FLORIDA, USA — Hurricane Ian made landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane in the southwestern coast of Florida. The storm resulted in catastrophic storm surges, massive wind and flooding, according to the National Hurricane Center.
There have been severe impacts including significant displacement of residents and over 2.6 million customers statewide without power. Before heading to Florida, the storm caused a total blackout in Cuba affecting 11 million people.
Various organizations as well as first responders are on the ground supporting relief and recovery efforts. Here are various ways to support their work from afar.
Red Cross
Online donations can range from $10 minimum to any amount chosen by the donor. Donors also have the option to select what efforts to support, with Hurricane Ian relief is listed as one option.
According to Red Cross, donations will go towards preparing to assist as many as 60,000 people with moving blood, cots, blankets and any necessary relief supplies to Florida.
Appointments to give blood is another way to locally support relief efforts. Blood holds a short shelf life and can take days to test as well as process, needing to constantly be replenished.
Florida Disaster Fund
The Florida Disaster Fund is a private fund for the state of Florida that supports all disaster response activities.
Any donations can be made through the Volunteer Florida website.
Checks can also be made to "Volunteer Florida Foundation" and include "Florida Disaster Fund" in the memo line. All checks can be mailed to Volunteer Florida Foundation at 1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308.
Salvation Army
The Florida chapter Salvation Army has one field kitchen and close to 30 mobile feeding units prepared as well as bulk disaster supplies in Tampa.
The best way to donate is by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or online. Financial donations are the best way to aide since money is more accessible in disaster situations.
Children's Emergency Fund
Save the Children is a fund centered around child-focused items for kids both preparing and recovering from disasters within the U.S. and around the world. The organization stated that it has prepared supplies and mobilized an emergency response team to help Florida families.
Any donations can be made through their website
Project HOPE
Project HOPE is a nonprofit humanitarian relief organization. The organization has a response team in Florida ready with water, medicine and other essential supplies.
In a statement, the organization said it plans to work with local partners as well as healthcare workers. They specifically plan to focus on the elderly, people with disabilities as well as other vulnerable communities. The organization also had other teams that spent the last week responding to Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and are currently on ground there.
Any donations can be made through their website.
