CDC Foundation Emergency Fund to Bolster Response Efforts and Address Health Threats Following Hurricane Florence

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Sep 12, 2018, 14:46 ET

ATLANTA, Sept. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With Hurricane Florence churning toward the U.S. East Coast, the potential for catastrophic damage from winds and flooding looms large. To ready a response addressing immediate and long-term health challenges generated by the storm, the CDC Foundation today activated its Emergency Response Fund for Hurricane Florence. This fund is used to extend the emergency response efforts of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health organizations working on the ground in affected communities.

Following storms, like Hurricane Florence, a variety of health needs can arise, such as environmental health and safe water issues, prevention of potential infectious disease outbreaks, access to medicines and health care and support to meet mental health needs caused by stress. 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 to address health threats that affect entire communities.

"When a health threat strikes, speed saves lives," said Dr. Judith Monroe, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. "We know our neighbors will need our help. That's why we are readying our response now in advance of Florence's landfall so that we can help support immediate as well as long-term response efforts to address threats to health and well-being."

In the past, the CDC Foundation's Emergency Response Fund helped save and improve lives by supporting CDC's efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina, the 2018 hurricanes in the United States and U.S. territories, the Ebola and Zika epidemics, the Haiti earthquake and the Southeast Asian tsunami.

Contributions to the CDC Foundation's Emergency Response Fund are tax deductible and can be made on the CDC Foundation's website or by phone or mail. Donations will first fund CDC's Hurricane Florence response. Any remaining funds will be applied to other CDC public health emergency responses as needed. To discuss giving opportunities or an in-kind donation, contact Advancement at the CDC Foundation: by email at [email protected] or 404.653.0790, toll-free at 888-886-4CDC.

About the CDC Foundation
The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the sole entity authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC's critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has launched approximately 1,000 programs and raised over $740 million. The CDC Foundation managed over 300 CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 130 countries last year. For more information, visit www.cdcfoundation.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

SOURCE CDC Foundation