supply and have been identified as urgent needs,”

— emergency response expert, Jessica Ginger

Amid the ruins that were once the heart of Joplin, MO, and in the shadow of what remains of St. John’s Medical Center, AmeriCares tornado relief efforts are fully mobilized.

A rush shipment of medicines and supplies already arrived, with more deliveries due at clinics and shelters to help survivors of the devastating May 22 tornado that claimed 125 lives, injured 750, and destroyed 2,000 buildings.

On May 24, emergency response expert, Jessica Ginger, met with partner clinics now serving as triage centers in the impact zone and identified chronic care medications, pain relievers, antibiotics, rescue inhalers and tetanus vaccine as urgent needs. Bottled water, blankets and hygiene items are also in short supply.  

Immediate Response:

To quickly meet these critical needs and help doctors continue to care for survivors, AmeriCares delivered the first emergency shipment of medicines and supplies on May 26, with two more arriving May 27-28, totaling $177,000 in medical aid for the Community Clinic of Joplin and Access Family Care.  The shipments contain:

  • Rescue inhalers for 468 patients with asthma
  • Antibiotics to treat 387 people with upper respiratory infections
  • One month of treatment for 160 patients with hypertension
  • Sutures for 288 procedures
  • 1,800 tubes of antibiotic ointment and antiseptic solution for wound care along with medicine to manage chronic pain for 18 patients
  • 80 hand and wrist wraps for people with arthritis

Two trucks carrying of 64,000 bottles of water supplied by Nestle Water North America will arrive in May 28 for rescue workers and affected families.

AmeriCares is also working with its committed corporate partners on targeted donations of insulin for diabetics and tetanus vaccine. Clinic doctors, nurses and staff who survived the deadly twister are determined to care for both uninsured patients who rely on their services and the many victims of the monumental disaster. There is growing concern that people who have lost their livelihoods will lose their insurance, placing a steep rise in demand on Joplin’s safety net clinics.

 “We’ll be focusing on Joplin’s relief needs today, but we know they are going to need additional help in the coming months as these clinics will be caring for more people in the long wake of the disaster.” explained Ella Gudwin, AmeriCares VP for Emergency Response.

$1.2 Million in 2011 U.S. Tornado Relief

Meanwhile AmeriCares recovery efforts continue in the South after late April tornadoes ripped through Alabama, Mississippi, and five other states, killing 350, crushing entire neighborhoods, and displacing tens of thousands. AmeriCares responded immediately and has since launched a prolonged tornado relief operation, including deliveries of more than $1.2 million in medicines, humanitarian aid for 13 clinics and water to shelters and evacuee resource centers through 10 food banks and the Salvation Army.

Read more about our ongoing U.S. tornado relief.

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