DIRECT RELIEF USA / 27 S. LA PATERA LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93117 / T (805) 964-4767 / F (805) 681-4838 / DIRECTRELIEF.ORG/USA

Direct Relief USA provides targeted assistance to help community clinics and health centers prepare for and respond to emergencies. Safety net clinics deliver essential healthcare services when disaster strikes, so Direct Relief pre-positions medical supplies at clinics to ensure that they are immediately available when an emergency occurs. Preparedness programs include hurricane prep packs, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) backpacks, and H1N1 and seasonal flu prevention and treatment products. Response efforts—which include distribution of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, 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. As a result of partnerships with safety net agencies and healthcare manufacturers, as well as deep experience in pharmaceutical distribution, Direct Relief has the unique ability to offer targeted, appropriate, and timely emergency response.

HURRICANE PREPAREDNESS

In 2009, Hurricane Prep Packs were provided to 25 clinic partners in

five Gulf States and Puerto Rico. The mobile, waterproof packs contain

medical items to treat 100 patients for 3-5 days. Clinic recipients were

selected based on their location, past experience with emergency response,

patient population, and capacity to treat victims during an emergency. At

a wholesale value of almost $12,000, the pack’s contents were informed by

responses to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, work with the Texas

Blue Ribbon Commission on Emergency Preparedness and Response, and

feedback from recipients since the program began in 2007. If a hurricane

doesn’t strike, pack contents can be easily absorbed into regular clinic

inventory to avoid waste.

KATRINA, RITA, DOLLY, GUSTAV, IKE

Delivered $42.4 million in medical material aid, $5 million in targeted cash grants to more than 100 Gulf Coast healthcare partners during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Recognized by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) in August 2007 for its unprecedented assistance to safety net clinics in the wake of Hurricane Katrina

Granted $150,000 to NACHC for rebuilding and recovery efforts throughout Louisiana after Hurricane Gustav in 2008

Provided weatherproof, ruggedized, mobile Hurricane Prep Packs to 25 safety net clinics in five states in 2009

GULF COAST HURRICANE RESPONSE

2005–2009“(DIRECT RELIEF WAS) ONE OF THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL RESPONDERS ON THE GROUND WITH MEDICAL SUPPLIES

AND EQUIPMENT. WE WERE SINCERELY GRATEFUL THAT DIRECT RELIEF MADE GRANTS AVAILABLE TO

OUR FACILITIES TO HELP THEM BUILD CAPACITY TO MEET THEIR COMMUNITIES’ BASIC NEEDS.”

– Louisiana Primary Care Association, upon honoring Direct Relief with the first-annual Guardian Award

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Emergency Preparedness & Response BOLSTERING CLINICS IN TIMES OF CRISIS

In 2009, Direct Relief conducted one of the largest surveys of U.S. clinics to determine if they had adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) on-hand to protect providers from the H1N1 virus.

495 of 1,200 clinics completed the survey, enabling Direct Relief to gain key insights from 41% of these safety net partners.

The clinics that responded provide care to a total of about 4 million patients each year.

DIRECT RELIEF USA / 27 S. LA PATERA LANE, SANTA BARBARA, CA 93117 / T (805) 964-4767 / F (805) 681-4838 / DIRECTRELIEF.ORG/USA

EQUIPPING MEDICAL RESERVISTS

Direct Relief USA provided the Santa Barbara Medical

Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers with 100 ruggedized,

specially designed backpacks filled with medical supplies to

help address community health needs in an emergency. The

packs enable MRC members—trained, credentialed, medical

personnel—to respond when disaster strikes.

Each MRC pack contains supplies and equipment

to meet a variety of prevalent disaster-related health needs,

including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and

personal protection tools. Designed to “grab and go,” the

kits were created with input from experienced emergency responders. The California

Emergency Medical Services Authority (Cal EMSA) has adopted Direct Relief’s EMT

level Med-Pack as the California Standard.

“YOUR GENEROSITY HAS HELPED TO BRIGHTEN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO HAVE

SUFFERED. IT HAS HELPED STRENGTHEN OUR DETERMINATION TO MOVE FORWARD,

CONTINUING TO WORK TO BUILD A STRONG DISASTER PREPAREDNESS NETWORK FOR RURAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY.”– JUDITH SHAPLIN, CHIEF

EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MOUNTAIN HEALTH & COMMUNITY SERVICES, ALPINE, CA

As a result, Direct Relief was able to provide a targeted response. Delivered 836 shipments to 624 clinics in 49 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico, with flu prevention and treatment products valued at over $1,020,000 (whole-sale), including:

CeraSport rehydration drink

Tylenol N-95 masks

Gloves TAMIFLU

Soap Hand sanitizer

Assisted in the deployment of Santa Barbara County’s alternate care site during massive evacuations forced by the 2009 Jesusita Fire

Provided 50,000 N95 respirator masks to local residents affected by poor air quality in partnership with Santa Barbara County Public Health Department in 2008

Sent 21 shipments totaling over $128,500 in November 2008, and provided respiratory care supplies valued at $45,800 to Los Angeles clinics in August 2009

Delivered 71 shipments valued at $1.4 million and $490,000 in cash grants to safety net clinics and firefighter crews in San Diego in 2007

WITCH CREEK, POOMACHA, RICE, HARRIS (SAN DIEGO) / GAP, TEA, JESUSITA (SANTA BARBARA) / STATION, SAYRE (LOS ANGELES)

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF H1N1 AND SEASONAL FLU

“DIRECT RELIEF CONTINUALLY MEETS

IDENTIFIED GAPS. WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE WE

WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE PACKS TO

OUR MEDICAL VOLUNTEERS AND PROVIDE THIS LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS THAT

OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS.” – Nancy Lapolla, Director, Santa Barbara County Public Health Department Office

of Emergency Services

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CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE RESPONSE, 2004–2009