Live Updates

Today, GEM President @michaelcapponi and @globalempowermentmissionlatam’s Colombia Operations Director, @simonrodri96 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Daniel Suarez, Director of the reconstruction division for Fundación Solidaridad por Colombia and Alexandra Ruiz Farah, part of the team, marking a powerful new partnership in phase 2 of Colombia’s recovery.

Founded in 1975 by former First Lady Nydia Quintero de Balcázar alongside her daughter, renowned journalist Diana Turbay, Solidaridad por Colombia has spent more than 51 years serving vulnerable families and communities throughout the Colombia.

The foundation’s history is also one of extraordinary resilience. Diana Turbay was kidnapped in 1990 by a group acting on behalf of Pablo Escobar and tragically lost her life during a failed rescue operation in 1991. Her commitment to Colombia and her family’s legacy of service continued forward, and today her daughter, @mcarolinahoyost, leads Solidaridad por Colombia as its president, carrying her grandmother and mother’s mission into a new generation.

This partnership brings together GEM’s international humanitarian response experience, global logistics network and disaster-response capabilities with Solidaridad por Colombia’s more than five decades of local knowledge, trusted community relationships and deep understanding of the Colombian people.

Partnerships like this demonstrate what is possible when international experience is combined with strong local expertise. By working together, GEM and @fundacionsolidaridadxcol can respond faster, reach further and build stronger, more effective humanitarian programs for communities across #Colombia. ...

GEM EU & Asia continues to scale its humanitarian response in Nepal following the devastating flash floods.

The first air shipment supporting GEM’s response has now arrived in Nepal, carrying an additional GEM Family Necessity Kits with the support of Airlink, adding to the assistance already being delivered by our teams on the ground.

The kits will now be distributed across flood-affected communities, providing families with $144,000 in essential supplies as this humanitarian recovery continues.

We are grateful to @airlinkflight for supporting the air transport of this shipment to Nepal, the Nepal Peace Scouts and the Government of Nepal, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, its Disaster Policy Coordination and International Relations Section, and NDRRMA for their coordination and support throughout the process.

Our teams remain in Nepal, working alongside local partners and continuing distributions in affected areas.

The response continues. To learn more visit the link in our bio, or GEM.org to support this mission. ...

The Big Island is still experiencing periods of heavy rain, particularly across the southeastern and windward portions of the island. Trailing bands of moisture from Nolo could continue to produce additional rainfall and localized flooding as the storm slowly moves away. Gusty winds also remain possible, with some areas of the Big Island potentially experiencing gusts approaching 55 mph.

Dangerous surf also remains a concern. High Surf Advisories are in effect for east and southeast-facing shores of the Big Island, Maui and Molokaʻi, as well as east-facing shores of Oʻahu and Kauaʻi. Surf is expected to begin gradually diminishing Sunday as Nolo moves farther west.

While the change in Nolo’s track is welcome news for Hawaiʻi, we are not completely out of the woods yet. Strong and gusty trade winds will continue, and residents should remain alert for additional rain, localized flooding, hazardous surf and rapidly changing conditions.

GEM Hawaiʻi Pacific teams remain prepositioned and ready to respond should any communities require assistance. After several storms have impacted Hawaiʻi this season, our teams continue to monitor conditions across the islands and stand ready to mobilize wherever help is needed.

Please continue to follow guidance from local and state officials and monitor official weather alerts.

To learn more about GEM Hawaiʻi Pacific and support our ongoing disaster response efforts, visit the link in our bio or GEM.org.

#HurricaneNolo #Hawaii #GEMmissions #GEMHawaii #DisasterResponse ...

Today marks two years since #HurricaneHelene made landfall in #Florida as a Category 4 storm, devastating communities across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia and beyond.

GEM responded immediately, establishing operations throughout Florida and North Carolina, while reaching rural and cut-off communities by vehicle and helicopter.

