Posts Tagged ‘disaster’

VSP to Provide Relief to Ike Victims Through October

Posted on October 2nd, 2008 by Rob L.

Here’s a quick update from the front lines of the Hurricane Ike relief efforts:

Galveston Island, one of the areas most severely battered by Hurricane Ike, will soon open up to relief efforts. Currently, our mobile clinic is still serving those in the Houston area, but will join up with the second clinic in Galveston and begin seeing patients there around October 10th.

The population of Galveston is around 57,000 and officials expect 40,000 of them to return next week. The need is so great in the affected areas, that we expect the mobile clinics team to be deployed until at least the end of October and possibly longer.

VSP has been in touch with 3 of the 4 doctors in Galveston and unfortunately all of them have suffered significant damage, but are looking forward to joining us aboard both mobile clinics once they arrive.

To date, we have been over 300 patients and we have shipped 20 boxes of supplies for the team to take to Galveston.

- Rob

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Hurricane Ike: VSP’s Relief Efforts Continue

Posted on September 26th, 2008 by Rob L.

VSP’s mobile clinics team continues to help those in need at the disaster recovery center in Houston. The center holds about 1600 evacuees, many of them now homeless. In addition to receiving a hot meal and a place to rest for a night, evacuees are also able to access the medical services offered, including their eyecare needs that we are happy to provide. 

So far, our doctors and staff have seen nearly 180 patients, and the need continues to grow. VSP will also be sending our second and newest mobile clinic to Houston to join the team as conditions permit. We will then work with our friends at the Red Cross and other relief organizations to determine if both clinics will be moving on to Galveston, or splitting up to serve two different locations.

 - Rob

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Update on VSP Response to Hurricane Ike

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by Rob L.

The mobile clinic team finished their first day of exams yesterday, seeing as many patients as they could before learning their location was changing. Today the clinic is moving to the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Houston, and will begin seeing patients there tomorrow. The plan is to stay in the greater Houston area for the next couple of weeks and work with the Red Cross to determine which shelters and recovery centers we can best serve. Dana Rainosek of VSP Legends Lab spent yesterday visiting doctors in the surrounding areas to check on their needs and also inform them of mobile clinic activities.

Here’s a quick recap of the mobile clinic team’s efforts:

  • 21 patients were given exams on Monday
  • 50 vouchers were also given to those in need
  • After Houston, the mobile clinic team will move to Galveston as soon as conditions permit

More updates to come Friday.

- Rob

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VSP Mobilizing to Provide Relief to Hurricane Ike Victims

Posted on September 19th, 2008 by Rob L.

One of VSP’s mobile clinics has arrived in Houston, Texas to provide much needed vision services to those affected by Hurricane Ike. Three VSP doctors who have practices that were damaged will be working with our volunteers aboard the mobile clinic to provide eye exams, glasses and materials, and assist in treating eye injuries caused by the storm. Our disaster relief team is currently working to secure locations with the American Red Cross and will be seeing patients by Monday. The University of Houston College of Optometry will also be working with us in their mobile clinic to help accommodate those in need.

After Houston, the mobile clinic will establish a presence in Galveston and Beaumont.

We are also still reaching out to VSP doctors in the surrounding areas to monitor the status of their practices and assess any damages they have sustained.

Here is some additional information on VSP’s relief efforts:

  • Our mobile clinic will remain in Texas for at least 14 -17 days, at which point we will determine if we need to provide support beyond that time frame.
  • VSP employees are donating supplies such as diapers, infant formula, baby wipes, sunscreen and insect repellant to be distributed to evacuees.
  • We have reached out to 602 VSP doctors in the affected areas and have learned that 10 practices have sustained significant damage.

More updates to come next week.

Rob

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VSP Responds to Hurricane Ike

Posted on September 15th, 2008 by Rob L.

We want to do everything we can to help those affected by Hurricane Ike.

We’re working directly with our network of eye doctors and business partners to assess the situation and meet the eyecare needs of all those directly affected by the hurricane.

Any VSP member who loses or breaks eyewear, needs contact lens replacements or an eye exam due to the hurricane, can get them replaced at a minimal cost. Please call 800.877.7195 for more information. Non-VSP members can request a VSP eyecare voucher from the American Red Cross.

