In the wake of several devastating tornadoes this past weekend, Direct Relief has sent or is preparing to send 19 shipments of emergency medicines and medical supplies in response to requests from health centers in Mississippi and Alabama. Direct Relief staff anticipates further requests for shipments over the next few days.

Delta Health Center, which operates 16 health centers throughout Mississippi, was especially affected as their Rolling Fork clinic was destroyed by the tornado that also killed 25 people in that community. Seventy-two hours after the tornado’s landfall, their team set up two tent clinics in the town (one in the parking lot of their destroyed clinic and one at nearby Mount Lula Baptist Church). After receiving a request for medical aid, Direct Relief sent a shipment of requested medications, including cardiovascular drugs and naloxone, to their team yesterday and is also preparing to send them an Emergency Health Kit, which contains essential medicine and supplies to care for 100 patients for up to three days and are designed for mobile care after disasters.

In addition, Direct Relief is providing an emergency operating grant to Delta Health Center for immediate needs. The Footprint Project has also arrived, thanks to a connection from Direct Relief staff, to help establish solar and battery power solutions for the tent clinics, as well as power solutions for those dependent on medical devices. Footprint Project, a Minnesota-based non-profit that works to provide cleaner energy for communities in crisis, is the recent beneficiary of Direct Relief-donated solar generators.

Direct Relief has dispatched or is preparing to dispatch shipments to the following health centers and clinics:

Mississippi

• Alcorn State University Family Clinic, Natchez            
• Bethesda Free Health Clinic, Ocean Springs
• Central MS Health Service, Inc., Jackson        
• Claiborne County Family Health, Port Gibson
• East Central MS Health Care, Inc., Sebastopol              
• First Baptist Medical/Dental, Vicksburg          
• Leflore County Health Center, Greenwood    
• North Mississippi Primary Health Care, Ashland            
• University of Mississippi, Jackson       
• Delta Health Center, Mound Bayou   
• Plan A Health, Louise               
• The Good Shepherd Medical, Laurel
• Good Samaritan Clinic, Tupelo

Alabama

• St Michael’s Medical Clinic, Anniston
• Good Samaritan Clinic, Tuscaloosa    
• M-Power Ministries, Birmingham       
• Ozanam Charitable Pharmacy, Mobile               
• Whatley Health Services, Inc., Tuscaloosa        
• A Promise To HELP, Birmingham