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Crisis Alert: We are responding to Hurricane Helene

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Tropical Storm Barry

STATUS
Active Emergency
DATE
July 13, 2019
REGION
Gulf Coast
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Major Flooding

Americares is responding to Tropical Storm Barry, that made landfall on July 13 after briefly reaching hurricane strength (75 mph winds), bringing torrential rains, storm surge and major flooding along the Gulf Coast. Heavy rains have already caused extensive flooding and authorities are most concerned about the slow-moving storm’s potential for rain (more than 20 inches), swollen rivers and storm surge that could produce dangerous flooding all along the Louisiana Coast and into Mississippi and Alabama as well. A federal emergency was declared for Louisiana. Americares is in contact with our many partners in the region and will respond as needed. The first shipments of bottled water are underway and other shipments of relief supplies are planned.  Photo from Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

A History of Relief Work

Americares has strong and lasting connections throughout the Gulf Coast, including in and around New Orleans, and has emergency responders and relief supplies available for a swift response, as needed. Because of that history going back to Hurricane Katrina and incuding the Gulf Oil Spill and the 2016 major flooding in Louisiana, we have worked to help our many partners be ready for the extreme weather that is famliar to the region.  

Americares recently conducted disaster preparedness training with health partners in Tropical Storm Barry’s path. The training was designed to strengthen the coordination and communication needed to effectively respond to such a storm, enabling the health centers to continue providing care to patients in the midst of a disaster. The training occurred last month at the start of hurricane season and included 13 different health partners in New Orleans including 9 clinics and community health providers, the New Orleans Health Department, New Orleans Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Louisiana Primary Care Association and 504 HealthNet. We will be coordinating with these local health partners in the days ahead and will follow up with them to assess the impact of their preparedness training.

40 Years of Responding to Disaster

Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice 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. The organization has a long history of responding to emergencies in the U.S., including Hurricanes Sandy, Harvey, Irma, Maria and Michael.

Americares responds to an average of 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings disaster preparedness programs to vulnerable communities.