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How to help the victims of Hurricane Helene
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How to help the victims of Hurricane Helene

If you’re feeling distressed by the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, there are ways to help.

On September 26, the Category 4 hurricane made landfall in Florida before hitting five other southeastern states: North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. According to NBC News, the storm has destroyed streets, homes and entire communities, resulting in a current death toll in the hundreds.

While President Biden has approved federal funding for victims, you may be wondering: How can this happen? I Help families? Who needs what? And where can I contribute?

Here are some ways to help victims of Hurricane Helene.

How to help with diapers and baby formula

You can help children who survived the hurricane receive formula, diapers and clothing through the national nonprofit organization Baby2Baby.

“Baby2Baby is currently focused on specifically responding to the needs of babies and children affected by Hurricane Helene,” Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, co-CEOs of Baby2Baby, tell TODAY.com via email.

The statement continued: “Baby2Baby has immediately shipped over a million emergency items, including diapers, formula, blankets and hygiene products, but we are only fulfilling a fraction of the requests for essential items for… children who have lost everything.”

How to help pets

Help care for pets and other animals affected by the hurricane by supporting the Animal Rescue Team through the Humane Society of the United States Emergency Animal Relief Fund.

“People and animals alike are suffering from Hurricane Helene,” Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, told TODAY.com via email. “We are on the ground in Florida and Tennessee providing veterinary care, care distribution, transport of adoptable animals from affected areas and field surveys. On the first day we were able to distribute urgently needed relief supplies to over 3,400 animals – this would not be possible without the support of our donors.”

Block says people and their pets need donations, foster care and supplies. You don’t have to take in a pet from the hurricane area to help, she adds:

“Even if you are far from an affected region, supporting your local animal shelter can have a domino effect that reduces the capacity issues that animal shelters face after a disaster.”

How to help feed people

World Central Kitchen, which provides food to people in crisis, is serving hot meals to hurricane victims in North Carolina, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia.

“Five full WCK tankers of drinking water are on their way to families in Asheville, North Carolina, providing much-needed assistance following the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Helene on the Appalachian Mountains,” the organization said in an update on its website.

A spokesperson for World Central Kitchen tells TODAY.com in an email that the company operates 35 food trucks, partners with 16 restaurants and establishes high-performance field production kitchens in Clearwater, Florida and Asheville, North Carolina.

The spokesman added that World Central Kitchen is flying multiple helicopters over Florida and North Carolina to determine where the need for help is greatest. “We visit communities, talk to leaders and see for ourselves where we can send food,” says the spokesman.

People can donate on the World Central Kitchen website.

How to help schools

The nonprofit organization Save the Children is rehabilitating schools and daycare centers affected by the hurricane while also providing them with supplies.

“In the wake of Hurricane Helene, Save the Children is working with partners to meet the needs of children and families in the path of the powerful storm,” Jeremy Soulliere, a spokesman for Save the Children, told TODAY.com in an email. “Save the Children is providing emergency supplies before the hurricane, helping to ensure that vital, child-friendly supplies get into the hands of the children and families most affected by the storm – including hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes as classroom cleaning kits for schools and Daycare centers.”

Soulliere adds that Save the Children has a “psychosocial support team” and is planning long-term recovery support for the mental health needs of children and caregivers in the devastated areas.

People can contribute to the organization’s emergency children’s fund on the organization’s website.

How to support people’s mental health

The hurricane endangered many people not only physically but also psychologically. The aftereffects of a disaster such as a hurricane or flood can include stress, sleep problems, depression and post-traumatic stress, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

The American Red Cross offers the services of Disaster Mental Health Volunteers, a group of 3,000 mental health professionals ready to listen and help.

“Many people are struggling with repeated trauma and loss due to Hurricane Helene,” Daniel Parra, a Red Cross spokesman, told TODAY.com. “The challenges they face can feel overwhelming and it is normal to feel fear, sadness and anger. With the help of our partners, the Red Cross provides recovery services, including mental health and spiritual care, to disaster survivors.”

To find disaster resources, including mental health and spiritual care resources, you can visit resources.redcross.org.

If you work in the mental health field, you can volunteer or simply donate to the American Red Cross.

Parra added, “We encourage people to make a financial donation by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).”

Help relieve stress at a comfort station

In hurricane-hit places like Florida and Georgia, “comfort stations” are springing up where people can rest and recharge.

In Florida, for example, Hillsborough County and the city of Tampa opened six comfort stations.

“The comfort stations provide showers, toilets, ice, washers and dryers for laundry, as well as charging stations for phones, laptops and other communication devices,” reads a press release on Hillsborough County, Florida’s official website. “Hot meals or prepackaged meals are available for lunch and dinner.”

A Hillsborough County spokesperson tells TODAY.com that those interested in donating can call the hotline at (833) HC STORM or (833) 427-8676. “Needs change every day, so it would be helpful if they called first to make sure the donation meets the need,” the spokesperson says.

Although not all comfort stations accept donations, some can redirect people to other resources. For example, a spokesman for Pasco County, Florida, which has opened two comfort stations, tells TODAY.com in an email that those wanting to help can visit the Red Cross or other charitable donation sites.

All charities listed here have been reviewed and approved by NBC News.


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