United States & Territories
International Medical Corps has been active in the US & Territories since 2005, initially responding to devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Today, we collaborate with national, state and local partners to support emergency responses, identify gaps in the health system and support community-driven solutions to challenges brought on by natural disasters, public health crises and outbreaks of disease, helping to increase access to healthcare in underserved communities.
In 2023, the US & Territories experienced 28 climate disasters that each incurred damage costs of more than $1 billion, totaling $92.9 billion—exceeding by far the amount that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies provide annually to help Americans protect against severe-weather events.
The increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including heat, is a major threat to the health and well-being of underserved communities. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, combined with the repetitive impact of frequent disasters, have revealed significant gaps in the US health system and help to highlight the disproportionate impact of emergencies on underserved and vulnerable communities in the US & Territories.
342 million
39 years
79/83 years
male/female
The Challenges
Intense, Frequent Disasters
In 2023, the US experienced 28 separate billion-dollar weather and climate disasters, totalling more than $92.9 billion in damages and directly or indirectly causing almost 500 deaths.
Decreasing Health Budgets
The US spends $4.5 trillion annually on health but directs less than 3% toward public health and prevention.
Underfunded Response Programmes
CDC public health and responsiveness programs and FEMA preparedness budgets have been cut, and the number of public health positions has shrunk by tens of thousands.
Incomplete Public Health
Only about one-half of the US population is served by a comprehensive public health system, leaving communities across the country vulnerable to the next emergency.
Our Work
Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery
International Medical Corps has been an emergency responder in the United States since 2005, when we partnered with community clinics in New Orleans overwhelmed after Hurricane Katrina Today, we work in the US to support communities as they recover from the immediate shock of a disaster and as they rebuild over the long term, focusing especially on underserved communities.
When disasters disrupt normal life, International Medical Corps responds, deploying medical teams, equipment and supplies, as well as mobile health units, when needed.
We partner with state and federal responders and collaborate with local health facilities and organisations, helping to fill gaps in available healthcare services, deliver urgently needed supplies and ensure access to healthcare in times of crisis.
After an emergency, we are committed to helping health facilities and local organisations build back better—providing training and capacity-building to support emergency preparedness efforts in the event of a future crisis.
Training
Across the US & Territories, International Medical Corps designs, hosts and conducts robust training courses designed to help health facilities prepare for and respond to health crises and disasters in their communities, so that residents can be their own best first responders. International Medical Corps operates a suite of training programmes that help US-based health clinic executive, clinical and operational staff to identify hazards and mitigate potential impacts, enabling them to stay operational in the aftermath of a crisis, test emergency preparedness plans and provide the best quality of care in a range of emergency scenarios. In 2023, for example, International Medical Corps delivered training programmes to 72 health facilities and networks in at-risk communities nationwide.
Our US Partnerships
We work with and strengthen existing health systems, rather than setting up parallel pathways to care. This approach is key to our effectiveness and to local communities’ recovery. Over the past seven years alone, International Medical Corps has worked with partner networks of more than 275 hospitals, clinics, health-related facilities and NGOs across 18 states and territories, supporting more than 6 million patients and healthcare providers.
International Medical Corps collaborates with more than 100 local, state and national partners to enhance our efforts in the US & Territories, including:
- federally qualified health centre associations and primary care associations, such as ArCare, the California Primary Care Association, the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, KentuckyCare, the Texas Primary Care Association and more;
- state departments of health and emergency management, including the California Department of Health, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority and the Florida Department of Health, among others;
- emergency responders, such as California Emergency Medical Services and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; and
- academic partners, including Brown University, Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Stanford University.