Author: sHq_LoGiNz

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo and NEW YORK May 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Following the confirmation of Ebola cases in Ituri province in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the World Health Organization has declared an international health emergency. Action Against Hunger is warning of the consequences of this outbreak for communities already weakened by the ongoing conflict.

“The situation is evolving extremely rapidly. It is still difficult to confirm the number of cases and deaths, as the outbreak is believed to have started in early April but was only identified on the 14th of May. Numerous contacts have been identified, particularly in the Mongbwalu health zone, where we are working, but also on the outskirts of Bunia, and a case has just been confirmed in Goma,” explains Julie Drouet, Country Director for Action Against Hunger in the DRC. “This is the Bundibungyo strain, for which no vaccine or treatment exists”

“Mongbwalu, where we are one of the only organizations on the ground, is a mining area with a lot of traffic and population movement in the country and region, which complicates efforts to control this virus and trace cases.”

“We are deeply concerned about the situation given the extremely high level of humanitarian needs. In Ituri province, our teams on the ground have already begun raising awareness among medical staff by purchasing and distributing protective equipment to limit the risk of infection in health centers,” says Drouet.

Against this backdrop of widespread funding cuts, Action Against Hunger is calling for a strong mobilization from the international community and donors to ensure an appropriate response.

Drouet says, “Healthcare workers are the first to be exposed to the risk of infection. It is urgent to fund the response to this crisis in order to limit the spread of the epidemic and maintain humanitarian assistance in the affected areas so as not to abandon the population during such an outbreak.”

***

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 26.5 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across over 55 countries, our 8,500+ dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

Contact media@actionagainsthunger.org for inquiries.

In this bonus episode of Rethinking EHS, host Beatrice Bizzaro speaks with Ivy Liu (Terrapex Canada) to explore the impact of 6PPD-quinone on coho salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest. The conversation highlights how a common tire additive transforms into a toxic compound in the environment, causing widespread mortality in sensitive fish species and signaling broader water quality issues linked to urban runoff.

Listen now

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Time Stamps

00:00:06 – Introduction & episode overview 
00:00:43 – Why coho salmon are key indicator species 
00:03:28 – How 6PPD enters waterways 
00:05:04 – Why research is concentrated in the Pacific Northwest 
00:06:09 – Key takeaways and urgency for action 
00:07:28 – Salmon life cycle and vulnerability 
00:09:25 – “Canary in the coal mine” explained 
00:11:45 – Closing reflections

Guest Quotes

Ivy Ng:
“Coho salmon are especially effective sentinels because their response is rapid, consistent and lethal, signaling broader water quality issues.”

 

All Podcast Episodes

As U.S. electricity demand is projected to grow nearly 16% by 2029—driven by domestic manufacturing and high-tech industry expansion—The Ray is reimagining the public right-of-way (ROW) as a vital land-use solution. They’ve shared their latest work in establishing a national blueprint for energy infrastructure colocation and grid resilience.

Optimizing Infrastructure through Proprietary Methodology

As the leading experts in ROW innovation, The Ray is helping state agencies bridge the gap between transportation and the utility sector through:

• Exclusive Asset Mapping: Leveraging the only complete national database of highway right-of-way to identify viable transmission and energy sites with unparalleled precision.
• Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): Coordinating roadside distributed energy resources (DERs) to create a flexible, decentralized system that meets grid needs at a 15-35% lower cost than traditional infrastructure.
• Interagency Coordination: Leading national models for early collaboration between DOTs and energy agencies to accelerate the integration of high-voltage transmission.

See The Ray’s Partner Map of state departments of transportation, turnpikes and local partners.

Strategic Expansion of the American Grid

The Ray’s recent collaboration with the Maine Department of Energy Resources (MaineDOER) and its nationwide suitability analysis represent a significant evolution in technical capabilities. By leveraging proprietary methodology and national data, The Ray is proving that state DOTs can transform underutilized roadsides into high-value assets that strengthen both the economy and the grid.

Free trainings, customizable posters and certified Easy to use¹ products help busy healthcare professionals perform hand hygiene at the right moments.

