response Archives - Canadian Medical Assistance Teams

Update on Hurricanes Helene and Milton Response & How You Can Help

2024 - Hurricanes Helene and Milton, Deployments, Disaster Monitoring

2024-10-10

CMAT wanted to provide an important update on our response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, which have severely impacted parts of the southeastern United States. As you may know, the situation on the ground remains dire, with significant damage to infrastructure, homes, and communities.

Unfortunately, due to professional and regulatory restrictions, CMAT is unable to deploy our Canadian medical teams to assist. However, we are working closely with our American partners and remain committed to supporting the response efforts in any way we can.

We encourage those of you who are eager to help, to consider donating to our verified PAHO Emergency Medical Team (EMT) partner organizations from the US, who are actively providing critical support in the affected areas.

These teams are working tirelessly to deliver medical aid, supplies, and assistance to communities in need: (links below)

International Medical Corps... - International Medical Corps

Americares Emergency Response Partners | Americares

For those who wish to donate to CMAT for our ongoing preparations for disaster response and obtain a receipt for tax purposes, please visit our donations page at: www.cmat.ca/donate

Each of these organizations is making a significant difference on the ground, and your contributions will directly support their ongoing efforts.

Thank you for your continued dedication and support during these challenging times. Together, we can make a meaningful impact and help the affected communities recover.

EMERGENCY ALERT: CMAT to deploy medical team to Honduras in response to twin hurricanes.

2020 - Honduras Hurricanes, Disaster Monitoring

cone graphic — Map courtesy of National Hurricane Center

November 15, 2020 – San Pedro Sula, Honduras: Less than two weeks after powerful Hurricane Eta killed more than 200 people across Central America, authorities on Saturday warned that tropical storm Iota is likely to wallop coastal areas of Nicaragua and Honduras on Monday as a major hurricane.

In collaboration with our partner Humanity First Canada, and with guidance from the Pan American Health Organization, CMAT will be mobilizing its medical team to the affected region in Northern Honduras in the next 24 to 48 hours, in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Iota.

The Collaborative CMAT/ Humanity First medical team was assembled over the past few days, and together with medical equipment and supplies, will deploy as two EMTs Type 1 Mobile. Team members due to depart Toronto’s Pearson International Airport in the coming days.

2020 Hurricane Eta: Facts and how to help | World Vision — A scene in Honduras, where people are left homeless after Hurricane Eta. “They are sleeping in nylon bags, which they use as a roof as well. The only clothes they have are the ones that they were wearing at the moment they had to leave,” says Rafael Zaldívar, a World Vision staff member in Honduras. (Photo ©2020 World Vision/photo by Rafael Zaldívar)

Your support of it critical in this time of need. Please help CMAT and Humanity First provide medical assistance for the Honduran people at this devastating time, when they are most at risk. Donate now, so that together, we can save lives.

Tax-deductible donations gratefully accepted at: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/42951 or by email transfer or paypal to [email protected]

CMAT Response Team in Haïti: Travelling to the remote western regions

2016 - Haiti Hurricane Matthew, News

CMAT Response team members (L-R) Marc Dupuis, Martin Metz, local driver, Kate Auger departing Jérémie for Le Irois, Haïti.

November 9, 2016 – Jérémie, Haïti – The Team arrived in Jérémie over the weekend, and spent a restful night graciously hosted by friends at the Centre Pastoral et Catechetique Maria Stella Maris. We thank the community centre for allowing our team to set up their tents indoors, allowing them to stay dry! While staying at the centre before the next day’s journey, they helped to clear the community centre area of debris, and several large fallen trees which were toppled during the hurricane. (Click on thumbnails to view larger image)

Team leader Martin Metz, who aside from being a Paramedic is also an experienced arborist used our donated chainsaw to create “Canadian Chairs” for the community centre!

Through government contacts, and the UN Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) Cluster, the team identified a remote community in the westernmost tip of southern Haïti which needed access to clean water. Deployments like this can sometimes be challenging, and this was no exception. The team faced torrential downpours, winding mountain roads, and even two flat tires! But the team kept calm, and carried on with smiles and spirits intact!

CMAT Response team in Haïti: Arrival in Jérémie

2016 - Haiti Hurricane Matthew

CMAT has safely arrived in Jérémie! A big thank you to our transport team.

CMAT Response Team has safely arrived in Jérémie! A big thank you to our transport team.

November 5, 2016 – Jérémie, Haïti:

CMAT Response team visited several areas in the vicinity of Port au Prince, to scout potential locations for the Nomad water purification unit. One of the areas visited was Léogâne, where CMAT ran a field hospital in the immediate aftermath of the 2010 Earthquake. (click on thumbnails to view larger images)

BC Paramedic and CMAT Team Leader Martin Metz discussed possible locations for Nomad Water Purification Unit. There are many NGOs on the ground working together to ensure all areas are properly assessed and obtain the appropriate support. CMAT prides itself on ensuring strong collaborative partnerships with local groups and other international responders.

Meanwhile, Kate Auger (NP, Ontario) and Marc Dupuis (Firefighter, Quebec) met with several local groups to learn of local initiatives and discuss potential collaborative projects.

Kate Auger met with FDS Haiti (el Fuego del Sol) to discuss potential long term medical projects in the Dominican Republic, to help meet the primary needs of displaced Haitians. Stand-by for updates on this potential project and how you may get involved. Shown here is just one of many sustainable development projects FDS Haiti has been working on. These cooking stoves extend the flame and heat by 60-90mins and convert briquettes into charcoal. Thank you to Kevin Adair, President of FDS Haiti for the wonderful demonstration.

After lengthy discussion with the Canadian Embassy in Port au Prince, representatives of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) cluster, and Logistics cluster, it was decided that the team would venture out to the remote region around Jérémie, estimated to be approximately 8 hours drive south of Port au Prince.

CMAT loaded up its medical supplies and Nomad Water Purification system for the journey to Jérémie, and once in Jérémie, CMAT will meet with the local WaSH cluster representatives to finalize its final deployment location.

CMAT continues to appeal for donations to help offset the cost of this project. Please donate generously.