Large Scale Hurricane Response Continues

Emergency aid delivered; mobile clinic deployed to help survivors in need

As millions struggle in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, AmeriCares has responded with deliveries of relief supplies, bottled water, and deployment of a mobile medical unit to help families in need. More aid shipments are underway.

Throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, millions remain without power as cold weather sets in. At the same time, extensive damage to roads and property, severe flooding, fuel shortages and mass transit shutdowns are posing great challenges to survivors. Preliminary estimates set storm-related damages at up to $50 billion.

Staten Island, NY was particularly hard-hit by widespread power outages that paralyzed health services in many communities. On November 1, AmeriCares deployed a fully-stocked mobile medical clinic to the borough, helping the Beacon Christian Community Health Center (BCCH) treat patients despite power outages. View video »

“The ability to triage patients and keep a mobile clinic available during this power outage keeps patients out of the emergency room,” said Dr. David Kim, Executive Director of BCCH. “No one on Staten Island has ever done this before.”

Deliveries, Deployments and Disaster Grants

Several AmeriCares relief teams are conducting site visits to devastated communities in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut to assess needs and prepare additional shipments of emergency aid. In communities that are inaccessible due to flooding and road closures, we are prepared to award flash grants.

Our initial response includes:

• Deliveries of hundreds of family emergency kits, thousands of Johnson & Johnson hygiene kits, and household clean-up kits for distribution by the Salvation Army, World Cares Center and other organizations to families who remain displaced or without power. 
• Working with Feeding America, and Nestle Waters North America to deliver truckloads of bottled water to food banks in affected areas, including deliveries to City Harvest, Henry Street Settlements and the Food Bank of New York City. Water is also being delivered to food banks on Long Island where drinking water is scarce due to power outages and sewage contamination. 
• Deploying a 40-foot mobile medical clinic to Staten Island on November 1, to help treat the ill, and injured.

Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Adrees Latif, www.trust.org

People stand amidst burnt houses, near those which survived in Breezy Point, a neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Queens

Meanwhile, our emergency outreach efforts continue to support clinics in our network. A stock of targeted medicines and supplies is positioned for immediate shipment, with special focus on tetanus vaccine, chronic care meds including insulin, first aid, and other medicines and relief supplies.

“The damage to the East Coast is unprecedented, and we are prepared to provide a sustained response to help affected communities,” said Garrett Ingoglia, AmeriCares vice-president of emergency response. “As our partners identify urgent needs, we are ready to help in any way we can.”

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