A band of severe weather, including more than 50 tornadoes, swept through the central United States during the evening of March 31 and into the morning of April 1, killing more than 20 people, hospitalising dozens and devastating homes, businesses and critical infrastructure, including healthcare facilities.
Search-and-rescue efforts are underway in response to reports of people trapped in their homes, while hundreds of thousands of people spanning multiple states are without power. Millions remain under a tornado watch, as the band of severe weather continues to move to the east. This weekend’s storms come a week after severe weather swept across the Southeast, killing at least 26 people and decimating entire towns.
International Medical Corps has already deployed an emergency response team, which will be based in Little Rock, Arkansas, to assess the damage throughout the region. International Medical Corps is working with local authorities, community organisations, partner health facilities and dozens of local clinics across three states, and is ready to provide hygiene kits, wound-care kits and generators to those in need. In addition to providing immediate lifesaving assistance, International Medical Corps is positioned to provide long-term recovery efforts as needs arise, working closely with local governments, health authorities and partners.
As hurricane seasons and storms have worsened in recent years, International Medical Corps teams have responded throughout the US, addressing significant unmet health needs, especially among at-risk populations. International Medical Corps’ US Program team has forged partnerships with state and community organisations around the country. For example, we work with ARCare, a network of federally qualified healthcare centres with dozens of clinics across Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi, as well as with Winrock International, an organisation focused on economic development with local partners across Arkansas.
You can support our efforts to help people affected by these powerful storms. Please donate today.