Direct Relief’s partners in the Caribbean are weathering the storm as Category 1 Hurricane Sandy strengthens and makes landfall near Kingston, the capital of Jamaica today. Severe flooding and strong winds have been reported in Haiti and in Jamaica. Direct Relief is monitoring the storm and readying emergency supplies if partners in the Caribbean request emergency medicines and supplies, or if the hurricane makes landfall in New England next week.

Hurricane Sandy is expected to hit eastern Cuba tonight and move through the Bahamas Thursday and Friday, moving north along the east coast of the U.S. over the weekend.

Seven Hurricane Preparedness Modules have been pre-positioned in the Caribbean, including Jamaica and Haiti, where they could each support up to 5,000 people for one month. Hurricane Preparedness Packs are also at the ready along the U.S. East Coast in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. To see a map of Direct Relief’s Hurricane Preparedness Program partners and live hurricane tracks, click here.