Americares employees prepare emergency supplies in the organization’s Connecticut distribution center on Sept. 10, 2018, as Hurricane Florence intensifies. Photo courtesy of Americares.
Stamford, Conn. – Sept. 10, 2018 – Americares is deploying a response team to North Carolina as Hurricane Florence intensifies. The storm, a Category 4 hurricane as of noon, is expected to make landfall in the Carolinas later this week. More than 30 inches of rain, dangerous flooding and life-threatening storm surges are expected. North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia have all declared states of emergency. North Carolina and South Carolina began issuing evacuation orders earlier today.
“The storm is on track to make a direct hit on the East Coast and impact much of the southern United States in the coming days,” said Americares Director of Emergency Response Brian Scheel. “Our response team has been activated and is ready to meet the immediate health needs in affected communities.”
The Americares emergency response team is expected to arrive in North Carolina tomorrow. The health-focused relief and development organization is also contacting partner health clinics in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia with offers of assistance. Americares is prepared to deliver emergency medicines and relief supplies, including supplies for displaced families, as well as provide support to damaged health clinics.
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 and Maria and the 2018 California wildfires.
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.