Hurricane Preparedness & Distribution Interactive Map
Channel: Direct Relief
Date: 2012-06-06

See the map here: http://j.mp/DRhurricanemap

Every year hurricanes pose a threat to more than 50 million people living in coastal areas in the United States, and throughout the Caribbean.  When a disaster strikes, time is of the essence.

That's why, Direct Relief gets in front of these predictable problems by equipping its nonprofit clinic and hospital partners with pre-positioned supplies at the onset of hurricane season, helping to ensure people in the most vulnerable communities are prepared.

This map on our website shows where we help.  In the United States, Direct Relief is the only nonprofit licensed to distribute pharmaceuticals in all 50 states.  

In this year's program, we have over 50 nonprofit clinic and health center partners in 9 states that are participating.  These clinics are on the front line of the healthcare safety net, helping people who are low income and uninsured.  The US packs equip these providers clinics with products that can treat up to 100 patients for a 72 hour period.  Each pack is waterproof, durable, ready to be used on site, or grab-and-go if needed to be taken to an alternate location.

Under each of the icons you can get a history of each of the clinic's participation in the past years of the program, as well as some information on their operations.
We have the same information for our international partners -- this year we have equipped 10 partners in seven countries with modules designed to treat up to 5,000 patients for one month.

For context, we wanted to show some information from third-party agencies.  When you first launch the map, you'll see a live weather feed from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which will display hurricane tracks as they happen.  You'll also see, in the top right-hand corner of the screen, a tab called "Additional Layers" with more information.  I'll go to the tab and choose to show all hurricane tracks that are category 4 and 5 since 1980.  You can then see why we have selected these facilities.  Other information includes damage of hurricanes by county historically, vulnerability to hurricanes, and live radar weather information.

We hope you find this information useful, and if you have any questions, please email us at info@directrelief.org.

Thanks!

Narrated by Damon Taugher, Director of Direct Relief USA Smart preparation is the best defense against Hurricanes. That's why, at the start of each #hurricane season, Direct Relief pre-positions hurricane prep packs and modules in secure locations in disaster-prone areas, providing health facilities with the medications and medical supplies they’ll need in a storms’ wake.

To learn more about Direct Relief's efforts in response to hurricanes, visit: https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricanes/.