Disaster Response

Tsunami

On December 26, 2004, an undersea earthquake—also known as the Sumatra-Andaman earthquake—rocked the Indian Ocean. The resulting tsunami hit the shores of Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and other countries with waves up to 100 feet, killing approximately 275,000 people. The scale of the disaster has marked it as one of the deadliest disasters in modern history.

The Corps deployed 33 officers from agencies including the Indian Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Office of the Secretary to Indonesia to help in the recovery effort. The Corps assisted in health and medical services such as vaccinating the population against contagious diseases, diagnosing and treating injuries and illnesses, purifying the water and other environmental services, and assisting with mental health care.

Flood in Haiti

In 2004 Hurricane Jeanne ravaged the Caribbean off the coast of North America, killing over 3,000 people. In Haiti where the devastation was most pronounced, the Commissioned Corps were quickly dispatched to assess the damage and address immediate health care needs. Working with the local government, the Corps established health care centers and epidemiological surveillance to identify and respond to any emerging epidemics. The Corps also contributed to planning for the provision of long term health care in Gona ïves and the Artibonite Region.