The Help They Need, When They Need It Most

“Patients’ basic needs were met with dignity during a horrific situation.”

Amy McEntee, chief medical officer of Salud Para La Gente

In April 2023, record rainfall and strong storms in California flooded roads, cut power and damaged buildings, including health centers that low-income people rely on for health care. Americares responded immediately, contacting clinic partners throughout the state to learn what was needed to help communities and quickly restore access to health services.

To protect the health of people in flooded communities, Americares provided five truckloads of water to three food banks and delivered shipments of relief supplies and essential medicine, including tetanus vaccine and medication for diabetes, to clinics. Because many clinic staff also suffered damage from the storm at their homes, Americares provided emergency funding to support staff with transportation or other needs, helping to keep clinic doors open, as well as repair health facilities. In all, Americares provided more than $200,000 in aid to California communities.

“Support from Americares was invaluable by allowing us to house patients temporarily, replace medications and provide them with basics,” says Amy McEntee, chief medical officer of Salud Para La Gente, a clinic in Watsonville, California. “This type of partnership is incredibly important because it enables our patients to get the help they need when the need it the most. Patients’ basic needs were met with dignity during a horrific situation.”

“California was battered by repeated storms, upending daily life for millions of people,” says Mariel Fonteyn, Americares director, U.S. emergency response. “Because of our partner network, we were able to assess and meet health needs quickly.”