When Mother Nature is at her worst, the men and women of America’s hospitals are at their best. Once again, we have watched as they have stepped forward in times of uncertainty to care for their neighbors and shelter their communities. We could not be prouder of the response of our colleagues on the front lines—especially the thousands of caregivers working around the clock to evacuate those in harm’s way, care for the sick and injured, and keep patients safe, all while their own families and homes were threatened.
Though the winds have died down and the rain is ceasing, we know the recovery is only beginning. We have been heartened to hear that many of our colleagues weathered the storm with minimal damage and disruption. Others will need time and assistance before operations can return to normal. We have been in close coordination with the hospital associations in the affected areas as they worked with hospitals and health systems, as well as local, state and federal agencies, to respond and now rebuild.
Please read on for information on how you can assist our colleagues who have been affected by this storm, as well as Hurricane Harvey.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
The Florida Hospital Association has established a fund to help hospital employees who experienced significant property loss or damage because of Hurricane Irma. AHA has contributed an initial $50,000 to get the fund started. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.fha.org/donate.
In addition, the Texas Hospital Association continues to coordinate support for hospital employees impacted by Hurricane Harvey and the devastating flooding that followed. Please visit www.tha.org for more information or to make a donation.
All funds will be used to directly assist hospital employees in Federal Emergency Management Agency-designated disaster areas; administrative services are being provided in kind so that 100 percent of donated funds will be used to assist hospital employees.
WHA joins the American Hospital Association and all our health care colleagues in keeping those affected by both Irma and Harvey in our thoughts.