Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts

During the course of the past week, we have witnessed true devastation in the Bahamas due to the destruction of Hurricane Dorian. With sustained wind speeds of 185 miles per hour, Dorian is one of the worst storms in history. At least 43 people have been killed, but officials are warning that hundreds more are still missing. The United Nations believes at least 70,000 people are homeless on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands.

All of this devastation is why Samaritan's Purse jumped into immediate action: "Samaritan's Purse has airlifted our Emergency Field Hospital and a medical team to the Bahamas, at the request of the World Health Organization and the Bahamas government. The 40-bed mobile facility can receive up to 100 patients daily and features an operating room with capacity for 10 surgeries per day, as well as an obstetrics ward with delivery room" (Hurricane Dorian Relief, samaritanspurse.org). Prior to deploying the Field Hospital, Samaritan's Purse had already sent 30 tons of emergency items and over a dozen disaster relief team specialists. 

Many of you are wondering how you can be involved as a health care provider. Samaritan's Purse trains people just like you for times such as this. If you are interested in becoming part of their disaster relief team, learn more about their Disaster Assistance Response Teams.  You can also donate to the work that Samaritan's Purse is doing: Donate to Hurricane Dorian Relief

Here at MedicalMissions.com, we always want you to have the resources you need to engage in wherever you feel that God is calling you.

• You might want to check out this breakout session, which was led by Dr. Elliott Tenpenny of Samaritan's Purse on The Biblical Call to Emergency Response. 
• If you are a nurse, this is a helpful article outlining ways for you to actively engage in relief efforts: Nurse Volunteers
• Kelly Sites, of Samaritan's Purse, also presented a breakout session about Nursing in Disaster Response Efforts

• Laura Smelter, Director of Training at Christian Health Service Corps presented a breakout session on Responding Well: Knowing and Applying International Principles and Standards in Disaster and Refugee Response

We hope that this email will be a reminder to you of the gifts that God has given you and the many ways that you can use them. Our partner, Samaritan's Purse will be presenting their work at this year's GMHC, so we do hope to see you in November! GMHC 2019 Register Here