Two years later, here is some of what this response accomplished:

* 37,000+ people supported with humanitarian aid across North Carolina and Florida
* 65 full-size semi-truck loads of aid delivered and distributed
* 120+ Starlink devices delivered through GEM and partners
* 50+ helicopter deliveries and/or evacuations
* 189 people provided free short-term accommodations through Airbnb.org
* 150+ people provided free long-term housing assistance
* $453,000+ in housing assistance supporting 88 households, including rental assistance and 19 FEMA trailers
* $700,000 in grants provided to 121 small businesses, artisans and farmers

Two years later, we remember the communities forever changed by Helene and remain grateful to every donor, partner, volunteer, first responder and GEM team member who helped turn immediate relief into long-term recovery. #davidandnicoletepper ...

HAWAIʻI — HURRICANE NOLO UPDATE

GEM Hawaiʻi Pacific is closely monitoring Hurricane Nolo as the powerful storm continues to strengthen south of the Hawaiian Islands and conditions begin to deteriorate across portions of the state.

Nolo has strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds near 105 mph as it moves slowly north-northeast toward Hawaiʻi. The Big Island is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning and Hurricane Watch, with tropical storm conditions expected and hurricane-force conditions remaining possible. Portions of Maui County are also under a Tropical Storm Watch.

The greatest concern remains the potential for extreme rainfall and life-threatening flooding. Forecasters warn that the eastern and southern portions of Hawaiʻi Island could experience catastrophic flash flooding and mudslides, while Maui and other islands could also see significant rainfall, flooding, strong winds and dangerous surf as Nolo passes south of the state.

GEM Hawaiʻi Pacific teams are prepositioned and ready to respond. Our teams continue to coordinate and prepare resources so we can rapidly mobilize assistance to communities impacted by the storm.

We urge everyone across Hawaiʻi to take this storm seriously, remain prepared, follow instructions from local and state emergency officials, and continue monitoring official weather alerts as Nolo approaches.

GEM will continue monitoring conditions across the islands and will provide updates as the situation develops.

To learn more about GEM’s Hawaiʻi operations, please visit the link in our bio or GEM.org.

#HurricaneNolo #Hawaii #GEMmissions #DisasterResponse #HawaiiPacific ...

First Day of School for GEM Haiti Students 🇭🇹📚

A new school year means new beginnings, new opportunities, and another step toward a brighter future for our students in Haiti.

For 15 Years, Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) has remained committed to supporting education throughout Haiti. We believe education is one of the most powerful tools for creating lasting change, opening doors to opportunity, building confidence, and strengthening communities for generations to come.

Working alongside local educators, GEM supports students from elementary school through university, helping remove the financial and logistical barriers that can stand between a child and a the opportunity for an education.

Our GEM Haiti education, medical, and empowerment programs provide support including:

• School registration and tuition
• Uniforms and school supplies
• Daily lunches
• Transportation and logistics
• Medical care
• Field trips and enrichment opportunities
• After-school care
• Private tutoring
• English-language classes

The impact reaches far beyond the classroom. Every student given the opportunity to learn carries that knowledge, ambition, and possibility back into their family and community.

As our students return to their classrooms, we celebrate more than the first day of school. We celebrate their dreams, their determination, and the futures they are working to build.

Here’s to a wonderful new school year for our GEM Haiti students. 🇭🇹To learn more about about GEM Programs and our mission work in Haiti, visit: www.GEM.org ...

Danielle Dreis has dedicated her career to helping communities recover from disaster, combining strategic leadership with a deep commitment to serving survivors.

Her connection to Global Empowerment Mission began following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, where she met GEM Founder Michael Capponi while working in humanitarian response. She later joined GEM directly, supporting disaster missions in Haiti, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Bolivia, and beyond.

Of Hawaiian heritage, Danielle was raised in Spokane, Washington, while maintaining deep family ties to Hawaiʻi throughout her life. Following the devastating Maui wildfires in 2023, she took on leadership of GEM’s Hawaiʻi operations, bringing together years of global disaster-response experience with a community deeply personal to her.

Today, as Executive Director of GEM Hawaiʻi-Pacific, Danielle oversees emergency response and long-term recovery initiatives across the region, including housing, disaster case management, direct assistance, and community recovery.