Originally published on Tork Press and News

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Tork, an Essity brand and a global leader in professional hygiene, is reinforcing its commitment to healthcare professionals ahead of World Hand Hygiene Day (WHHD) 2026 by offering free hand hygiene training, customizable posters and certified Easy to use products that support consistent hand hygiene adherence and improve hygiene for all.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), improving hand hygiene practices may reduce pathogen transmission in healthcare environments by 50%.² In healthcare environments, even highly committed professionals can find it challenging to consistently follow the WHO’s Five Moments for Hand Hygiene. This is a key reason Tork supports the WHO’s annual “SAVE LIVES: Clean your Hands” campaign on World Hand Hygiene Day. This year, the campaign theme is “Action saves lives.”

“Reflecting on best practices each year gives healthcare professionals the opportunity to take action that saves lives by incorporating hand hygiene best practices at the right times in their daily routines,” said Tom Bergin, Marketing Director, Healthcare, Professional Hygiene at Essity. “We’re proud to continue offering resources and solutions that support their efforts to improve adherence and reduce the transmission of germs. On World Hand Hygiene Day, we’re reminding healthcare leaders that the right tools and trainings are critical to building a culture of hand hygiene that protects patients, staff, and visitors.”The WHO recommends hand cleansing hygiene at five key moments: before touching a patient; before a clean/aseptic procedure; after body fluid exposure risk; after touching a patient; and after touching patient surroundings.To help healthcare providers adopt these hand hygiene behaviors, Tork offers free access to:

• The Tork Clean Hands Training, an effective program that educates users on how to implement the WHO’s five moments for hand hygiene. A virtual reality version of the training is available and offers an interactive and engaging way to improve hand hygiene knowledge and skills.
• The Tork Healthy Hands tool, which enables healthcare facilities to create custom posters and reminders. Signage can also be placed with the Tork Hygiene stand to remind users of effective practices at the point of use. When patients see hand hygiene signage, they feel more confident in a facility’s cleanliness.³

Tork professional hygiene products are also designed to reduce barriers to hand hygiene with certified Easy to use dispensers that help reduce the risk of transmission of harmful germs and high-capacity formats that help ensure hand sanitizer, soap and paper towels are available when needed.To learn more please visit: https://www.torkglobal.com/us/en/for-your-business/industry/healthcare

About Tork

The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissues, soap, napkins and wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning. Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become a market leader that supports customers to think ahead so they’re always ready for business. Tork is a global brand of Essity and a committed partner to customers in more than 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit www.torkglobal.com/us/en/.

About Essity

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2024, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 146bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.

Foot notes

¹Certified Easy to use by the Swedish Rheumatism Association (SRA)

²World Health Organization 2021, key facts document

³Tork Healthcare Hand Hygiene Survey, 2018. Conducted in US, UK, Sweden, Germany and Poland among 1017 healthcare professionals

 

Our sustainability strategy provides a foundation for how we operate, innovate and grow. Sustainable behaviors help to shape our identity as a company and fuel our ability to create long-term value.

Adapting to a changing world

The dynamic geopolitical landscape of 2025 continues to change at an accelerated pace. As such, stakeholders, customers, regulators and communities are demanding greater accountability and action. To help ensure our sustainability strategy remains relevant and impactful, we leveraged the insights from our 2024 Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) materiality assessment, which was further enhanced by advanced AI-driven analytics and comprehensive stakeholder engagement. This data-driven approach allowed us to identify and prioritize the issues that matter most for our business: climate action, efficient resource management, employee health and safety, ethical governance and transparent reporting.

Responding to regulatory and market demands

New and increasingly stringent standards and regulatory requirements, such as those from the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and as result of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), necessitate high-quality, assurance-ready data and seamless integration of sustainability objectives with business strategy. Meeting these demands is essential for maintaining compliance, building trust and supporting our long-term growth.

Our sustainability strategy: People, Planet and Principles

Our sustainability strategy has three focus areas: People, Planet and Principles. These areas are the basis for how we seek to embed sustainability across our value chain and conduct our business. This strategic framework was designed to help support the execution of our commercial strategy. 

People: Empowering talent, strengthening communities and enabling growth

We believe that the readiness of our workforce determines the strength of our business and relies on a highly-skilled and engaged team that can innovate, adapt and deliver. We look to develop talent, foster an inclusive culture, support wellbeing and invest in the communities where we operate. An engaged, future-ready workforce is not just a social commitment—it can be a competitive advantage

Planet: Reducing emissions, advancing low-carbon technologies and enabling the energy expansion

It is our key ambition to help reduce environmental impact across our operations while helping customers accelerate their own carbon abatement journeys. We are helping to reduce emissions, improve resource efficiency and develop new energy. As the global demand for cleaner, more reliable energy systems grows, our planet strategy positions us to help lead with solutions that can deliver measurable environmental and economic value.

