Americares Ready to Respond to Tropical Storm Nicole

Stamford, Conn. – Nov. 9, 2022 – Americares relief workers are ready to deploy and respond to Tropical Storm Nicole, which is expected to strengthen into a Category 1 hurricane before it makes landfall in Florida late tonight or early tomorrow. An Americares emergency response team will be on the way to Fort Lauderdale as soon as the storm clears and it is safe to travel. 

“Nicole’s path is enormous, and the storm has the potential to impact communities still recovering from Hurricane Ian just a few weeks ago,” said Americares Director of U.S. Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn, who recently returned from Fort Myers, Fla., where she was leading Americares Hurricane Ian response. “Any significant rainfall could prompt flooding and potentially disrupt the recovery efforts.” 

Nicole is forecast to bring heavy rain, flooding and dangerous storm surge along much of Florida’s east coast, portions of coastal Georgia and the Florida Big Bend along the Gulf Coast, according to the National Hurricane Center. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency for 34 counties to prepare for potential impacts of the storm, and President Joe Biden approved an emergency declaration, authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide support and federal funding for the recovery in more than 40 counties. If Tropical Storm Nicole makes landfall as a hurricane, it will be the fourth hurricane to make landfall in the continental United States in November or December since 1851, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Hurricane Database. 

Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, is prepared to provide critically needed medicines, relief supplies and emergency funding to health facilities and partner organizations in Florida to help meet the health needs of storm survivors.  

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Americares supported more than a dozen local health facilities assisting low-income and uninsured residents. The response included delivering hygiene kits and relief supplies valued at over $300,000, as well as more than $200,000 in emergency funding to help clinics make rapid repairs, support surge staffing, replace damaged equipment and meet other urgent needs. Americares continues to provide disaster mental health support to help health workers affected by the storm cope with stress and trauma related to the hurricane. 
 
Americares has a long history of responding to emergencies in Florida and the Gulf Coast. The organization has been on the frontlines of recovery efforts following major hurricanes in the area in recent years, including Hurricanes Ian, Irma, Dorian and Michael. After Hurricane Michael, a Category 5 storm that devastated the Florida Panhandle in 2018, Americares delivered 61 shipments of medicines, medical supplies, hygiene products and other relief items and operated a temporary medical clinic in Panama City, Fla., that provided primary care services for more than 800 survivors. 
 
Americares responds to more than 30 natural disasters and humanitarian crises worldwide each year, establishes long-term recovery projects and brings preparedness programs to communities vulnerable to disasters. Americares relief workers are among the first to respond to emergencies, helping to restore health services for survivors.  

Donations to Americares U.S. Disaster Response Fund will support its response to Tropical Storm Nicole. To donate, go to sandbox.americares.org/usdisasters