Press Release
Stamford, Conn. – Aug. 28, 2019 – Americares emergency response experts are prepared to respond to Tropical Storm Dorian as the storm heads toward Puerto Rico at near-hurricane strength and takes aim at Florida as a possible Category 2 hurricane.
“Dorian has the potential to impact communities still recovering from the devastating 2017 hurricanes,” said Americares Vice President of Emergency Programs Kate Dischino. “Americares emergency response experts are on stand-by in Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the U.S. mainland, ready to meet health needs in affected communities.”
The eye of the storm is expected to pass over or near the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico later today and could develop into a Category 2 hurricane as it continues toward Florida’s east coast. Parts of Florida could receive 4 to 8 inches of rain and up to 10 inches in isolated areas later this week and into next.
The U.S. National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for Puerto Rico and a tropical storm warning for the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the Puerto Rican islands of Culebra and Vieques. President Trump also approved an emergency declaration for Puerto Rico Tuesday night and ordered federal assistance for local authorities. Additionally, a tropical storm watch is in effect for the Dominican Republic from Isla Saona to Samana.
Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, is also in communication with partner organizations in Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida with offers of assistance. The organization supports health facilities, including clinics and hospitals, throughout the Caribbean. Americares is prepared to deploy relief workers to affected areas and deliver emergency medicines and relief supplies, including supplies for displaced families, as needed.
Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and stocks emergency medicine and supplies in warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis.
In 2017, Americares established a base of operations in Puerto Rico to oversee its Hurricane Maria Recovery Program. To date, Americares has delivered over $40 million in aid for hurricane survivors in Puerto Rico alone. Americares work includes more than 100 shipments of medicine and relief supplies, repairs to damaged health facilities, medical care for the most vulnerable survivors and mental health programs to help survivors cope with stress and trauma.
The organization responds to approximately 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities. Since its founding 40 years ago, Americares has provided more than $17 billion in aid to 164 countries, including the United States.
Donations to Americares Worldwide Disaster Relief Fund will support its response to the crisis. To donate, go to americares.org/worldwide