We have reached out to 392 VSP doctors in 229 offices to get a better assessment of the damage.  I’ll provide another update later in the week.

 

Rob

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VSP Assists Those Affected by the Southern Tornadoes

Posted on February 11th, 2008 by Rob L.

VSP’s Disaster Relief Team is responding to help those affected by the recent wave of tornadoes in the South. Similar to our work for the Southern California fires, we are working directly with our network of eye doctors and business partners to assess the situation and meet the eyecare needs of all those affected by the tornadoes.

Here’s what we are doing:

  • Any VSP member who loses or breaks eyewear, needs contact lens replacements or an eye exam due to the tornadoes, can get them replaced at a minimal cost. Please call 800.877.7195 for more information.  Non-VSP members can request a VSP eyecare voucher from the American Red Cross.
  • We’ve shipped needed eyecare supplies including eyeglass repair kits, lens cleaning cloths, and backpacks directly to the evacuated areas. We’ll distribute at evacuation centers and in various neighborhoods to families that are staying with their belongings.
  • Our mobile response team will be distributing items in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Kentucky.
  • To ensure that those most in need continue to have access to eyecare during this crisis, we’re continuing to work closely with more than 1,000 VSP doctors in Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, and related state optometric associations.

As thousands of Americans are putting the pieces back together, we’re here to help.

Related Links:

American Red Cross

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VSP Responds to the Recent Fires in Southern California

Posted on October 26th, 2007 by Rob L.

We want to do everything we can to help those affected by the recent fires in Southern California. That’s why we’re deploying our disaster relief plan. We’re working directly with our network of eye doctors and business partners to assess the situation and meet the eyecare needs of all those directly affected by the fires.

Here’s what we’re doing:

  • Any VSP member who loses or breaks eyewear, needs contact lens replacements or an eye exam due to the fires, can get them replaced at a minimal cost. Please call 800.877.7195 for more information.  Non-VSP members can request a VSP eyecare voucher from the American Red Cross.
  • We’ve shipped needed eyecare supplies, such as eyeglass repair kits, contact lens solution, artificial tears, lens cleaning cloths and other cleaning material directly to the evacuated areas. Backpacks, duffel bags and blankets are also on their way and we’ll distribute them to various emergency shelters throughout Southern California over the next several days.
  • We’ve activated our emergency response team and are working closely with the American Red Cross to determine needed supplies and services.
  • Our mobile response team is also on its way to Southern California to determine the eyecare needs of our eye doctors, clients and members, as well as of the local community and emergency services personnel.
  • We’re providing eyecare educational materials to all evacuation centers. These materials focus on eye injury and irritation prevention tips.
  • To ensure that those most in need continue to have access to eyecare during this crisis, we’re continuing to work closely with our over 2,000 doctors in the San Diego and Los Angeles areas, as well as the California Optometric Association.

We are committed to providing access to care for all Americans. During this time of great need, we will be there to help.

Related Links
It’s smoky out there. Protect your eyes.
American Red Cross

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Turning Tragedy into Inspiration

Posted on August 30th, 2007 by Rob L.

VSP Vision Care is on a roll—literally. After months of planning, our first mobile eyecare clinic has hit the road ! Today our clinic debuted at our home base in Sacramento ! After so much time and planning it was amazing to see the clinic up close and personal. For me, the experience brought back a lot of memories.

Almost two years ago we were in the Gulf Coast to help after Hurricane Katrina , where we first saw the need for a mobile response unit. We set up temporary clinics to re-employ 24 of our doctors who had lost their offices, and helped almost 10,000 people affected by the storm. The devastation was intense, but our doctors and patients were so amazing. Everything we saw, and the people we met inspired us to want to create something good from the tragedy.

I think the Mobile Eyes clinic represents who VSP is as a company; it is the tangible face of all our efforts, to help people in need and to promote eye health. So, the next time a disaster hits, we’ll be there, even sooner and better equipped. And when we’re not helping natural disaster victims, we’ll be touring the nation, working with our doctors to educate about the importance of eyecare and providing care to those in need.

See a slideshow of our clinic and let us know what you think!

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