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Hurricanes
Hurricane Milton is currently headed towards the Tampa, Florida area. It presently sits at a Category 5, and is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening as a Category 4. GEM is currently preparing for this disaster and is set up to respond immediately.
Hurricanes
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. Over 4 million people were immediately affected with power loss, extreme flooding, and heavy winds. Countless more households have been affected along all of Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Floods
Storm Boris has caused significant flooding across Europe in the past few days. In regions such as Czechia & Poland, this has been the worst disaster in decades. The storm has already taken many lives and has forced thousands of people from their houses.
Hurricanes
On September 11th, Hurricane Francine made landfall in southern Louisiana as a category 2 hurricane. New Orleans was hit with a month’s worth of rain in just one day, causing significant flooding. The hurricane intensified rapidly before making landfall.
Hurricanes
Hurricane Debby made landfall August 5th in Florida, USA. Hundreds of thousands of residents are without power and directly at risk for major storm surges and flooding. The GEM team has deployed from its Headquarters to offer critical supplies during and after this storm.
Fires
Bulgaria is presently facing the threat of about 40 wildfires around the country, with more areas being affected and evacuated every day. The GEM Europe team deployed from their Polish warehouse, bringing supplies for first responders & evacuated residents.
Fires
The Canadian province of Alberta has experienced 122 wildfires in 2024 already. As of late, the historic town of Jasper suffered tremendous damage from an out of control wildfire, burning over 79,000 acres. Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate.
Hurricanes
GEM and its partners are on the ground distributing supplies for the aftermath of this major hurricane. Hurricane Beryl has affected the Caribbean significantly, with heavy destruction and damage across St. Vincent, Grenada, Jamaica, and other surrounding islands.
Floods
The GEM LATAM team is presently on the ground in Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil responding to the recent extreme flooding. Over 1 million homes are without access to water, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated and placed in shelters, and countless more have been affected.
Fires
There are multiple major fires that have burned hundreds of thousands of acres so far, prompting evacuation orders in several counties. GEM is providing pallets of disaster relief throughout the affected regions to assist all those affected
Fires
Chile is currently experiencing their worst disaster in over a decade. Severe forest fires have devastated the Valparaiso region, having burnt nearly 64,000 acres and forcing thousands to evacuate. The GEM LATAM team is currently deployed to assist in Chile.
Floods
GEM is committed to an immediate and effective response to unexpected flooding across the USA in 2024. We stand ready to mobilize resources from our multiple branches, with an average response time of 24 hours.
Earthquakes
On January 1st, a major 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Japan. This earthquake was the deadliest in Japan since 2016, taking the lives of hundreds and injuring many more
Fires
Colombia declared a disaster situation on Thursday due to wildfires raging across several parts of the country, as the president warned the conditions could get worse.
Tornadoes
Early January 2024 tornadoes tore through the Florida Panhandle, causing extensive damages to homes, boats, and businesses in many communities. The GEM team deployed from their Miami HQ with a truck of aid to assist those who were affected.
Earthquakes
On November 16th, the GEM Europe team arrived in Iceland to support evacuees, and in anticipation for future volcanic activity. Since late October, Iceland has recorded over 20,000 earthquakes, with as many as 800 in a single day.
Earthquakes
A large 6.4 earthquake devastated Nepal on November 3rd, collapsing homes and destroying the remote region that it most affected. Over 150 people have lost their lives, and hospitals are at capacity with those injured.
Hurricanes
Acapulco, Mexico was devastated by a Category 5 hurricane on October 25th. The storms caused flooding, extreme structural damage, road destruction, affecting over 2 million people.
Earthquakes
In response to the Herat earthquake, and the string of smaller quakes since, the GEM MENA team deployed to Afghanistan to provide humanitarian aid to those affected.
GEM Bstrong has embarked on a mission to provide immediate relief to families affected by the recent events in Israel and Gaza.
Over 100,000 refugees have fled from the recent conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, travelling for days in cold temperatures with just the bare minimum they were able to take with them. GEM has deployed to Armenia to distribute humanitarian aid to these individuals, during this crisis.
Floods
GEM MENA loaded a military ship in Izmir, Turkey with vital supplies for those affected by the recent flooding
Earthquakes
In response to Morocco’s devastating 6.8 earthquake on September 8th, the GEM MENA and GEM Europe teams are on the ground in Marrakesh, the Atlas mountainous regions, and the surrounding communities offering immediate assistance.
