Americares Readies for Hurricane Maria

Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 19, 2017 – Americares emergency response experts are readying to respond to Hurricane Maria as the Category 5 storm heads toward Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands with winds up to 160 mph. Maria has already caused widespread devastation on the island of Dominica and is expected to bring a dangerous storm surge and widespread flooding to islands in the Caribbean.

“Maria is on track to hit islands still struggling to recover from Hurricane Irma. Help will be needed,” said Americares Vice President of Emergency Response Garrett Ingoglia. “Americares is prepared to provide medicines and supplies and meet the health needs of survivors.”

Americares emergency teams are currently on stand-by, ready to be deployed to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The health-focused relief and development organization is working with the Puerto Rico Department of Health to stock emergency shelters in San Juan with medical equipment and supplies.

Yesterday, with Maria approaching, Americares rushed an emergency airlift carrying $1.8 million in critical medicine and medical supplies to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The shipment contained more than 3 tons of urgently needed medical aid for patients with storm-related illnesses and injuries, as well as chronic disease medicine to replace medications lost in the storm.

At the same time, Americares relief workers continue to assist the Hurricane Irma relief efforts in the Caribbean and South Florida, as well as provide assistance to communities in southeast Texas recovering from Hurricane Harvey. To date, Americares has provided $5 million in aid for survivors of the recent storms, including emergency medicine, bottled water, relief supplies and emergency funding for health facilities.

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 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.

Donations to Americares Hurricane Maria Emergency Relief Fund will support its response. To make a donation please go to sandbox.americares.org/maria