Mercy Corps Prepares Emergency Response to Hurricane Florence

Millions at risk from heavy rains and flooding

PORTLAND, Ore. — The global organization Mercy Corps is mobilizing to assist those most affected by Hurricane Florence in the hardest-hit areas in North and South Carolina. Mercy Corps anticipates providing cash assistance to the most vulnerable communities that were hardest hit, so people can purchase what they need most to begin recovering from the storm.

“Florence is still an extremely dangerous storm lashing the southeastern United States with incredible force,” says Jill Morehead, Mercy Corps’ Emergency Response Team Leader. “Right now, the focus is on preventing loss of life and it won’t be until the storm passes through that we can begin meeting people’s most urgent needs. Based on our experience, we expect the greatest needs to be shelter, clean water, access to power and emergency cash to purchase needed items and repair homes damaged by the storm.”

According to news reports, at least seven people have died, water rescues continue and more than 20,000 people are in shelters. Nearly 1 million people are without power and forecasters expect up to 40 inches of rainfall as the slow-moving storm continues drenching the Carolinas.

Following natural disasters, Mercy Corps often collaborates with other organizations and local governments to meet the immediate needs of those most affected and lay the groundwork for lasting transformation.

For this storm, Mercy Corps will work with Team Rubicon to help those affected. Team Rubicon unites the skills and experiences of military veterans with first responders to deploy emergency response teams rapidly.

Mercy Corps is committed to empowering people around the world to survive through crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. Recognized as a leader in delivering rapid, lifesaving aid to hard-hit communities, Mercy Corps has responded to almost every global emergency in the past 20 years, including the Nepal earthquakes (2015), Philippines typhoon (2013), the Japan earthquake and tsunami (2011), Horn of Africa drought and hunger crisis (2010) and Kashmir earthquake (2005). Mercy Corps was also one of the first responders to the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004) and Haiti earthquake (2010).

Visit our website, www.mercycorps.org, to donate to our Humanitarian Response Fund and support Mercy Corps’ work in the Carolinas and in other natural disasters and emergencies around the world.