The natural disasters this
country has recently faced have resulted in a level of devastation and human
suffering that is unimaginable. The Massachusetts Medical Society is directly
contributing funds to state medical societies in states impacted by the
hurricanes, to help physicians rebuild their practices.
In an
effort to encourage and maximize giving, MMS has committed to match the first
$75,000 in member and district medical society contributions made to
organizations providing hurricane relief. Members should email Jennifer Day with
the amount of their donation, the organization receiving the donation, and the
date the donation was made. Contributions made through October 15, 2017 will be
matched and the funds will support ongoing relief efforts in states and
territories impacted this hurricane season.
Below
please find opportunities to lend your support to charitable and volunteer
efforts, as well as resources on past hurricanes and the impact on public
health and the healthcare infrastructure.
The
following information is provided for informational purposes only. The MMS does
not recommend or endorse the organizations listed below.
Charitable Donations
Global Giving
Hurricane Maria caused devastating destruction and flooding in the
Caribbean, destroying homes in Puerto Rico, Dominica, and the Virgin Islands
just two weeks after Hurricane Irma. This fund will provide relief to survivors
in the form of emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to
longer-term recovery assistance to help residents recover and rebuild. All
donations to this fund will exclusively support any necessary hurricane relief
and recovery efforts in the Caribbean.
Virgin Islands Relief Fund
Virgin
Islands Relief Fund Inc. is a Florida non-profit corporation, organized
exclusively for charitable purposes including the acceptance and
distribution of donated funds and goods to the people of the Virgin
Islands affected by hurricanes Irma, and Maria. Their mission is to effectively
respond to the rescue, relief, and rebuilding needs of the Virgin
Islands, and focus on building a sustainable infrastructure for the
future.
Foundation
for Puerto Rico (“FPR”),
one of the largest endowed public charities in Puerto Rico, is
currently fully dedicated to relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts on
the
Island which was devastated by Hurricane Maria.
Puerto
Rico Real-time Recovery Fund is a fund organized and by the non-profit ConPRmetidos in
partnership with Foundation for Puerto Rico, a 501(c)(3) corporation,
which is acting as the fiscal sponsor. All donations are 100%
tax-deductible and currently being used for (1) needs assessment
efforts,(2) long-term structural repairs to the most vulnerable
communities, and (3) power as a service.
Community
Foundation of Puerto Rico
has established the Puerto Rico Recovery Fund. The mission of the
community foundation is to develop the capacities of communities in
Puerto
Rico, to achieve their social and economic transformation, philanthropic
investment and maximizing the performance of each contribution.
Texas Medical Association Foundation
The Disaster Relief Fund provides grants to help reestablish the delivery of
patient care in physician practices in federally designated disaster areas
damaged by Hurricane Harvey. The program will help cover expenses (not covered
by insurance or other sources of funding) for relocating or rehabilitating a
physician’s medical office.
Florida Medical
Association – Foundation for Healthy Floridians
The Medical Disaster Fund provides support to physicians whose practices have
been impacted by natural disasters.
National Association of Free Clinics
– Disaster Relief Fund
Free and Charitable Clinics are the communities’ response to their health care
needs. In times of disaster, Free and Charitable Clinics serve as first
responders to help people access health care, medications and supplies that
they need.
The Community Foundation of North
Louisiana – Disaster Relief Fund
This fund provides grants to local nonprofits like Goodwill Industries,
Providence House and others who serve those affected by natural and manmade
disasters. Funds currently being collected will support relief efforts for
Hurricane Harvey.
American Medical Association
Foundation – Physician Disaster Recovery Fund
Donors can help support physicians impacted by recent hurricanes. Funds will be
used to re-establish the delivery of patient care in physician practices.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is working around the clock along the Gulf Coast to help
the thousands of people whose lives have been devastated by Hurricanes Harvey,
Irma, and Maria.
Direct Relief
Direct Relief provides targeted assistance to help safety net providers prepare
for and respond to emergencies. Response efforts—which include distribution of
pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, personal care items, equipment, and cash—are
swift, involve local partners, and are coordinated with other nonprofit
organizations and public health authorities to ensure the most effective use of
resources.
Charity Navigator Hot Topic
Charity Navigator has compiled a list of highly-rated organizations responding to
natural disaster to help you give generously and with confidence.
Volunteer Information
Relief Efforts for the US Virgin Islands
Physicians
and medical practices are encouraged to donate medical supplies and
medications to help victims of Hurricane Irma in the U.S. Virgin
Islands.
Puerto Rico Federal
Affairs Administration
For up to date information on disaster relief efforts.
Florida State Emergency Response Team
For up to date information on Hurricane Irma.
Texas Medical Board
Texas has temporarily suspended barriers that prevent out-of-state health care
providers from working with disaster response teams to assist victims of
Hurricane Harvey. The temporary permit is good for 30 days at no charge. Those
who apply need to be sponsored by a licensed Texas physician.
National
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Do not self-deploy. Volunteers should link up with affiliates or
organizations training individuals in order to assist Texas
in a cohesive and organized fashion and to avoid a hindrance on response and
recovery efforts. Do not send or bring unsolicited donations of goods. Texas is
still in the response phase and is unable to accommodate any material goods at
this time. Unsolicited donations create a challenge of storage and sorting when
focus is needed on response and recovery.
Resources
Louisiana State Medical
Society – Educational & Research Foundation
The Health Care and Disaster Planning project documented the lessons learned
from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The final report examines the major breakdowns
and failures of emergency preparedness plans and responses related to health
care in an effort to educate physicians and the health care community on the
need to reassess their emergency preparedness plans in light of the lessons
Louisiana learned.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: role of
individuals and collaborative networks in mobilizing/coordinating societal and
professional resources for major disasters
The medical support for the coordinated effort for Harris County Texas
(Houston) to rescue evacuees from New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina was
part of an integrated collaborative network. Both public health and operational
health care was structured to custom meet the needs of the evacuees and to
create an exit strategy for the clinic and shelter. Integrating local hospital
and physician resources into the Joint Incident Command was essential. Outside
assistance, including federal and national resources must be coordinated
through the local incident command.
Hospital Emergency Preparedness and
Response During Superstorm Sandy
Department of Health and Human Services, Offices of the Inspector General,
September 2015
“After Hurricane Sandy: Lessons
Learned for Bolstering the Resilience of Health Systems and Services”
Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security, Northeastern University &
Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, December 2013
After the Storm — Health Care
Infrastructure in Post-Katrina New Orleans
Ruth E. Berggren, M.D., and Tyler J. Curiel, M.D., M.P.H.
N Engl J Med 2006; 354:1549-1552, April 13, 2006, DOI:
10.1056/NEJMp068039
Lessons from Sandy — Preparing Health
Systems for Future Disasters
Irwin Redlener, M.D., and Michael J. Reilly, Dr.P.H., M.P.H.
N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2269-2271, December 13, 2012, DOI:
10.1056/NEJMp1213486
