IGP-2011-16447

This investment supports Austin Disaster Relief Network’s hurricane response in Texas and Louisiana, to respond to urgent health and safety needs of survivors. Since their founding in 2009, ADRN has brought relief to over 43,000 survivors impacted by fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes, sponsored more than 3,050 families, and repaired or rebuilt over 375 homes. In response to Hurricane Laura and other disasters, ADRN assembles hygiene kits for the Deployment Ready Program to assist survivors of a disaster. These hygiene kits include toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, soap, shampoo, deodorant, specific gender-related hygiene items, and other health and sanitary products. These hygiene kits are especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic when supplies are more scarce. The Deployment Ready Program involves purchasing and managing inventory for these kits, and assembly and mass distribution to communities and needs, in coordination with volunteers and network members. In addition to their hygiene kits, Austin Disaster Relief Network has a Disaster Relief Shepherd Program, which offers long-term support until those impacted by disasters have rebuilt their homes and lives. Survivors engage with a volunteer to assess their specific needs in the wake of a disaster. This includes specific medical needs that either existed before the disaster or happened as a result of the disaster. The associated costs with the Shepherd program vary from case to case, and with the additional financial hardships from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been increasingly difficult to address these medical needs of survivors. ADRN currently has a waiting list of disaster survivors with dental and oral health needs. With this grant of $50,000, Austin Disaster Relief Network would purchase bulk supplies to assemble 1,800 complete survivor hygiene kits, and secure a supplemental urgent dental care support to provide relief for at least 8 hurricane survivors in need of urgent dental care.