In March 2023, a strong EF-4 tornado hit in the area of Rolling Fork, Mississippi, about 80 miles northwest of Jackson. HHI immediately responded to the disaster, providing essential medical supplies and support to those affected.
HHI deployed its disaster response team to the affected areas to assess the situation and determine the most urgent needs. The team worked closely with local authorities and community leaders to identify areas where HHI’s support could make the most significant impact.
After responding with several pallets of hygiene kits for different organizations, HHI received a request to support Delta Health Center, a federally-qualified health center (FQHC) headquartered in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Delta Health Center is the first FQHC in the United States, operating continuously since its opening in 1965.
Delta Health Center’s Rolling Fork facility was significantly damaged by the tornado. Unable to see patients in their building, they set up a large tent in the parking lot and also sent outreach teams to nearby areas. Unfortunately, their tent was then severely damaged by a transformer that fell off a utility pole. They were seeing 85 patients a day outside with one physician and one psychiatric nurse practitioner without privacy or any physical infrastructure to provide the patients or staff with protection from the elements.
Disaster Response Coordinator Maddy Langemach deployed with two volunteers to deliver the mobile medical unit and mobile medical van for Delta Health Center’s providers to use while awaiting the delivery of our stand-alone, portable medical clinic.
The portable, stand-alone medical clinic was delivered to Rolling Fork and successfully set up a few days later. The clinic will remain in Rolling Fork while Delta Health Center repairs its facility. The clinic had previously been used in Florida to support a clinic following the destruction of Hurricane Ian last fall.
