One Year Later, Help Continues for Helene & Milton Storm Victims

Last year, two powerful hurricanes ─ Helene and Milton ─ struck the Southeast just days apart, leaving devastation behind that stretched from Florida to the Appalachian Mountains. The American Red Cross launched large-scale relief efforts and, one year later, continues to stand with those affected.

First came Hurricane Helene and its catastrophic flooding that spread across 10 states. Western North Carolina in particular, including the city of Asheville, was dealt a catastrophic blow, with surrounding mountain communities in neighboring states also experiencing severe damage.

But the nightmare wasn’t over. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton struck Florida as an extremely powerful Category 3 storm, submerging low-lying communities across the state and setting the record for the most tornadoes on a single day.

The American Red Cross first launched a massive relief effort to help people in the aftermath of Helene. When Milton made landfall, hundreds of Red Cross disaster volunteers already on the ground quickly pivoted to help provide safe shelter and other essential services for those in Milton’s path.

In all, Helene and Milton caused more than $113 billion in damage. Responding to these back-to-back storms, the Red Cross and our partners provided more than 3.8 million meals and snacks, more than 209,800 overnight shelter stays and reached more than 486,000 people with relief and recovery assistance.

Learn more about our responses to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

ONE YEAR LATER, RED CROSS STILL HELPING As the one-year anniversaries of Hurricanes Helene and Milton approach, the Red Cross remains committed to supporting recovery efforts across North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Long-term recovery initiatives include funding for repairing and rebuilding homes, restoring private roads and bridges, providing mental health services, enhancing food security and clearing debris, along with many other efforts aimed at helping communities heal and rebuild.

Families have also received two rounds of financial assistance which can help with urgent expenses, such as clothing, lodging and transportation, to longer-term essentials, such as replacing lost equipment or furniture, security deposits and home repairs. So far, the Red Cross has distributed more than $17 million in direct financial assistance to help Helene and Milton survivors with their most pressing needs.

In addition, long-term recovery grants continue to be awarded on a rolling basis, providing funding for local recovery groups, debris removal, the creation of disaster relief hubs and more across the affected states.

WHAT IS RED CROSS LONG-TERM RECOVERY? When a disaster occurs, the Red Cross quickly mobilizes to meet people’s immediate needs ─ safe shelter, food, emotional support, health services, spiritual care, financial assistance and emergency relief supplies.

But this immediate response is not the end of our support. When resources allow, the Red Cross provides additional support to help meet individual and community recovery needs.

These long-term recovery efforts may include additional rounds of direct financial assistance for affected households or grants for nonprofits and community organizations delivering or assisting community-wide recovery efforts.

YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a donation. Your financial support helps to provide food, shelter, relief supplies, financial assistance and comfort when people need it most.

Your time and talent can make a real difference in people's lives. When disaster strikes, it’s critical that people receive life’s basics like food and shelter. Be the one to help them ─ become a Red Cross volunteer. Learn more here.