Direct Relief is closely monitoring information regarding the severe flooding in Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri, and is in contact with its local partners on the ground to respond to any medical material aid needs they may have.

Direct Relief staff have made offers of assistance to existing Direct Relief partners Community Health Connection in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Pittsburg, Kansas. Both organizations are currently evaluating Direct Relief’s available product supply, as well as developments on the ground to see if aid would be useful.

The flooding has heavily impacted the logistics of getting aid to some heavily affected Kansas towns like Coffeyville, Neodesha, and Chanute. According to the Associated Press and reports from Direct Relief partners, many major roadways are completely blocked by water, and helicopter airlift is currently the only viable way of transporting materials into affected communities.

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to natural disasters in the United States extending back to 1964. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the organization has furnished $31.4 million in aid to the Gulf Coast, composed of $26.8 million in medical material aid and $4.6 million in targeted financial investments.