How to Help After Hurricane Ian

With catastrophic flooding and winds of up to 150 mph, Hurricane Ian has had a devastating impact on many areas of Florida and Cuba. While it’s difficult to see how Hurricane Ian has affected the lives of so many people, and we don’t yet know the full aftermath of the storm, there are plenty of ways you can lend a hand to those in need. 

If you want to contribute to Hurricane Ian relief efforts, here are some options for you: 

Support the First Responders 

• The American Red Cross has mobilized to respond to evacuation orders and send blood products to Florida. If you’re interested in donating to support relief efforts, you can make a gift here. If you’d like to help Florida hospitals ensure that they have a stable blood supply, find a drive near you.  
• Heart to Heart International has already deployed an advance response team to Florida and are planning to send another team to help after the storm passes with a medical van. Additionally, they have assembled and are sending thousands of hygiene kits to their partners in Florida. You can support their relief efforts here. 
• The Salvation Army is providing food, drinks, shelter, emotional and spiritual care, and other emergency services to hurricane survivors and rescue workers. When donating, 100% of your gift will go toward the disaster relief operation you choose. Donate here to provide support.
• UNICEF USA is working on the ground to provide children and families support in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian with safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation kits, medicine, nutrition and more. Donate here to help them make a difference.
• Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA), the official relief society of the U.S. Coast Guard, provides disaster assistance and emergency financial support for Coast Guard members. Nearly 5,000 Coast Guard men, women, and families call the Tampa and St. Petersburg area home. As they have in countless disasters before, the U.S. Coast Guard will continue to provide search and rescue capabilities, assess the damage done by Hurricane Ian, and ensure ports can be safely reopened for the flow of maritime commerce. Donate here to support these heroes as they continue their tireless support of the community.
• Islamic Relief USA has deployed their Disaster Response Team (DRT), working closely with the Red Cross, FEMA, and emergency first responders on the ground to assist with recovery and relief efforts. They plan to deploy more staff and volunteers to communities in need on Monday, October 3. You can donate here to support their teams.

Find the Helpers 

There are plenty of nonprofits who have dedicated their time to relief efforts all over the state of Florida. To ensure that your money is going to the right places, use tools like Charity Navigator, GuideStar, and TEOS (tax-exempt organization search) to evaluate the legitimacy and impact of the organizations and funds you’re donating to before you give.

• The Volunteer Florida Foundation has launched the Florida Disaster Fund as the State of Florida’s official private fund to support communities as they recover from the storm and to aid response and recovery activities. Donate here. 
• The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has activated to send hygiene kits, water, medication, and other humanitarian aid to communities in need of help. You can check out their active logistics needs to offer support or donate to support relief efforts. 
• GlobalGiving has launched a Hurricane Ian Relief Fund to help meet emergency needs of people who have been affected by the storm and provide long-term recovery efforts. Donate here. 
• SPCA Florida has created a relief fund to support the volunteers they’ve deployed from the Florida State Animal Response Coalition to help animals in need. Donate here. 
• Direct Relief worked hard to put together multiple rapid response shipments of medical aid that were sent to Havana and are sending more in the aftermath of the storm. They’ve also positioned shipments across Florida before the storm and are continuing to respond to requests for aid. They have also staged hurricane preparedness packs in Georgia, South Carolina, and across the U.S. Gulf Coast in preparation of Hurricane Ian’s landfall in projected affected areas. Donate here to support their response efforts.
• 211 Tampa Bay Cares is collecting donations via their Hope Fund to help individuals, families, and seniors in Pinellas County who have been greatly impacted by Hurricane Ian. They’ve also compiled a long list of resources for residents of Pinellas County and anyone else who wishes to help Tampa Bay residents recover from the devastation of the storm. Donate here.
• The E.W. Scripps Company has local news stations in Fort Myers and Tampa and their Scripps Howard Fund is raising money to support Hurricane Ian relief efforts. Donate here.
• The Jewish Federation of New Jersey has launched a Hurricane Ian Emergency Relief Fund. When you give, 100% of your donation will go towards providing food, shelter, medical supplies, and basic needs to communities that need it as the hurricane continues to make its way north. Donate here.
• The Children’s Home Society of Florida is working to help meet the specific needs of families in their Healthy Families program in Fort Myers who have lost their homes and belongings, as well as families in Central Florida, Greater Lakeland and Volusia County area. Find drop-off locations here or donate here to help families significantly impacted by Ian.

Give People a Place to Stay 

Many homes in Florida have been flooded by storm surges and millions have lost power to their homes. One of the best ways to support communities who have lost their homes is to open up your own home to those in need. Airbnb lets people offer living accommodations to those who have been displaced. Learn more about the program and how to get involved here.  

Keep an Eye on This Page for Updates 

As more and more nonprofits mobilize to send relief, supplies, and aid to those affected by Hurricane Ian, we’ll update this list. Check back periodically for updates!