Direct Relief Dispatches Emergency Medical Aid Amid Devastating Hawai’i Flooding

In response to a devastating series of storms impacting the Hawaiian islands, Direct Relief is dispatching shipments of critical medical aid to equip local health providers.

Direct Relief emergency response staff are currently on the ground in Oʻahu and coordinating delivery of requested medicines, including antibiotics, water purification supplies, and chronic disease management medicines. These shipments, building on others that departed last week, will be departing throughout the week from the organization's California headquarters.

Hawai'i is experiencing some of the worst flooding in more than two decades, due to a series of "Kona Low" storms, with some areas of the state receiving more than 46 inches of rain. Gov. Josh Green estimated that statewide damages could exceed $1 billion, affecting homes, roads, schools, and hospitals.

Officials have been closely monitoring the 120-year-old dam on Oʻahu, which reached critical levels and posed an "imminent risk" of failure earlier in the week. This resulted in thousands of evacuations, which have since been lifted. The North Shore remains under a boil water advisory, and more than 233 people were rescued statewide, including a group of 72 children and adults airlifted from a youth camp on Oʻahu's west coast.

On Maui, several areas, including Lahaina, Kīhei, and ʻĪao Valley, remain under evacuation warnings due to high flood risks and monitoring of retention basins. Kula Hospital on Maui was evacuated, and patients were relocated due to severe water damage.

Direct Relief's response builds on trusted relationships with local organizations. Direct Relief responded extensively to the 2023 Hawaii wildfires and continues to support recovery.

A key partner in that response was Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawai'i, or HMHB, which continues to provide critical health services across the islands.

Last week, the organization distributed Direct Relief-donated hygiene items for displaced people on Maui, O'ahu, and the Big Island. They are also operating two mobile units providing health care services on the Big Island and O'ahu.

Included in the shipments to HMHB were requested medicines, including:

• Inhalers, antibiotics, TDap vaccines, and other essential medications
• Medical consumables, including bandages, syringes, and needles
• Water purification supplies, since several areas are under boil water orders to keep people safe from waterborne illnesses
• Field medic packs to equip first responders are also en route, and contain medical essentials for triage care outside of clinic walls
• Solar chargers, provided by Unite to Light

Direct Relief also shipped requested aid to the Maui Department of Health, including diabetes management supplies and insect repellent to address both immediate needs and ongoing health risks following flooding.

Direct Relief continues to coordinate around medical needs with local health centers, including the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, as well as the Waimānalo Health Center, which operates a mobile medical program serving houseless populations impacted by the storms.

Direct Relief is also in communication with Kōkua Kalihi Valley Community Clinic of Maui, Hui No Ke Ola Pono on Maui, and other organizations about potential medical needs.