Volunteer shelter workers are providing care and comfort to people who evacuated their homes for Helene and can not yet return.
Story originally published Septmeber 24, 2024; updated September 28, 2024.
Hurricane Helene has caused massive destruction across the Southeast. As deadly flooding and massive power outages continue, even more people will urgently need our support.
With our partners, the American Red Cross has launched a massive relief response, helping people across an enormous area extending hundreds of miles from Florida to Tennessee.
In Central Florida, the Red Cross builds and supports relationships with our disaster partners all year long to help us deliver services when needed. We're working closely with these community partners and state and local officials to ensure help is available where needed.
RED CROSS RESPONSE More than 500 disaster workers are on the ground across multiple states with more on their way. Right now, the Red Cross is focused on providing shelter, food and comfort for people who evacuated their homes and can not yet return, or who may not have a home to return to.
With partners, the Red Cross has opened or supported hundreds of evacuation shelters. We are working closely with officials to transition to more longer-term shelters with robust services closer to those communities that suffered the heaviest damage to homes.
Where it is safe to do so, Red Cross disaster responders are traveling throughout affected communities, assessing the damage and distributing meals and relief supplies.
FIND A SHELTER Find shelters and other resources by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency app. For people unable to access the information they need, call 1-800 RED CROSS but keep in mind longer wait times due to large call volume. You can also find shelters and community-based services by following your local emergency officials on social media or by monitoring local news.
Find out what to bring to a shelter here.
CLIMATE CRISIS As the climate crisis worsens, the Red Cross is well practiced in preparing and responding to storms like Helene. Over the last five years, the Red Cross has been there for 12 hurricane landfalls along the Gulf Coast.
HOW TO HELP Your donation enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to make a financial donation. Individuals can also text the word HELENE to 90999 to make a donation.
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