Hundreds of American Red Cross disaster responders are working around the clock with our partners in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas to help people impacted by Hurricane Idalia.

The storm’s high storm surge, heavy rain and strong winds damaged homes and flooded communities in Florida and Georgia. Some roads remain closed until debris can be cleared and bridges inspected. Idalia is still battering the Carolinas as a tropical storm with strong winds and heavy rains.

As a result of the climate crisis, scientists warn that hurricanes are becoming more intense and more destructive with increased rainfall and higher storm surges. As extreme weather increases, more people need help from the Red Cross. Find out more about the Red Cross and its work on the climate crisis at redcross.org/climate.

RED CROSS RESPONSE Today, more than 400 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground providing comfort, support and relief to people impacted by Idalia. An additional 200 Red Crossers are traveling to the affected areas to support sheltering and relief efforts.

Wednesday night, more than 630 people found a safe place to stay in 19 evacuation shelters. The Red Cross is managing or supporting 8 of these shelters with some 80 people across Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. We anticipate sheltering needs will continue to ebb and flow over the next few days. Some shelters will close, and others are likely to transition from being government run to fully managed by the Red Cross.

As conditions improve and roads are opened, Red Cross disaster responders will begin to circulate throughout affected communities to assess the damage assessment. This information will help inform operational decisions about where to focus our services in the coming days.

The Red Cross has also provided nearly 300 additional blood products to Florida to help ensure patient needs continue to be met during and after the storm. We stand ready to provide additional blood products if hospitals need support.

We are working closely with our partners and local officials to ensure help is available when and where people need it most.

FIND A SHELTER Anyone who needs a safe place to stay or a warm meal can find shelter information on redcross.org, the free Red Cross Emergency app or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767). You can also check with local officials and monitor local news for information, and in Florida, visit floridadisaster.org

We encourage people who plan to stay in a shelter or evacuation center to bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

Download the free Emergency app for instant access to full weather alerts, help preparing for emergency situations and locations of open Red Cross shelters. Content can be viewed in English or Spanish, and is accessible for people with disabilities. Red Cross apps are available in the app store as well as on redcross.org/apps.

YOU CAN HELP Help people affected by Hurricane Idalia by visiting redcross.org, by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word IDALIA to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Blood donations are also critically important to ensure patient needs are met. Financial contributions to Hurricane Idalia enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.

Our volunteers are at the heart of our mission and represent 90% of our workforce. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to sign up for opportunities with your local chapter. Our most-needed disaster positions include supporting shelters and providing health services.

RETURNING HOME After a disaster, don’t return home until officials say it is safe to do so.

Keep children and pets away from hazardous sites and floodwaters. If you have children, leave them with a relative or friend when you first inspect your home after a disaster. Check the outside of your home before you enter. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines, foundation cracks, missing support beams and other damage. Ask a building inspector or contractor to check the structure before you enter.

If power lines are down outside your home, don’t step in puddles or standing water. Report them immediately to the power company.

Don’t cut or walk past colored tape that was placed over doors or windows to mark damaged areas, unless you’ve been told that it is safe to do so. If a building inspector has placed a color-coded sign on the home, don’t enter until you get more information, advice and instructions from your local authorities.

FLOODING SAFETY Turn around, don’t drown. Stay off the roads. If you must drive and encounter a flooded roadway while driving, turn around and go another way.  

If your neighborhood is prone to flooding, be prepared to evacuate quickly if necessary. Follow evacuation routes and do not try to take shortcuts because they may be blocked. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground. Most cars can be swept away by less than two feet of moving water. 

Head for higher ground and stay there. Be especially cautious at night when it’s harder to see flood danger.

THE POWER IS OUT Use flashlights in the dark — not candles. Eliminate unnecessary travel, especially by car. Turn off and unplug all unnecessary electrical equipment and appliances. When power comes back on, surges or spikes can damage equipment. Leave one light on, so you’ll know when power is restored.

During a prolonged outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to protect your food. Use perishable food from the refrigerator first, then, food from the freezer. If the power outage continues beyond a day, prepare a cooler with ice for your freezer items. Keep food in a dry, cool spot and cover it at all times.

IF YOU ARE USING A GENERATOR, keep it dry and don’t use it in wet conditions. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement or other partially enclosed area. Keep this equipment outside and away from doors, windows and vents, which could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.