Flash flooding continues to threaten Texas communities, even as the official death toll from this weekend’s disaster has risen to 95, including dozens of children. Search and rescue teams have raced to locate survivors and evacuate people to safety in advance of the anticipated rainfall. The death toll is expected to rise as recovery missions are carried out.
Direct Relief has staff currently on the ground in Texas, and the organization is in communication with responding search and rescue groups, camps, and healthcare partners in affected areas, including National Emergency Management and Response, which deployed personnel to Kerrville in response to the flooding. To meet emergent needs related to Texas’s extreme weather events, Direct Relief has committed an initial $50,000 in direct funding and made its $90 million stockpile of medications and supplies available to responding organizations.
Through a long-term network of partnerships, Direct Relief provides both ongoing and emergency support to healthcare providers across the state, including in Kerr County. The organization has delivered more than $114,000 in essential medications and supplies to trusted community partners in Texas over the last 30 days, including Texas Lions Camp and Raphael Community Free Clinic in Kerr County and Lirios Pediatrics, and Hope Medical Clinic in Travis County – all aid that is immediately available to support communities impacted by the current disaster.
North Carolina
In North Carolina, Tropical Depression Chantal has brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and tornadoes, necessitating evacuations and more than 100 reported water rescues. Tens of thousands have been left without power, and roads have been flooded or blocked by trees and debris. One death has been reported. The storm system is continuing to move northward up the U.S. coast, and responders are concerned that there may be more flooding in the Cape Fear River Basin area.
Direct Relief has staff in North Carolina and maintains a wide network of partners in the impacted area. The organization has offered support to health centers and clinics that serve communities hit by Chantal, and is in contact with North Carolina Emergency Management and the North Carolina Community Health Center Association.
Looking Forward
In the aftermath of a flooding or tropical storm event, the most urgent health needs often center on a combination of implementing prevention measures and re-establishing continuity of care.
Tdap vaccinations, which protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, are frequently in high demand because people have been exposed to tetanus and other contaminants during disaster clean-up, and water purification tablets and IV fluids are also often requested and necessary to provide potable water and healthcare support. After recent flooding and tropical storm events, Direct Relief has also met significantly increased needs for epinephrine auto-injectors, as patients and emergency responders alike experience stings from bees and yellowjackets, as well as for protective gear, respiratory inhalers, and insect repellent.
People who evacuate or are displaced from their homes are frequently forced to do so without their prescriptions, leading to an increased risk of complications from health conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other serious chronic health issues. Patients who require consistent medical intervention, such as those with cancer or kidney disease, or people who rely on powered medical devices, are also at increased risk of experiencing long-term, adverse consequences to their health in the aftermath of these disasters.
During intensive rescue operations, first responders, such as the search and rescue teams on the ground in central Texas, often wear through their gear, medical supplies, and financial resources as they work to save as many lives as possible over days. While these organizations are frequently staffed and run by volunteers, a large-scale response can deplete operating costs quickly.
Direct Relief will continue to monitor the situation, in close collaboration with responding organizations, and provide support as needed. Generally, it takes days after a disaster to begin to grasp the full scale of medical impacts, and healthcare needs grow greater in the weeks following a disaster.