Working alongside government, nonprofit, philanthropic, and private-sector partners, Danielle remains focused on one mission: helping disaster-impacted communities move from crisis toward lasting recovery and resilience. @danielle.dreis @globalempowermentmissionhawaii ...

HAWAIʻI | HURRICANE LOWELL UPDATE

GEM Hawaiʻi Pacific and GEM USA West teams have been on the ground across Kauaʻi, delivering critical aid and recovery resources to communities impacted by Hurricane Lowell.

Thanks to the support of our partners at @edfreedman’s @stableroadfoundation, and the State of Hawaiʻi, GEM has been able to distribute generators to affected residents and businesses, including local farms facing extended power outages and the potential loss of vital operations.

Beyond emergency power, our teams are distributing chainsaws, blowers, and other essential cleanup equipment to help residents clear fallen trees, storm debris, and begin the difficult work of recovery. GEM’s commitment to Kauaʻi extends far beyond the immediate response.

GEM Hawaiʻi Pacific will maintain an ongoing presence on the island and has established warehouse space that will serve as a long-term resiliency hub, allowing us to pre-position supplies, strengthen disaster preparedness, and rapidly mobilize aid to the communities that need it most.

Our partners @good360usa and @amazon will also be providing additional generators and disaster relief supplies to support these efforts. In addition, our long time partner @mauibrewingco is also committed.

As Hawaiʻi continues to recover from a relentless hurricane season, @govhawaii @govjoshgreen and the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HIEMA) @hawaii_ema have announced the expansion of the Statewide Disaster Case Management Program (DCMP) to include households affected by both Hurricane Lowell and Hurricane Lala.

Led by HIEMA, the expanded program brings together community-based organizations across the islands, including Global Empowerment Mission, to help administer the program and provide additional direct services to impacted households. @globalempowermentmissionhawaii

To learn more about our Hawaiʻi Pacific response or support this mission, please visit the link in our bio or GEM.org.

#GEM #HurricaneLowell #Kauai #Hawaii #DisasterRelief ...

Our @globalempowermentmissioneur and @globalempowermentmissionasia have been on the ground in Nepal for 10 days now. As part of our ongoing response, we carried distributions in Belkotgadhi Municipality in Nuwakot District along the Trishuli River.

Families there saw houses destroyed and farmland buried under mud, losing livestock. Documents and years of hard-earned belongings in an instant. Travelling in, our teams passed damaged homes, washed-out roads, and places where it was hard to tell what had stood there before.

Working alongside our local partners, including Nepal Peace Scouts, we delivered essential supplies directly to affected residents. The water has receded, but the impact is far from over.

We are building multiple temporary shelters and providing 40 new orphans with full shelter, food, and education for six months.

Our first airlift flights are scheduled to land in Kathmandu next week, with additional flights throughout September, bringing in over a million dollars in aid.

Special thanks to our ground partners Nepal Peace Scouts, and to our incredible donors: the Town of Palm Beach United Way and the United States Department. Our work in Nepal continues. @pbunitedway @unitedwaypbc @statedept @usembassynepal #GEM #Nepal To learn more and support this mission, visit the link in our bio section. ...

This week GEM’s President and Ukraine Programs Director visited several GEM HGBF window replacement sites across Kyiv and saw firsthand what recovery means in real lives.

To date, GEM in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation have replaced more than 353,000 windows across Ukraine, helping restore damaged homes, hospitals and schools.

At Kyiv Clinical Hospital No. 4, the team also delivered @blueairus air purifiers for over four hundred patients thanks to Stock It Better. We also replaced three hundred windows after an attack on this hospital.

Walking those wards was hard. Team sat with soldiers just back from the front, many missing two, three, sometimes four limbs, their wounds still raw and pain everywhere. Those very soldiers signed a flag for GEM HGBF.

Seeing that suffering makes the value of what GEM does painfully clear.

#ukraine #hgbf #windows #recovery ...

