Tropical Storm Arthur: Medical Aid Pre-Positioned Along Texas & Louisiana Coast

Tropical Storm Arthur, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, is moving northeast along the Texas coast, with communities bracing for excessive rainfall and potential flooding over the coming days.

The storm, which was tracking towards the Texas/Louisiana border, has prompted tropical storm warnings from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana. The storm is forecast to move inland and cross into Louisiana, and areas at risk span the southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, as well as southwest Georgia and the western Florida Panhandle. Rainfall totals are forecast to be between 5-10 inches, with up to 20 inches of rainfall in some areas.

The region has already experienced flooding, including in the greater Houston area. On Monday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a disaster declaration for 101 Texas counties as severe storms inundated parts of the state.

Direct Relief has a long history of responding to the health impacts of extreme weather in the region, including Hurricane Harvey, which had widespread impacts on the Houston area and East Texas.

The organization operates a Hurricane Preparedness Program, staging critical medications and medical aid in storm-prone communities. These caches include medicines needed to manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure, which can force people into medical crisis if not managed during evacuations and health system interruptions.

Direct Relief has six Hurricane Preparedness Packs staged in the current path of Tropical Storm Arthur, and more medical support is being expedited to the region.

Direct Relief is in communication with multiple healthcare clinics and health centers in the storm's path and will continue to monitor medical needs as they become known.