Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Floods… Latest Flood Report: An extreme weather front that brought Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, has proven deadly in Libya, causing the failure of two dams and killing thousands. With thousands more missing, the death toll is expected to rise drastically. Americares is responding. Hurricane activity and other extreme weather events are intensifying as we reach the peak of the season. Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods are unleashing destruction on an unimaginable scale. The tornado season peaks in the spring and the hurricane season follows in June and extends through November. As the hurricanes form in the warming ocean and storm cells produce more tornadoes and flash flooding, it’s past time to prepare for extreme weather events. Get Ready Now. At Americares we see up close the staggering magnitude of extreme weather losses for families and communities – the personal history and common goods. Medicine security and access to health services become early casualties as emergency responders rush to provide the basics of food, shelter, clean water and hygiene in the first days. We know that immediate access to primary health services, including mental health support, along with medicines and medical supplies will save lives and restore health. Working with local partners, governments and other nonprofits to meet immediate needs, we then help survivors rebuild health facilities and services and restore hope for the future. No matter where extreme weather disasters strike, we are there and together with our partners, even in the worst times, we can make health happen. Click on the arrow to see how we have responded to the worst of hurricanes.
Extreme Heat, Drought & Deadly Wildfires The Latest Report: Deadly wildfires have burned on the Big Island and Maui in Hawaii, killing 97, injuring hundreds, damaging buildings and prompting evacuations of thousands. On July 6 global average surface temperatures exceeded 63° Fahrenheit for the first time. This past June was the hottest ever. And now it has been confirmed that this summer has been the hottest on record. Extreme heat (temperatures that are 10 degrees Fahrenheit or more above normal) kills nearly twice as many Americans each year as tornadoes and almost three times more than hurricanes. It is particularly deadly for the elderly and the poor. Extreme heatwaves contributed to more than 60,000 deaths in Europe in 2022 – according to a new report. Air pollution on top of record temperatures substantially increases the deadly health risks for these affected countries. Parts of India and Pakistan have been experiencing weeks of a dangerous combination of heat and humidity (often referred to as “wet bulb conditions”) which limits the human body’s ability to cool itself. Extreme weather is manifesting itself in record drought conditions that produce famine in some parts of the world. Here in the U.S. drought has contributed to the worst wildfires on record in California and in parts of the Southwest in the last three years. Visit the wildfire map for the latest fire activity. Check out the U.S. Drought Monitor to see the true extent of current drought conditions. And in 2023, Canada is confronting an unprecedented wildfire season. Additionally, wildfire smoke has resulted in unhealthy air quality across the western US. And in another twist of extreme weather, “atmospheric rivers” brought record floods and snow in California to areas already ravaged by drought and wildfires. Americares has partners in all the affected states and has conducted wildfire response activities annually. Click on the arrow and watch the video on the impact of extreme heat driven by climate change affecting the most vulnerable. (Photo by David Royal)