Nepal Mission Update

Yesterday, our GEM Asia teams completed an extraordinary 19-hour journey through the #Himalayas to reach #Dhunche in #Rasuwa District, navigating washed-out, muddy roads, heavy rain and river crossings. Vehicles became stuck repeatedly along the route, but our team and local drivers pushed through extremely difficult conditions to deliver two full trucks of critical humanitarian aid to communities devastated by the disaster.

Today, @globalempowermentmissionasia delivered essential supplies, including rice, water, lentils, baby food and formula, diapers, feminine hygiene products, toiletries, cooking oil, clothing and other necessities to the military base in Dhunche, where supplies are being moved by helicopter into isolated communities.

We coordinated directly with the Ward President of Hakubeshi, to ensure GEM aid reaches families in an area that, until now, has received no assistance or supplies. We working with the District Officer of Rasuwa District, and provided brand new specific clothing for the 40 children newly orphaned by the disaster, with the supplies placed directly into his care for distribution.

Our local partners and government counterparts are therefore helping ensure GEM supplies continue moving directly to affected families, including displaced families currently sheltering in Dhunche. Our teams remain on the ground coordinating with local authorities, identifying underserved communities and assessing evolving needs.

Reaching this region was exceptionally difficult, but this is exactly why GEM is here: to reach families and communities that others have not yet been able to reach. Nepal’s first formal government situation report now estimates 1.6 million people affected, with Rasuwa and Nuwakot severely impacted. More than 14,400 people across 3,700 households remain isolated in remote municipalities due to disrupted roads, power and communications.

GEM has multiple cargo flights mobilized and larger influxes of aid is on the way.

Special thanks to our local ground partner Nepal Peace Scouts. @statedept @usembassynepal @good360usa @amazon @ups #aerialrecovery @bethmccluney ...

Nepal Mission Update

Our GEM USA and @globalempowermentmissionasia teams have been on the ground in #Nepal for the last 48 hours, working around the clock to find real solutions for the thousands of people impacted by this devastating disaster.

In this video, you’ll see two fully-loaded GEM relief trucks carrying vital supplies to a forward base camp. From there, in close coordination with the Government of Nepal, the U.S @statedept, and our teams on the ground, aid will move into communities that remain hard to reach.

Multiple humanitarian cargo flights will depart this week from our @globalempowermentmission headquarters in Miami and our @globalempowermentmissioneurope branch in Warsaw, Poland, delivering critical shelter materials and life-saving relief valued at over1 million dollars.

In partnership with Nepal Peace Scouts, whom we’ve worked with since the 2023 Nepal earthquake, GEM has stepped in to care for 40 newly orphaned children. Nepal Peace Scouts is a respected 67-year-old Nepalese organization with over 1,000 volunteers and deep roots in communities across the country.

Together, we are ensuring these children receive a new safe home, nutritious food, clothing, and daily care for the next six months, side by side with our trusted local partner Nepal Peace Scouts

Our teams will remain on the ground for as long as needed, adapting to the severity and evolving needs of this disaster. Tragically, many more children have been orphaned, and their protection and care will remain a core focus of GEM’s response. To learn more and support the Nepal Special Mission Fund, visit our website.

Special thanks to Aerial Recovery Group ...

NEPAL–TIBET FLASH FLOOD

GEM Asia is deploying ground teams to respond to the catastrophic flash flood has struck the remote Himalayan border region between Nepal and Tibet, leaving widespread devastation and triggering major search-and-rescue operations.

A massive surge of water, mud, rock, ice and debris tore through communities along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems, destroying homes and critical infrastructure and cutting off communities across the mountainous region.

According to current reports:
• More than 150 people have been reported dead across Nepal and Tibet, with casualty figures continuing to rise.
• Hundreds remain missing, including foreign tourists and pilgrims traveling through the region.
• The Trishuli River reportedly surged by as much as 30 feet in approximately 30 minutes at one monitoring location.
• At least 19 bridges and approximately 25 miles of roadway have reportedly been swept away.
• Roads, communications, electrical infrastructure and hydropower facilities have sustained significant damage.
• Rescue operations remain extremely difficult due to destroyed access routes, mountainous terrain and isolated communities.

