You can make a lifesaving difference for people affected by Hurricane Florence

As powerful Hurricane Florence churns toward the U.S. East Coast, the potential for catastrophic damage looms large. Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are gearing up, watching the monster storm’s approach and working to determine how to best protect people and save lives, before, during and after the storm strikes.

Our nation relies on CDC to assist with the local, state and federal response to meet the public’s health needs that arise from hurricanes, like Florence. And, in turn, CDC relies on the CDC Foundation to fill vital gaps as the agency works to address dangerous health threats. We urge you to make a gift today by supporting the CDC Foundation’s emergency response fund.

We all know people who are directly in Hurricane Florence’s path, friends, relatives, colleagues and others. Multiply those familiar faces by the thousands more who may be impacted by the storm, including the one million people now fleeing their homes in coastal areas of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.  

While there are many organizations that respond with aid during a disaster, the CDC Foundation is poised to work closely with CDC in addition to local, state and other federal health agencies on the ground to address health threats that affect entire communities. When you make a gift to the CDC Foundation, you can have an immediate, positive impact on the lives of our neighbors who need help, long after the storm passes. You’ll be giving CDC experts access to immediate, flexible resources as they work with national, state and local officials on issues such as the following and much more:

• General and medical shelter surveillance for infectious disease outbreaks
• Public health messages and risk communication
• Water, sanitation and safety evaluations for food and water
• Mold abatement
• Mosquito management from standing water

While CDC has government funds for some of this work, federal dollars, even during emergencies, are tied to restrictions and purchasing procedures that can limit CDC’s ability to act quickly. Your donation to the CDC Foundation can make an important, immediate difference for CDC and its partners who will be working on the frontlines in Florence’s aftermath.

As Hurricane Florence draws closer, bringing high winds, heavy rains and powerful storm surges, many people urgently need our help. Please join with us today to protect your neighbors’ health and safety by making a donation to the CDC Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund. Together our impact is greater.