Principles: Operating with integrity, transparency and trust

How we operate is as important as what we deliver. Integrity, safety and transparency are the foundation of our license to operate and the basis of our relationships with customers, suppliers, regulators and communities. We maintain strong governance, uphold ethical business practices and work to ensure transparent reporting aligned with global standards and to embed safety into every operation. These commitments strengthen trust and reinforce our position as a responsible, resilient global company.

Read the full Baker Hughes 2025 Corporate Sustainability Report

VESTAL, N.Y., May 19, 2026 /3BL/ – KeyBank is pleased to announce the opening of a new branch facility on the Vestal Parkway, expanding its presence in the Southern Tier. Bank leaders and employees will hold grand opening celebrations on June 18 and 20.

This new, full-service branch is located at 2531 Vestal Parkway East in Vestal. Construction will be completed in late May and doors will open to the public on June 15. Grand opening festivities are as follows:

• Thursday, June 18, 8:30 a.m.- 10:00 a.m. Ribbon cutting ceremony. Local business owners and community members are welcome to stop by and meet the KeyBank team.
• Saturday, June 20, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Client appreciation event with family-friendly activities, giveaways, prizes and much more.

The branch will be closed on Friday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.

To commemorate the new branch opening, KeyBank will invest $10,000 in local nonprofit, Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network, along with an additional $5,000 investment for A Room to Heal in support of their community efforts.

“KeyBank is excited at the opportunity this new branch provides for us to become an even bigger part of the Vestal community,” said Stephen Fournier, KeyBank’s Central New York market president and regional retail leader. “This new location highlights KeyBank’s continued investment in Central New York and the Southern Tier. We are looking forward to strengthening our relationships with our neighbors, clients and community partners.”

In addition to high-touch banking services, the new branch will feature digital video screens and a client hospitality area that can double as an area for financial seminars and group presentations with clients and the public, as well as an after-hours depository, a drive-up teller line, ATM and free parking.

“The Vestal branch is designed to deliver a more tailored experience while giving clients expanded access to our full range of financial products and services,” said Spencer Nicoson, Area Retail Leader for KeyBank. “We’re excited to bring a more consultative approach to the community and partner with our clients every step of the way.”

• Learn more about how KeyBank helps clients, teammates, and communities thrive by making meaningful investments in the places it’s proud to call home.

DP World is continuing its support of Vancouver-based nonprofit Working Gear through a three-year commitment aimed at breaking down barriers to employment and strengthening access to opportunity across the Lower Mainland.

Through this commitment, DP World will contribute CAD$35,000 annually to support Working Gear’s Community Internship Program, an initiative that provides participants with hands-on work experience, mentorship, and a living wage as they prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce.

By helping offset approximately 97% of one intern’s wages per year, this funding plays a direct role in ensuring individuals have both the financial stability and practical experience needed to take the next step in their careers.

Removing Barriers, Creating Opportunity

Working Gear has been supporting individuals facing systemic barriers to employment since 2009, providing industry-appropriate clothing, safety gear, and employment supports at no cost.

For many job seekers, something as simple as not having proper workwear can delay, or completely prevent, access to employment. Working Gear exists to bridge that gap, ensuring individuals can show up ready, confident, and equipped.

But the organization’s impact extends beyond gear.

Its Community Internship Program offers a structured pathway to employment: combining paid, living-wage work experience with mentorship and access to professional networks. Participants gain not only practical skills, but also confidence and a sense of belonging in the workforce.

A Workforce in Transition

Canada’s labour market is undergoing a structural shift.

Across industries, from logistics and construction to warehousing, employers continue to face labour shortages, even as many individuals remain underemployed due to systemic barriers. At the same time, immigration is playing an increasingly important role in sustaining economic growth, with newcomers bringing valuable skills but often facing challenges gaining Canadian work experience.

Working Gear operates at the intersection of these trends.

More than half of the individuals the organization serves are newcomers to Canada, many arriving with professional experience but limited access to local networks or job-ready resources.

Programs like the Community Internship Program help close that gap, connecting individuals to real work experience while supporting industries where demand for talent remains high.

