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