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March 10, 2010
Dear MRC Leaders,
Volunteers, and Colleagues, Though two months have passed since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti,
response and recovery will be on-going for many more months, and possibly years, to come. As with other disasters in
the past, the Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps (OCVMRC) was proud and touched to receive the many calls
and emails from leaders and volunteers looking for ways to support the Haitian people. While this
was not an opportunity for the MRC to deploy, OCVMRC staff was on daily calls and participated in agency planning to stay
involved in the response. Unfortunately, the many willing to help were not able to be utilized, as there was no infrastructure
in place to manage, shelter, feed, or transport additional people. Though MRC volunteers were not deployed to Haiti,
several units provided tremendous support in their local communities, including: - The Hillsborough and Polk County MRC units (near Tampa, FL) responded to Haitian Med-Evacuations,
receiving 72 patients via airlift. MRC volunteers provided emergency trauma care, management of patient flow, logistics
support, and general assistance to the county health department, helping the community integrate the patients into the medical
system.
- The Lowcountry MRC (North
Charleston, SC) worked alongside health department staff to conduct health screenings and operate a medical station at the
Haiti Repatriation Center, sponsored by the county emergency management division. More than 700 returning U.S. citizens
were screened and referred as needed for on-site medical and behavioral health care.
- The
Calcasieu MRC (Lake Charles, LA) trained civilian responders that deployed to Haiti via a local organization.
- The Schoolcraft County MRC (Manstique, MI) assembled “Health Kits” for Haitian earthquake
survivors.
- The Southeast Wisconsin MRC (Waukesha, WI) hosted a donation drive to aid Haitian disaster
recovery.
- The Beach Cities Health District MRC (Redondo Beach, CA) collected shoes as part of
the Soles for Souls program, sending more than 4,000 pairs of shoes to Haiti.
The large-scale earthquake served as another stark reminder that we can never
be too prepared. We encourage you to continue to recruit, train, build partnerships, and communicate with your members
and those you serve. By working together now, we will create more resilient communities in the face of crisis.
We applaud the efforts made by all MRC units to respond to the horrific devastation in Haiti and your on-going willingness
to give of yourself, your time, and your talents. With sincere thanks,Rob CAPT Rob Tosatto
Director, Office
of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps
February 5, 2010 Dear
MRC Leaders, Volunteers and Colleagues,
It has been a few days since I last provided an update regarding the situation
in Haiti. Currently, there are still no plans for a Federal deployment of MRC members. Some of our colleagues from the National
Disaster Medical System and the U.S. Public Health Service responded to this disaster at the request of U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID). The initial teams have completed their two week rotations and are returning home.
The immediate and long-term health and medical needs of Haiti are being assessed by the United Nations and the Pan
American Health Organization, in close coordination with the Haitian government. USAID has the lead for the U.S. Government,
and is responsible for any decisions regarding the deployment of volunteers. It is anticipated that non-governmental organizations,
and their cadres of volunteers, will play a major role in the recovery efforts in Haiti.
We will continue
to monitor the situation, work collaboratively with our HHS and other Federal government partners, and notify you of any changes.
As always, we encourage you to work locally to support efforts in your communities.
Rob
CAPT Rob Tosatto
Director, Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps
(301) 443-2528
robert.tosatto@hhs.gov
www.medicalreservecorps.gov
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