A Partnership Built on Shared Values

DP World’s ongoing commitment builds on an existing partnership that goes beyond financial support.

In addition to funding, employees across DP World’s Canadian operations have contributed through clothing and boot drives, as well as volunteering at Working Gear events – providing hands-on support to help programs run effectively.

This combination of funding and engagement reflects a broader approach: investing not just in programs, but in people.

Doug Smith, CEO of DP World in Canada, said: “Canada’s workforce is evolving rapidly, and connecting people to meaningful employment opportunities has never been more important. At DP World, we see how critical access to job-ready talent is to building resilient supply chains and strong communities. Our partnership with Working Gear is about investing in people, helping individuals gain the experience and confidence they need to succeed. By supporting pathways into employment, we’re helping build a more inclusive and sustainable workforce for the future.”

Sarah Beley, Director of Working Gear, said: “At Working Gear, we meet people every day who are ready to work and move forward in their lives, but who just need someone to open a door. This partnership with DP World helps us do that in a deeper and more sustainable way. It gives people the chance to gain real work experience, rebuild confidence, and feel supported while taking those next steps. We’re incredibly grateful for partners who understand that creating opportunity for people strengthens the entire community.”

Investing in Long-Term Impact

For Working Gear, sustained funding supports the continued expansion of programs that remove barriers to employment – whether through providing essential gear, delivering hands-on training, or creating direct pathways into the workforce.

For DP World, the investment reflects a broader commitment to building inclusive, resilient communities – recognizing that access to opportunity is essential to both economic growth and long-term social impact.

As the partnership enters its next phase, the focus remains clear: removing barriers, supporting individuals, and helping more people take meaningful steps toward stable, long-term employment.

Learn more about Working Gear

Learn more about DP World’s impact in Canada

AMSTERDAM, HONG KONG and OAKLAND, Calif., May 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Cascale announces it has convened stakeholders including World Resources Institute (WRI), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and ZDHC to establish an aligned industry definition of Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP). The milestone marks an important step towards industry alignment for baseline environmental management practices expected of all global manufacturing facilities producing consumer goods. Developed through engagement with 80 stakeholders at more than 30 organizations across the value chain, the initiative aims to improve consistency, strengthen comparability, support legal compliance, and reduce environmental risks across supply chains.

“For years, facilities and brands shared the same frustration: too many frameworks and not enough clarity on what actually matters. Foundational Environmental Performance answers that need by delivering a clear, globally aligned baseline for environmental management that can help facilities focus resources where they matter most. Aligning manufacturers, brands, NGOs, and technical experts required two years of difficult conversations and FEP is the result: The industry now has a clear, shared reference point that supports both compliance and continuous improvement at scale.” — Maravillas Rodriguez Zarco, vice president of tools & data, Cascale

“We are honored to have been trusted by stakeholders across the industry to convene this process and help build alignment on an issue that is fundamental to credible environmental performance. The development of Foundational Environmental Performance reflects the power of collaboration. This milestone demonstrates what is possible when manufacturers, brands, NGOs, and technical experts come together around a shared goal of improving environmental outcomes across global supply chains.” — Nikki Wood, director of governance and stakeholder engagement, Cascale

Key Takeaways

• Cascale convened stakeholders including WRI, WWF, and ZDHC to establish a clear, industry-aligned definition of Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP).
• FEP addresses gaps in baseline environmental compliance across global manufacturing facilities, and aligns stakeholders to reduce duplication and improve data comparability.
• Cascale defined a set of foundational questions that establish credible FEP across key impact areas, designed to be practical for facilities with various levels of capacity and maturity.
• Cascale has introduced structured governance to ensure consistency with industry standards, alignment with regulatory changes, and continuous improvement.

Why FEP is Important

An aligned definition of Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) was developed to address a fundamental gap: the absence of a clear, unified, industry-aligned definition of what baseline environmental performance should look like. While there is broad agreement that facilities must meet essential environmental management practices, the industry had lacked a consistent, shared understanding, creating reputational, regulatory, and credibility risks for brands, manufacturers, and suppliers, particularly as stakeholder scrutiny increases.

