Hurricane Helene Response

On September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm before unleashing a historic deluge of rainfall and wind over the southeast, traveling through Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee. Less than two weeks later, on October 9, Hurricane Milton slammed into the Florida coast just south of Tampa, wreaking extensive infrastructure damage and knocking out power to millions. These two storms are responsible for at least 255 deaths and an estimated $300 billion in damages and economic loss.

The back-to-back major hurricanes triggered large-scale landslides, flooding and road damage—isolating and displacing entire communities and compromising essential services, including power, water, sewage and sanitation systems. Nearly two months later, affected communities are still reeling from the impacts of the storms, with increased physical health threats and challenges, limited access to essential care and shelter, additional mental stress and, in some communities, little to no access to potable water. Across nearly all affected areas, including Buncombe County in North Carolina, communities remain under a boil-water advisory due to damaged or contaminated water systems. In Buncombe County, access to potable water is not expected to return until 2025.

As communities return to their normal operations, students return to school and businesses reopen, residents remain exceedingly vulnerable to numerous challenges, including an increased risk of communicable disease, contaminated mud, non-operational sanitation systems, reduced access to potable water, worsening of existing health conditions, disrupted and decreased access to healthcare, lost wages and shelter, and increased mental stress.

International Medical Corps’ Response

International Medical Corps has implemented a multi-state response to both Hurricanes Helene and Milton across four affected states—Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee—since September 26. We have partnered with state and local governments, health center organizations and networks, and other local actors to provide direct health services, water and sanitation supplies, and medical and nonmedical equipment to affected communities. As health facilities return to regular operations and communities adjust back to normal, International Medical Corps has been transitioning from providing direct services to collaborating with state, local and regional partners to support ongoing recovery and future preparedness efforts.

In response to Hurricane Milton, International Medical Corps is coordinating closely with the Florida Association of Community Health Centers (FACHC), existing health facility partners, and county- and state-run distribution centers to identify and disseminate urgently needed emergency supplies, equipment and other items. For example, one large federally qualified health center (FQHC) network south of Tampa was heavily impacted by Hurricane Milton, with four health centers—including a specialized care clinic for individuals with chronic illnesses—taken offline due to severe damages. International Medical Corps is working to support the reopening of these facilities.

In response to Hurricane Helene across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee, International Medical Corps has responded by distributing urgent medical and non-medical items and by providing direct medical services. Over the course of the response, we have facilitated the shipment and distribution of 10,144 hygiene kits, 1,512 wound-care kits, and 20,441 hygiene and emergency items to 82 sites—including health facilities, community centers and recovery centers—across the region. International Medical Corps has also delivered 14 1,000-gallon water tanks, 6,000 gallons of potable water and 20 portable toilets to various health facilities, to ensure the restoration and continuation of operations and services.

In North Carolina, International Medical Corps provided direct medical and behavioral health care to residents of hard-hit communities in Buncombe County, working in partnership with the Buncombe County Health and Human Services and the Red Cross, since October 13. International Medical Corps deployed a total of 47 volunteer professionals, including doctors, nurses, pharmacists and social workers, to provide essential medical and behavioral healthcare at four sites: one medical needs shelter, two general-population shelters and one medical mobile unit (MMU) located at a community care station. Over the course of the response at all service sites, International Medical Corps’ team provided 1,403 administrations of over-the-counter medications, 349 medical consultations and 142 behavioral health consultations. The team provided around-the-clock care to shelter residents, effectively curtailed transmission of seasonal illnesses or other communicable diseases in shelters through increased screening and isolation plans, and provided critical mental health support to residents amid many losses and changes. As Buncombe County shifts to a long-term approach and has closed most shelters and many of its immediate response services, International Medical Corps has transitioned to support ongoing recovery efforts, concluding all medical and behavioral health services as of November 9. The team successfully distributed remaining supplies, including pharmaceuticals and water filtration supplies, to the Buncombe County Department of Health and local implementing partners.

International Medical Corps has also helped many affected and closed health centers restore full operational capacity. The team provided 14 health centers with 1,000-gallon water tanks, 10 health centers with two portable toilets each, and two health centers with a total of 6,000 gallons of potable water, as part of our efforts to help health centers—including rural and hard-to-reach facilities—meet urgent and essential water and sanitation needs. In addition to water supplies, the team distributed portable showers, camping toilets, handwashing stations, tables, chairs, tarps and canopies to support clinic operations.

In Tennessee, International Medical Corps delivered essential vaccines and emergency preparedness and response equipment—including a shipment this week of first-aid kits, water, sanitation and hygiene items, and other relief supplies—to two FQHC networks. International Medical Corps also provided 200 doses of tetanus vaccines and 200 doses of hepatitis A vaccines, and more than 3,000 hygiene items, including hand sanitizer, diapers, insect repellant and sinks; 1,200 medical-supply items, first-aid kits and insulin cookers; and 200 relief and recovery supplies, including work gloves and batteries. The team continues to coordinate closely with local partners to understand and support their needs as services and operations are restored.

In Georgia, International Medical Corps is partnering with an FQHC based in Augusta to meet urgent needs for supplies, including adult and baby diapers, wipes, formula, food, hygiene kits and supplies, blankets, flashlights, trash bags, heaters and hygiene kits. International Medical Corps also continues to coordinate with the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, the Georgia Primary Care Association (PCA), the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Emergency Medical Services and several other FQHC networks to support their ongoing needs.

In Florida, International Medical Corps continues to support the recovery of health centers affected by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton.