Hurricane Irma Relief Information

With your support, we mounted a massive response to help impacted residents in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida and states across the Southeast. With your support, we mounted a massive response to help impacted residents in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Florida and states across the Southeast.

Coming less than two weeks after Hurricane Harvey, Irma was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. since 2005.

Hurricane Irma’s powerful winds and flood waters pummeled communities in the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, before carving a destructive path across Florida and beyond. Two years later, we continue to stand with Irma survivors in the Keys and across southern Florida as they rebuild their lives.

Read the Hurricane Irma Two-Year Update >>

(published September 2019)

Thank You

The extraordinary generosity of the public helped hundreds of thousands in need after Hurricane Irma.

“You couldn’t do anything any better with your money to help those that need, the way we did. We are very grateful."

Debbie Coe

Over 6,300 damaged or destroyed households provided with recovery financial assistance totaling over $37 million

Awarded grants totaling over $15 million to provide longer-term recovery in the most impacted communities

Served over 1.6 million meals and snacks with our partners

Provided over 555,300 overnight stays in shelters with our partners

Distributed over 1.8 million relief items like diapers, cleaning supplies, coolers and comfort kits

You Helped People When It Was Needed Most

None of our response or recovery assistance would be possible without the incredible support of our donors.

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In April 2019, Debbie and her son Casey came home again, thanks to collaborations between several organizations. Financial assistance from the Red Cross helped Debbie cover many needs for their new house.

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Virginia Rosales and Pedro Perez share their story with a Red Cross volunteer in Immokalee, Florida.

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Red Cross Volunteer Robert receives a hug from Sabrina, a resident from Naples, Florida.

Jacques and Susan hugging in front of their home.

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Jacques and Susan were awakened in the middle of the night when Irma barreled through their town, extensively damaging their home. Working closely with a Red Cross volunteer caseworker, the family has received $2,000 of financial assistance, which will help with repairs.

Volusia County, Florida

Leslie and Sharlene chatting with a Red Cross volunteer inside of their home.

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As Leslie and Sharlene, daughter and mother, and their family cleaned up with their neighbors, a Red Cross truck visited their neighborhood, offering chicken sandwiches. A hot meal after several days without power and water was a welcome sight.

SOS Foundation’s Community Kitchen staff packing fruit in boxes in their kitchen.

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In just one day in June, the SOS Foundation’s Community Kitchen staff and volunteers served 650 meals to children on Big Pine Key. SOS Foundation recently received a Red Cross community grant to support their Hurricane Irma recovery work.

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Dennis was overcome with emotion when he recalled the Red Cross response. “It was just so fantastic to see everyone coming in from all over to help us,” he said. “The best meal I have ever had was from the Red Cross.” It was a meatball sub served by a volunteer who had driven an emergency response vehicle all the way from New York to help people in need.

Big Pine Key, Florida

The Arroliga family talking with a Red Cross volunteer.

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The Arroliga family received financial assistance from the Red Cross. Francisco has seen the aftermath of hurricanes from both sides now, and he wasn’t surprised that people from all over Florida and the U.S. have stepped up to help families like his.

Glades County, Florida

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Red Cross volunteers organize hot meals for loading on trucks for lunch deliveries in Marathon, Sugarloaf Key, Key West, Cudjoe Key, and other areas impacted by Hurricane Irma in the Florida Keys.

September 17, 2017 - Marathon, Florida Keys

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Red Cross volunteers serve hot meals for lunch to shelter residents at the Estero Wreck Center Red Cross shelter, Estero, Florida.

September 16, 2017 - Estero, Florida

A Red Cross volunteer gives comforting words to Gertrude.

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Gertrude receives comforting words from Red Cross Volunteer Deborah, also a hurricane survivor who’s house was completely destroyed by Irma.

September 16, 2017 - Estero, Florida

A family walks away with hot meals from the Red Cross volunteers.

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Families affected by Hurricane Irma at the Siesta Park mobile home, receive hot meals from Red Cross volunteers.

September 16, 2017 - Fort Myers, FL

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Michael receives disaster health services from Red Cross volunteer nurse Kelly Suter, Key West, Florida.

September 16, 2017 - Key West, The Florida Keys

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Chantell and Miyah, 7, appreciated getting hot lunches from the Red Cross during Hurricane Irma relief efforts in Key West, Florida.

September 16, 2017 - Key West, The Florida Keys

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Red Cross volunteer Kelly speaks with a Hurricane Irma survivor during Red Cross hot meal delivery in Marathon, Florida.

September 15, 2017 - Marathon, Florida Keys, Florida

A Red Cross volunteer hugs a man in a shelter.

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Red Cross volunteer Lynette and hurricane evacuee Lester.

September 14, 2017 - Red Cross shelter, Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds, Miami, Florida

Red Cross volunteers handing out lunches to people at the shelter.

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Lunch Service.

September 14, 2017 - Red Cross shelter, Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds, Miami, Florida

Red Cross volunteers helping out at a shelter in Miami, Florida.

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American Red Cross shelter at Jorge Mas Canosa Middle School in Miami Dade.

Elio Falcon, school principal, said "The Red Cross and the National Guard have been wonderful; all of our shelter residents feel safe here". Mr. Falcon estimates about 1,600 people stayed at the shelter overnight.

September 9, 2017 - Miami, Florida

Your Gift Supported Relief and Recovery for Irma Survivors

“I was amazed by the help we got from the Red Cross and FEMA. The Red Cross came through right away.”

Jacques Rippe

The Red Cross has raised $97.1 million, including the value of critical donated goods and services, to help Hurricane Irma survivors. (This does not include dollars supporting the Hurricane Irma response from our general Hurricanes of 2017 fund.)

As of August 26, 2019, the Red Cross had programmed approximately $108.9 million on emergency relief and recovery efforts for people affected by Hurricane Irma.

Hurricane Irma Expenses and Commitments

Expand to view chart

Hurricane Irma Expenses and Committments Chart

Two Years Later: Helping Individuals and Communities Recover

As Irma survivors left shelters and returned to their homes, the Red Cross was already planning and preparing to meet longer-term recovery needs.

Today, the Red Cross continues to help with unmet needs for those impacted by Hurricane Irma and support community-based recovery services in the affected areas. Two years after Hurricane Irma’s devastating impact, the Red Cross continues working with government and non-profit partners, community and faith-based organizations, and Long-Term Recovery Committees to support recovery for affected residents.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Red Cross has established preparedness programs for children in grades K through 12, making presentations and supplying a starter emergency kit to over 3,800 students to date. The Red Cross also implemented a grant program for seniors and disabled citizens to assist with unmet needs, as well as another grant program to help hurricane-impacted farmers that has now been extended for another two years.
In Florida, we are using donated dollars to provide financial assistance for households that need extra help and grants to partners with specialized expertise to support community-based recovery services.

Support Disaster Relief Efforts

The Red Cross honors donor intent and all donations earmarked for Disaster Relief will be used to help people affected by disasters, big and small. Americans work hard for their money, and we’re committed to being the very best stewards of our donors’ dollar. The Red Cross keeps our expenses low and an average of 90 cents of every dollar we spend is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need.

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