American Kidney Fund Activates Disaster Relief Program to Provide Aid to Dialysis and Post-Transplant Patients in Florida and Alabama Impacted by Hurricane Isaias

ROCKVILLE, Md. (Oct. 19, 2026)  — The American Kidney Fund (AKF) has activated its Disaster Relief Program to help dialysis and post-transplant patients affected by Hurricane Isaias in Florida and Alabama. AKF's Disaster Relief Program is the only rapid-response system in the country that provides emergency financial assistance to dialysis and recent transplant patients. 

Hurricane Isaias made landfall earlier this month near Destin, Florida, bringing high winds, torrential rain, storm surge and tornadoes across Florida and Alabama. The storm has left hundreds of thousands of people without power and led to mandatory evacuations for tens of thousands. 

"Natural disasters such as Hurricane Isaias place a significant burden on people living with kidney failure who rely on critical, timely treatments and medicines to stay alive," said LaVarne A. Burton, AKF President and CEO. "Our disaster relief grants will help ensure dialysis and post-transplant patients have some immediate financial relief so they can stay safe in the aftermath of this serious storm." 

Emergency grants of $250 are available for dialysis and post-transplant patients living in the following counties:

• Alabama: Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile 
• Florida: Baker, Bay, Calhoun, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Gulf, Hamilton, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Levy, Liberty, Madison, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Suwannee, Taylor, Wakulla, Walton and Washington 

Disaster relief grants help patients replace lost medicines and kidney-friendly foods (which may be spoiled due to power outages), pay for temporary housing and transportation to treatment, and replace clothing and personal essentials lost due to the storm or the need to evacuate with little to no notice. 

People with kidney failure are more likely to experience hardships during a natural disaster, as interruptions to dialysis treatments can put them at risk for being hospitalized. AKF has developed a resource page for patients impacted by Hurricane Isaias, which can be found here. 

AKF has been providing emergency disaster financial assistance to kidney patients throughout all the major disasters that have struck the United States and its territories for the past three decades. Dialysis and recent kidney transplant patients who need emergency financial aid should contact a social worker at their dialysis or transplant clinic for information on applying for aid or apply directly at gms.KidneyFund.org.