Our emergency team preparing an airlift of medicine and supplies for departure.
Americares works with its extensive network of safety net clinic partners to restore health services after a disaster.
Help families in crisis after a disaster.
Americares had emergency response teams in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands in the wake of Hurricane Irma, one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded. The storm battered the Caribbean and southern Florida with destructive force, killing at least 69 people, destroying homes and businesses and leaving millions without power. In the midst of significant logistical challenges, Americares emergency teams in the Caribbean and Central and South Florida coordinated shipments of critical medicine and supplies for survivors while meeting with response and health partners to assess needs and restore health services. The recovery work continues in the Caribbean and in Florida.
In Florida, Americares worked to restore health services in storm-damaged communities across the state. Americares delivered medicine and supplies to replace any damaged by floodwaters and to meet an increased demand as people returned to their homes. Clinics in the Florida Keys, Homestead, Miami, Melbourne, Oakland Park and Orlando have received aid; Americares is also assisting a shelter for homeless youth in Fort Lauderdale. We have delivered nearly $21 million in medicine, supplies and other support, along with emergency funding to help health care facilities replace damaged medicine and supplies and execute rapid repairs not covered by insurance.
Before Hurricane Irma made landfall, Americares pre-positioned medicine in central Florida, contacted 80 partner health centers to offer help, and positioned a team in Orlando that could quickly travel to the most heavily impacted areas once the storm had passed. An Americares Emergency Response Team worked in the Florida Keys, assessing the status of partner health centers and hospitals and providing assistance.
In the Caribbean, our emergency response teams coordinated shipments of critical medicine and supplies to local health organizations in islands that have been devastated by the storms. Americares emergency shipments have reached hospitals in St. Thomas and St. Martin, two hard-hit islands. In the U.S. Virgin Islands Americares team completed an assessment of health needs and recovery work continues. Our team has worked with hospitals, clinics, skilled nursing facilities and shelters to meet emergency needs for medicine and medical supplies.
Our U.S. Programs partner with an extensive safety net clinic network in all 50 states and Puerto Rico that allows us to build a rapid response to a disaster and build long-term programs in support of health system restoration. In addition, we reach out to and identify new partners during a disaster to meet immediate community needs and establish sustainable relationships for strengthening health services. All of our partners listed below receive emergency medicines and supplies. Partners listed with ** are also receiving program and project support ranging from targeted health initiatives to operational assistance.
Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters rapidly and stocks emergency medicine and supplies in its warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis. We respond to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year and establish long-term recovery projects.
Should Americares raise funds in excess of what's needed to respond to this particular crisis, the funds will be redirected to where the need is greatest.