Hurricanes
The GEM team is currently on the ground, having responded immediately during the storm. We are prepositioning trucks of aid and will be distributing critical, large-scale supplies to Hurricane Idalia’s most affected zones in the Florida area.
Fires
The GEM team is on the ground alongside the HARP team, offering resources & critical support to all those affected by the recent Oregon Road Fire, in Elk, Washington. We will be on the ground distributing aid and BStrong cash cards to community members.
Hurricanes
Hurricane Hilary made landfall in Baja California, Mexico on August 20th, bringing in extremely heavy rains. The flooding resulting from this rain destroyed roads and damaged infrastructure
Fires
Our GEM BStrong team is on the ground now in Maui, Hawaii, assisting those who have been severely affected by the wildfires. We are distributing our BStrong cash cards immediately to help cover immediate, emergency needs by residents of the island
Fires
Our GEM Europe team is on the ground in Greece, responding to the 90 active fires within the country. We have been coordinating with local and foreign first responders to best reach the most affected communities.
Floods
GEM is prepositioned to immediately deploy to flooding disasters in the United States. We are presently responding to the historic flooding in Vermont, and will be distributing trucks of Family Necessity Kits, water, hygiene, mattresses, and more.
Conflict
On June 6th, in the Kherson region, the Nova Kakhovka dam was targeted and breached by enemy attacks. This dam has a water volume of 18,000,000 m³, and the destruction has ultimately caused this water to severely impact the neighboring 80 settlements.
Conflict
GEM is currently dispatched to respond to the ongoing and critical crisis in Sudan. This specialized team, led by a former Green Beret, will be distributing aid at refugee camps in 3 different regions within Sudan
Floods
The Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy saw half of its annual rainfall in the span on 36 hours, devastating many towns. Tens of thousands have been evacuated.
Cyclone
Cyclone Freddy lasted 5 weeks, making it the longest-lasting tropical cyclone ever recorded. When it finally made landfall, Malawi, Africa was hit with catastrophic flooding that severely impacted the locals.
Tornadoes
Beginning March 25th in Mississippi and Alabama, the United States saw dozens of tornadoes touch down in multiple states. Many have lost their lives, and hundreds of others have been severely impacted by the substantial damage.
Earthquakes
A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Southern Turkey and Syria early February 6th. Thousands are expected to have lost their lives, with countless more injured.
Fires
On January 28, a 75 unit apartment complex in Miami Gardens suffered major devastation due to a fire. More than half the units are completely destroyed, with the remainder being inhabitable due to extreme fire, smoke, and water damage.
Floods
Extreme rain throughout California left over 8 million residents under flood watch. After many areas of the state received over half their annual rainfall since just December 26th, flooding, mudslides, and extreme winds were all risks being faced.
Earthquakes
On November 21st, on the Java island, a powerful earthquake struck. The 6.9 magnitude disaster hit near the major city of Cianjur, destroying thousands of buildings and causing heavy landslides.
Hurricanes
On November 10,2022 Tropical Storm Nicole made landfall as a Category 1 Hurricane along the east coast of Florida just south of Vero beach. Our team responded immediately following the storm prepared and ready to deploy whatever assistance is needed.
Hurricanes
Hurricane Lisa intensified into the Caribbean waters, and made landfall in Belize in northern Guatemala. GEM responded immediately by deploying a team & sending containers.
Hurricanes
On September 24, 2022 CAT4 Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic damage along the SW coast of Florida leaving thousands of survivors devasted.GEM Bstrong, in partnership with Dade County, deployed teams, loaded trucks and established partnerships in the areas affected.
Hurricanes
On September 18,2022, Hurricane Fiona causing catastrophic flooding and power outages in various municipalities in Puerto Rico. GEM BStrong, alongside our longtime partner #Yonomequito, have been on the ground providing family necessity kits and water.
Floods
On June 14 2022, monsoon rains triggered the most severe flooding in Pakistan’s recent history. Over one third of Pakistan was under water; tens of millions of residents have been affected, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced from their homes.
Fires
In late July, with 100’s of structures destroyed and at least four-related deaths the Oak Fire and McKinney Fire burn throughout California.
Floods
Severe flooding across eastern Kentucky caused 40 deaths. Homes destroyed and roads washed out, leaving communities isolated.
Fires
The total number of wildfires in the European Union since the beginning of 2022 is almost four times the 15-year average for the same time period.
Tragedy
On May 24, 2022, a gunman fatally shot nineteen students and two teachers and wounded many others at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.