Here’s how you can help those in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian’s devastation
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The impact of Hurricane Ian
Ian brought record-breaking storm surge highs for Key West, Fort Myers and Naples several feet above previous high water marks, and caused “catastrophic flooding” as it crossed over east-central Florida Thursday morning.
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Homes and streets submerged. Millions without power. The causeway connecting Sanibel to the mainland in Southwest Florida destroyed.
People are just beginning to get their first glimpse of the devastating destruction Hurricane Ian left behind in Southwest Florida. The Category 4 storm made landfall Wednesday afternoon near Cayo Costa, an island just north of Captiva and off the coast of Fort Myers, before making a second landfall on the mainland, near Pirate Harbor and north of Punta Gorda.
Ian weakened into a tropical storm Thursday as it crossed over Central Florida to the Atlantic, battering parts of the state with heavy rain, gusty winds, “catastrophic flooding” and possible life-threatening storm surge.
Search and rescue efforts are now underway, as crews try to reach people in need who didn’t evacuate ahead of the storm. Officials are checking the safety of roads and bridges and surveying Ian’s damage. Thousands of Floridians have likely lost their homes. Communities will need to rebuild.
READ MORE: ‘Help is on the way’: DeSantis says hundreds have called 911, rescue efforts underway
In times of trouble, people come together to help others out. Some organizations and agencies are already accepting monetary donations to help those impacted by Ian, and more are sure to follow.
Here’s how you can help those affected:
▪ Donate to Florida’s Disaster Fund, which is used to help the state with its response and recovery efforts during emergencies and disasters like Ian. The money raised will be distributed to service organizations that help people affected in the stricken communities. If you don’t want to make a donation online, you can also text DISASTER to 20222.
▪ Operation Helping Hands, a Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald initiative, is collaborating with United Way Miami to raise funds for Hurricane Fiona and Hurricane Ian relief efforts.
▪ Catholic Charities, of the Archdiocese of Miami, is accepting donations to help people recover from Ian and is working directly with Catholic Charities on the west coast that are part of the Dioceses of Venice and St. Petersburg. The Miami-area Catholic Charities is also sending staff to assist with recovery efforts.
▪ The Greater Miami Jewish Federation has created a special relief fund to provide aid to those impacted by Hurricane Ian. If you don’t want to make a donation online, you can also make a check payable to the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, Florida 33137. Write “Hurricane Ian Relief Fund” in the memo area of each check.
▪ Feeding South Florida deployed a trailer of food and water to affected areas in Southwest Florida and is also taking a 500 kilowatt generator for the Harry Chapin Food Bank warehouse, which is without power. Feeding South Florida said it’s preparing even more meals to deliver and is accepting monetary donations to help support its efforts.
▪ The American Red Cross is accepting donations to help people affected by Hurricane Ian.
▪ United Way of Collier and the Keys has compiled a list of resources for residents in Monroe and Collier counties who need assistance. In the coming months, United Way will coordinate long-term disaster recovery efforts alongside other community partners. To support, you can donate by visiting uwcollierkeys.org or making a contribution by check payable to United Way of Collier and the Keys and mail to PO Box 2143 Key West, FL 33045.
▪ Lakeland-based Publix’s nonprofit arm, Publix Charities, is donating $1 million to nonprofit organizations, including the American Red Cross and United Way to help support relief efforts in areas impacted by Ian across Florida. And starting on Sept. 30, Publix customers and employees can make donations at checkout to help people affected by the storm. The funds raised through the companywide donation campaign will go to the American Red Cross.
▪ Florida Blue will donate $1 million to general funds of local, regional and statewide nonprofit organizations that will allocate it once storm damage is assessed. While they’re not accepting donations, Florida Blue and Teladoc are offering a no-cost, 24/7 telehealth service that can help with non-emergency conditions — it can be reached at 855-225-5032. A bilingual emotional support helpline has also been launched, which can be reached at 833-848-1764.
▪ Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company of Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Más and Harveys Supermarket, is starting a community donation program where shoppers can donate at checkout to benefit the American Red Cross’ relief efforts.
▪ Project HOPE has dispatched a team on the ground to visit shelters and health clinics to distribute supplies in addition to assessing health and medical needs. It’s accepting donations to help with Hurricane Ian and other relief efforts around the world.
▪ The Miami Foundation has an online list of on-the-ground organizations, such as community foundations and grassroot organizations, that are ready to provide aid along Florida’s Gulf coast and are accepting donations. On their list:
▪ Miami-based Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), which works around the world to respond to disasters, most recently in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, which were devastated by Hurricane Fiona. The organization says it has already deployed teams, loaded trucks with supplies and established partnerships in the affected areas and plans to provide emergency and humanitarian aid, as well as support in reconstruction efforts.
▪ The Collaboratory, which is collecting funds to support Southwest Florida nonprofits helping people affected by Ian.
▪ AmeriCares, which is collecting funds to help deliver medicine, medical supplies and emergency support to people impacted by Ian.
▪ Save The Children, which plans to deliver “child-focused” items to those who need them in Florida.
▪ All Hands and Hearts, which initially plans to provide help with chain-saw work, mucking, gutting and roof tarping to help communities rebuild.
▪ Florida Rising, which is working with a coalition of organizations to provide disaster relief and recovery to underserved communities to ensure equitable recovery.
▪ Wawa has started a campaign to raise money for disaster relief to communities affected by Hurricane Ian. The campaign, in partnership with the American Red Cross, allows customers to contribute to the fund by adding $1, $3, or $5 to their Wawa purchase at checkout.
This list will be updated as more organizations begin collecting donations.
Avoid donation scams
This is also the time when donation scams will appear, so be cautious of which organization you donate to. If you’re not familiar with their work, research them.
The IRS website has a search feature you can use to check an organization’s ability to accept tax-deductible donations, as well as for information about their tax-exempt status and filings.
People also can look up organizations through websites like the Better Business Bureau, Charity Navigator, and GuideStar. The Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance also has an online post you can refer to with additional tips to help avoid falling prey to a donation scammer.
Miami Herald staff writers Devoun Cetoute and Omar Rodríguez Ortiz contributed to this report.
This story was originally published September 29, 2022 at 11:24 AM with the headline "Here’s how you can help those in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian’s devastation."