Given its scope, member reach, and stewardship of the Higg Index, which is implemented globally through the Worldly sustainability and supply chain intelligence platform, Cascale was uniquely positioned to convene the industry on a solution. The organization led a multi-phase consultative process that prioritized inclusivity and ensured balanced input from all key stakeholders including Cascale members (through the Higg FEM Strategic Council) and — critically — manufacturers and suppliers, as well as brands, retailers, and nonprofit organizations to shape an industry-aligned definition for FEP.

These consultations resulted in five guiding principles defining the baseline for FEP across all critical areas. Building on this, Cascale convened additional industry stakeholders — including WWF and ZDHC — to establish the FEP question set.

“Clear, consistent definitions are fundamental to driving credible environmental action. By aligning stakeholders around a shared framework for Foundational Environmental Performance, the industry can improve comparability, strengthen decision-making, and unlock more effective strategies to manage environmental risks across value chains.” — Eliot Metzger, director of sustainable business and innovation, World Resources Institute (WRI)

“Defining Foundational Environmental Performance helps ensure that all facilities are meeting a minimum standard to prevent environmental harm. This kind of alignment is essential to safeguarding ecosystems, reducing cumulative impacts across supply chains, and enabling more ambitious progress over time.” — Payal Luthra, global textiles lead, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

“Industry alignment on foundational expectations is critical to advancing sustainable chemical management and reducing environmental risk. We welcome the alignment with ZDHC’s frameworks and appreciate that all Foundational Environmental Performance (FEP) questions reflected in the Higg FEM are in scope for Level 1 of ZDHC Supplier to Zero V2 as foundational requirements. This reinforces consistency and clarity for suppliers working toward improved performance.” — Frank Michel, chief executive officer, ZDHC Foundation

Governance and Next Steps

The FEP question set addresses critical environmental performance areas that are central to sustainability progress in the consumer goods industry. As such, ensuring it is subject to the appropriate governance mechanisms is both a priority and a responsibility for Cascale. The FEP question set will therefore be directly governed by Cascale’s Technical Advisory Council (TAC). This structured approach balances stability and predictability with the need to remain aligned with regulatory changes, industry standards, and stakeholder expectations.

Media Contact: Forster Communications, cascaleforster@forster.co.uk

ABOUT CASCALE

Cascale is the global nonprofit alliance empowering pre-competitive collaboration to combat climate change and support decent work in the consumer goods industry. Formerly known as the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Cascale stewards and governs the Higg Index frameworks, modules, and methodologies, while Worldly delivers the technology platform through which they are implemented globally. Cascale also recently acquired the Better Buying and Sustainable Furnishings Council tools. Cascale unites over 300 retailers, brands, manufacturers, governments, academics, and NGO/nonprofit affiliates around the globe through one singular vision: To catalyze impact at scale and give back more than we take to the planet and its people.

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, Direct Relief is strengthening healthcare preparedness across hurricane-prone regions through pre-positioned emergency medical supplies, resilient power infrastructure investments, and regional emergency response partnerships designed to help healthcare providers maintain continuity of care during disasters. 

The announcement comes ahead of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) annual hurricane season outlook and the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season, as healthcare providers across the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean prepare for potential disruptions caused by severe weather, prolonged outages, and supply chain interruptions. 

Ahead of hurricane season, Direct Relief is pre-positioning emergency medical supplies stockpiles with more than 70 healthcare providers across the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. 

The emergency stockpiles, known as Hurricane Preparedness Packs, contain medicines and medical supplies commonly needed following disasters, including treatments for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, infections, allergic reactions, and wound care. Each domestic stockpile is designed to support approximately 500 patients for 30 days, while larger international stockpiles can support approximately 3,000 patients over the same period. 

This year, Direct Relief distributed 72 domestic stockpiles across coastal states from Virginia to Texas, as well as Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The organization used FEMA natural hazards risk data to identify areas with heightened vulnerability and expand preparedness coverage into additional coastal communities.

“The most dangerous impacts of a hurricane often begin after the storm passes,” said Craig Redmond, Chief Operating Officer at Direct Relief. “When clinics lose power, supply chains are disrupted, and patients can no longer access medicines or care, communities can face a secondary health crisis that lasts for weeks or months. Preparedness means strengthening healthcare systems before disasters strike so providers can continue caring for patients throughout the emergency.”

Direct Relief also maintains regional emergency medical stockpiles across the Caribbean through partnerships with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), including supplies staged in Panama and Barbados to support rapid deployment following hurricanes and other emergencies.

