Updated October 17, 2024

Whether living with the impacts of two deadly hurricanes just weeks apart in Florida, or the utter devastation in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee from Hurricane Helene, people desperately need help. Many people have lost everything. Sadly, some have also lost loved ones or are searching for those still missing.

The American Red Cross is helping people across the Southeast living with the heartbreaking destruction from Hurricanes Milton and Helene and, with our partners, we’ll be helping for weeks and months to come.

• 1,900 American Red Cross responders are helping across the massive geography as people come to grips with immense losses from Milton and Helene.
• We're also coordinating closely with local officials, government agencies and other nonprofits across to reach communities every day. 
• Overnight, nearly 2,000 people were still staying in more than 35 shelters across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
• At our shelters, disaster health volunteers are caring for minor injuries and replacing things like eyeglasses and medications and mental health volunteers are providing comfort to those affected.
• Disaster kitchens are up and running, and nearly 150 Emergency Response Vehicles are on the road delivering those hot meals along with water and supplies to people struggling to clean up their homes.
• With the help of partners, we’ve provided some 2.1 million meals and snacks, and some 95,000 relief items like cleaning and hygiene supplies for thousands of affected families across five states.
• Where it is safe to do so, trained Red Cross damage assessment teams are working with partners to detail the scope of the destruction. This critical information will be used to make plans for what support — including financial assistance — families may need in the coming weeks and months. More than 16,000 assessments have been completed to date.
• In addition to the support the Red Cross is providing relief in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, we’re also partnering with other organizations such as Children’s Disaster Services, All Hands and Hearts, Hope Worldwide and the NAACP to provide comfort and care.

Access to information, especially in times of disaster, is a service for communities in need. That’s why the Red Cross Emergency App and website now share real-time service delivery sites, including financial assistance centers, recovery assistance sites, relief supply distribution sites and shelter locations. This information is crucial, as it ensures that responders, partners and impacted communities understand where the Red Cross is deployed and what resources will be available. www.redcross.org/shelter

Anyone who needs a safe place to stay or a warm meal can find shelter information by clicking here, by accessing the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

All disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and where they were living before the disaster.

Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status. Pets are welcome. All disaster assistance is free.

Los refugios de la Cruz Roja están abiertos a todas las personas necesitadas, independientemente de su raza, religión, identidad de género, orientación sexual o estado de ciudadanía. Las mascotas son bienvenidas. Toda la asistencia en caso de desastre es gratuita.

How to Find Help

Many areas remain inaccessible. If you need assistance, please consider coming to a shelter.

• We know connectivity is difficult, but if you can, first download the Red Cross Emergency app to find service locations or visit redcross.org/gethelp.
• You can also find shelters by following your local Red Cross and local emergency officials on social media, or by monitoring local news.
• If you’re unable to access the information you need, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). Please be aware that you may experience a long wait time due to the large call volume we are receiving.

Learn more about Red Cross assistance:

• Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) - 24 hours a day
• Download our free Red Cross Emergency App

Recovering Emotionally After a Disaster - to reach out for free 24/7 counseling or support, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.

Disasters are upsetting experiences for everyone involved. Children, senior citizens, people with disabilities and people for whom English is not their first language are especially at risk and are likely to need extra care and help. But everyone, even the people that others look up to for guidance and assistance, is entitled to their feelings and deserves support throughout the recovery process.  Call our Disaster Distress Helpline or read more here.