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Stamford, Conn. – Oct. 8, 2020 – Americares is preparing to respond to Hurricane Delta as the storm grows in strength and size over the Gulf of Mexico and heads directly toward Louisiana communities still recovering from Hurricane Laura.
Delta is expected to become a major hurricane before making landfall in Louisiana tomorrow, bringing storm surge, heavy rain and damaging winds. It is on track to become the 10thstorm to make landfall in the continental U.S. in a single season—breaking a record held for more than a century. Americares has offered emergency medicines and relief supplies to more than 90 partner clinics in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas in the path of the hurricane.
Americares has an emergency pharmacy stocked with essential medicines, vaccines and medical supplies that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis. The health-focused relief and development organization is also prepared to assist safety net health centers that sustain damage in the storm.
“Yet another storm is taking aim at the Louisiana coast where families are still recovering from the devastating back-to-back hurricanes, and thousands of residents remain displaced from Hurricane Laura,” said Americares Associate Director of Emergency Response Sambhavi Cheemalapati. “Thousands of families are likely to be affected, and Americares is ready to meet their most urgent health needs.”
Delta is the sixth storm this season in the Gulf and comes on the heels of Laura, a Category 4 storm that made landfall in Louisiana only 7 weeks ago. To date, Americares has provided 21 shipments of water, medicine and supplies to 10 health centers and partner organizations in Louisiana and Texas impacted by Hurricane Laura, along with emergency flash grants to meet immediate needs.
Delta first made landfall in southeastern Mexico early Wednesday as a Category 2 hurricane, knocking out power, toppling trees and causing scattered flooding in cities and towns along the Yucatán’s coast. Forecasters warn the hurricane is expected to regain strength and return to major hurricane status as it travels over the warm waters of the southern Gulf of Mexico.
Gov. John Bel Edwards of Louisiana, Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama and Gov. Tate Reeves of Mississippi declared states of emergency ahead of the storm, and on Wednesday, President Trump approved Louisiana’s federal emergency declaration request.
According to the National Hurricane Center, a storm surge warning is in effect from High Island, Texas, to Ocean Spring, Miss. Parishes throughout southwestern Louisiana have issued evacuation orders—some mandatory, others voluntary.
Americares has professional relief workers ready to respond to disasters at a moment’s notice and has a long history of responding to emergencies in the U.S., including Hurricanes Katrina, Harvey and, most recently, Hurricanes Laura and Sally.
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.
Donations to Americares U.S. Disaster Relief Fund will support its response to the storms. To make a donation, please go to sandbox.americares.org/usdisasterfund