That regional preparedness strategy was activated during Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica in October 2025, when pre-positioned Direct Relief emergency medical supplies staged through PAHO were deployed into affected communities following widespread infrastructure damage.

“Direct Relief’s emergency medical stockpiles have consistently proven to be a timely and effective resource for emergency response operations,” said Dr. Leonardo Hernández, Head of the Emergency Operations Unit at PAHO.

In addition to pre-positioning emergency medical supplies, Direct Relief continues investing in healthcare resilience infrastructure designed to help providers remain operational during prolonged outages and supply chain disruptions. The organization’s most recent investment includes more than $5 million to support resilient power at nine healthcare centers across the state of Florida.

Direct Relief has invested a total of $14.7 million in 39 resilient power projects supporting healthcare providers across the Southeast, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The projects include solar-plus-battery microgrids and backup power systems that help health centers maintain refrigeration for medications, operate essential medical equipment, and continue patient care during prolonged outages.

Across the Caribbean, Direct Relief has partnered with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on resilience projects supporting medical oxygen infrastructure, pharmaceutical refrigeration, backup power systems, and mobile medical units.

Direct Relief accepts no government funding, allowing the organization to sustain long-term preparedness and recovery efforts independently of public-sector funding cycles.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., May 19, 2026 /3BL/ – Ahead of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, Direct Relief is strengthening healthcare preparedness across hurricane-prone regions through pre-positioned emergency medical supplies, resilient power infrastructure investments, and regional emergency response partnerships designed to help healthcare providers maintain continuity of care during disasters. 

The announcement comes ahead of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) annual hurricane season outlook and the official June 1 start of the Atlantic hurricane season, as healthcare providers across the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean prepare for potential disruptions caused by severe weather, prolonged outages, and supply chain interruptions. 

Ahead of hurricane season, Direct Relief is pre-positioning emergency medical supplies stockpiles with more than 70 healthcare providers across the Southeast, Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. 

The emergency stockpiles, known as Hurricane Preparedness Packs, contain medicines and medical supplies commonly needed following disasters, including treatments for diabetes, hypertension, asthma, infections, allergic reactions, and wound care. Each domestic stockpile is designed to support approximately 500 patients for 30 days, while larger international stockpiles can support approximately 3,000 patients over the same period. 

This year, Direct Relief distributed 72 domestic stockpiles across coastal states from Virginia to Texas, as well as Puerto Rico and Hawaii. The organization used FEMA natural hazards risk data to identify areas with heightened vulnerability and expand preparedness coverage into additional coastal communities.

“The most dangerous impacts of a hurricane often begin after the storm passes,” said Craig Redmond, Chief Operating Officer at Direct Relief. “When clinics lose power, supply chains are disrupted, and patients can no longer access medicines or care, communities can face a secondary health crisis that lasts for weeks or months. Preparedness means strengthening healthcare systems before disasters strike so providers can continue caring for patients throughout the emergency.”

Direct Relief also maintains regional emergency medical stockpiles across the Caribbean through partnerships with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), including supplies staged in Panama and Barbados to support rapid deployment following hurricanes and other emergencies.

That regional preparedness strategy was activated during Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica in October 2025, when pre-positioned Direct Relief emergency medical supplies staged through PAHO were deployed into affected communities following widespread infrastructure damage.

“Direct Relief’s emergency medical stockpiles have consistently proven to be a timely and effective resource for emergency response operations,” said Dr. Leonardo Hernández, Head of the Emergency Operations Unit at PAHO.

In addition to pre-positioning emergency medical supplies, Direct Relief continues investing in healthcare resilience infrastructure designed to help providers remain operational during prolonged outages and supply chain disruptions. The organization’s most recent investment includes more than $5 million to support resilient power at nine healthcare centers across the state of Florida.

Direct Relief has invested a total of $14.7 million in 39 resilient power projects supporting healthcare providers across the Southeast, Florida, and Puerto Rico. The projects include solar-plus-battery microgrids and backup power systems that help health centers maintain refrigeration for medications, operate essential medical equipment, and continue patient care during prolonged outages.

Across the Caribbean, Direct Relief has partnered with the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) on resilience projects supporting medical oxygen infrastructure, pharmaceutical refrigeration, backup power systems, and mobile medical units.

Direct Relief accepts no government funding, allowing the organization to sustain long-term preparedness and recovery efforts independently of public-sector funding cycles.