FedEx special cargo jet flown to hurricane-ravaged Florida & Caribbean
MEMPHIS: More than $11 million worth of critical aid is in the hands of relief workers in Florida and more than 150 dogs and cats are in a no-kill shelter in San Francisco thanks to FedEx, Direct Relief, Heart to Heart International, the Miami HEAT and the Golden State Warriors.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) dedicated the special flight to make the emergency response possible to hurricane-ravaged areas in Florida and parts of the Caribbean.
The FedEx Express MD-10 was loaded in Memphis with medicines and medical supplies to assist Direct Relief’s humanitarian efforts for the people and communities affected by Hurricane Irma.
The resources were delivered to community health centers and clinics throughout Florida , inclose coordination with the Florida Association of Community Health Centers, as well as to hospitals in Anguilla, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, U.S. Virgin Islands, and British Virgin Islands.
The cargo jet was also carrying more than 4,000 hygiene kits for Heart to Heart International as well as employee relief supplies and generators.
The relief supplies were unloaded upon arrival in Miami, and more than 150 dogs and cats from Miami-area shelters were loaded on board the MD-10. The animals were then flown to Oakland, Calif., where they were delivered to no-kill shelters in the San Francisco area.
“On behalf of our 400,000 FedEx team members, we take great pride in using our global network to deliver hope and help in times of crisis,” said David J. Bronczek, president and chief operating officer of FedEx Corp. “We are inspired by the passion of these organizations and their drive to make a difference in the world. All of us at FedEx remain committed to working closely with humanitarian and disaster relief organizations to provide support and deliver supplies to assist those hardest hit by these storms.”
FedEx has worked with Direct Relief for more than a decade to deliver medical resources during times of disaster.
“Hurricane Irma’s toll on lives and livelihoods in Florida and across the Caribbean has been steep, while at the same time damaging to the health facilities and infrastructure that are essential for recovery,” said Thomas Tighe, president and CEO, Direct Relief. “That’s why the leadership of FedEx in logistics and transportation is critically important and serves as a lifeline to the people and communities still at risk.”
Hurricane Irma also created a pet emergency, with shelters becoming quickly overcrowded due to displaced dogs and cats in hard-hit areas. Members of the Miami HEAT heard about the overcrowding crisis at local shelters and collaborated with the Golden State Warriors to come up with a plan. The NBA teams reached out to FedEx to assist.