Preliminary scientific assessments indicate the disaster may have been triggered by a massive ice-and-rock avalanche high in the Himalayas, which entered a tributary of the Bhote Koshi and generated a devastating downstream flood wave.

Authorities are also closely monitoring a potential remaining upstream blockage, raising concerns about the possibility of additional flooding.

The full scale of this disaster is still unfolding. More updates to follow as verified information becomes available. @globalempowermentmissionasia Photos by: @reuters @apnews @nytimes

#GEM #Nepal #Tibet #FlashFlood #DisasterResponse HumanitarianAid ...

GEM HQ Capacity Update | Miami-Dade County Only

These aerial views show our response infrastructure in Miami-Dade County. A special thanks to our long-time warehousing partner @prologis for their continued support in providing critical warehouse space that makes rapid response possible. And to Mayor @christifraga and the @cityofdoral.

Today, GEM is operating more than 655,000 square feet of warehouse space in Miami-Dade alone, all currently filled with life-saving aid, made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our donors, corporate partners and diaspora. To put this in perspective, this is roughly the equivalent of five full-size Costco warehouses, all dedicated to only humanitarian relief in our region.

This is the kind of scale and infrastructure that allows us to respond decisively and mobilize what we know will become the largest humanitarian response in Venezuela’s history. Our HQ infrastructure is always ready and able to respond to crises immediately.

Swipe through to see our capacity in action. GEM also operates multiple regional branches in the United States and globally across 4 continents. Our total global capacity nears 875,000 sq ft. This ensures we are ready and prepositioned when and where disaster strikes. @miamidadeem @miamidadecounty #infastructure #capacity #warehousing @globalempowermentmission ...

Thanks to the support of the U.S. @statedept and @usembassybogota, GEM LATAM teams continue expanding humanitarian operations across Colombia, delivering critical aid directly to communities impacted by the devastating earthquake.

In Valle del Cauca, GEM ground teams are working alongside local governments, private-sector partners, community leaders, and fellow humanitarian organizations to coordinate relief efforts and reach families still awaiting assistance.

Yesterday, operations focused on Bugalagrande, where GEM teams reached 800 families in rural and underserved communities that had not yet received humanitarian aid. Among those served were 75 families forced to evacuate their apartment building after earthquake damage left the structure unsafe.

GEM Colombia Humanitarian Response to Date:
• 219,917 lbs / 99.75 metric tons of humanitarian aid shipped
• $1,704,484.78 in humanitarian aid delivered
• 232 pallets of aid shipped
• 12,545 GEM Family Necessity Kits deployed
• 4 humanitarian cargo flights delivered

GEM continues its partnership with First Lady Ana Lucía Pineda’s Colombia Un Solo Corazón initiative and Solidaridad por Colombia, while strengthening our logistics network across Medellín, Pereira, and Cali and building dedicated Colombian ground teams capable of reaching affected communities throughout the country.

From major cities to rural communities that have yet to receive assistance, GEM remains committed to going where the need is greatest and staying for the long road to recovery.

To support GEM’s Colombia Earthquake Response, donate, volunteer, or learn more through the link in our bio or at GEM.org.

#Colombia #ColombiaEarthquake #HumanitarianAid #DisasterRelief #ColombiaUnSoloCorazón ...

Special thanks to our incredible partners at @dhlus @dhllatam @dhlexpress and the U.S. @statedept for their continued support of GEM’s humanitarian response in #Colombia.

Another DHL cargo flight has just landed in Bogotá carrying critical humanitarian aid for communities impacted by the recent disasters.

DHL has transported 43 tons of GEM aid so far, with many more flights scheduled. To date, @globalempowermentmissionlatam has delivered more than 150 tons of humanitarian aid into Colombia.

Grateful for partnerships that help us move aid quickly and efficiently to the communities that need it most. 🇺🇸🇨🇴 @usembassybogota @fundacionsolidaridadxcol #colombiaunsolocorazon ...