FedEx Supports Readiness, Response, and Recovery for Communities Affected by Disasters and Other Crises
Originally published in FedEx's 2023 FedEx Cares Report
Integrating mental health and psychosocial support into emergency response
Mental health and psychosocial support are critical parts of effective and sustainable first responder programs. With support from FedEx, International Medical Corps (IMC) created the Principles of Psychological First Aid (PPFA) training to equip first responders with the skills to compassionately support affected individuals and families. Yvonne Groenhout, an ICU nurse and IMC first responder, is one of 5,000 global medical professionals trained on PPFA. The PPFA training enabled Yvonne and so many others to spot people struggling in the aftermath of an emergency and provide them with the support they need to recover and stay healthy.
Restoring access to care after tornado destroys clinic
After a tornado ravaged the Delta Health Center in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Heart to Heart International (HHI) stepped in to help. With support from FedEx, HHI deployed a disaster team, mobile medical units, and a portable clinic to ensure medical care continuity. The clinic staff, now equipped with secure facilities, aided storm victims and reached elderly patients in remote areas.
This has given us such an advantage as we work to continue to improve our disaster response efforts.
Maddy Langemach
Disaster Response Specialist
for Heart to Heart International
Helping to fund the Grassroots Revolution in Canada
With support from FedEx, GlobalMedic delivered 50+ tons of aid across Canada as part of its Grassroots Revolution - a suite of programs that address chronic emergencies. The deliveries included food, medical supplies, and hygiene items for Hurricane Fiona victims in Atlantic Canada, support for domestic Emergency Food and Hygiene Hub programs, and fire skid units for British Columbia’s forest fire relief. FedEx Canadian volunteers chipped in to help, assembling food kits for survivors across the region.
No-cost trainings bolster disaster management capabilities within at-risk communities
Team Rubicon aids communities worldwide in disaster preparedness. FedEx helps fund expert exercises, led by FEMA-trained practitioners, to stress-test plans, identify deficiencies, and bolster response capabilities. From simulations to nuclear disaster drills, Team Rubicon empowers communities of all sizes to face any calamity.
I get to help train communities to better respond, and FedEx helps get us there before that worst day happens.
Greg Ramoni
Exercise & Field Leadership Manager,
Team Rubicon
A long-term collaboration to deliver aid in Chile
FedEx delivered 40 tons of aid across Chile in 2023 in partnership with Desafío Levantemos Chile. Together we supported rehabilitation projects in fire and f lood-hit areas including rebuilding the Rural Medical Station in Santa Juana. With a network spanning 400 Chilean cities, FedEx has signed on to facilitate charitable transportation for Desafío Levantemos Chile on a regular basis.
FedEx has been one of our strongest logistical allies in dozens of emergencies since 2012. They help us to be more efficient and faster in the transportation “ of donations, reaching more families and entrepreneurs who need to get back on their feet.
Ignacio Serrano
Executive Director of Desafío
Levantemos Chile
All hands on deck to support Turkey after the earthquake
On February 6, 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Turkey near the Syrian border, followed by aftershocks up to 7.5 magnitude. Tragically, over 50,000 people died, with significant damage to infrastructure including destruction of many homes, businesses, hospitals, and utilities. Nine million individuals were directly affected and three million were displaced.
FedEx is committed to helping the many communities impacted by the earthquakes during this incredibly difficult time. We are inspired by the heroic work of first responders and humanitarian organizations and grateful to use our global network to donate flights, logistics support, and aid to advance recovery, rebuilding, and relief in the region.
Raj Subramaniam
FedEx President and CEO
FedEx receives OTHERS Award
FedEx received the OTHERS Award from The Salvation Army, recognizing our commitment to humanitarian efforts worldwide. Named after William Booth’s succinct telegram urging service to others, the award highlights the FedEx donation of 22 mobile feeding units to Salvation Army locations globally. This gesture reflects our company’s ongoing dedication to disaster relief and aiding communities in need.
Within hours of the earthquake in Turkey, FedEx began our multidimensional response:
- Donated $100,000 to the Red Cross to aid recovery efforts in Turkey and Syrian communities
- Delivered critical humanitarian supplies from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport to Malatya, Turkey, on behalf of the Istanbul Governorship and local municipality
- Flew five consecutive flights from February 17 to 21, which delivered approximately 230 metric tons of relief supplies including tents, blankets, baby items, household supplies, and hygiene kits
- Provided shipping support for Canadian disaster-relief organization GlobalMedic, including the delivery of AquaResponse3 Water Purification Units
- With the help of FedEx, Water Mission shipped five of its Living Water Treatment Systems to Turkey to provide emergency safe water access to those impacted by the devastating earthquakes
- Worked with World Central Kitchen to ship a deployable kitchen unit, kitchen supplies, and operations kits from Madrid, Spain, and Capitol Heights, Maryland, U.S., to Adana, Turkey
- FedEx Cares team members in Turkey, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Slovenia collected items for the local Red Cross/Red Crescent societies and donated approximately 885 kilos of supplies including new warm clothes and shoes, blankets, hygienic materials, and family tents
Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.
