Here's how you can help victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida
Millions of Florida residents have been left without power and stranded in their homes, while potentially hundreds are feared dead as Hurricane Ian roars across the state, leaving destruction and devastation in its wake.
Though Ian has since been downgraded to a tropical storm, the strong winds and heavy rains it unleashed Wednesday upon Florida made it one of the strongest storm systems in U.S. history, USA Today reported. More than 2.6 million Florida homes and business were without power early Thursday, and at least five deaths have been confirmed as the death toll only now begins to become apparent.
USA TODAY Ian live updates: "Hundreds" feared dead, 2.6M without power as Tropical Storm Ian continues to wallop Florida
Disaster relief efforts will likely ramp up as the storm is forecast to roar across the state most of Thursday before heading out into the Atlantic. Here are some organizations assisting in relief efforts where Greater Columbus can make donations:
The American Red Cross of Central and Southern Ohio
More than 500 trained American Red Cross disaster workers — including about 10 from central and southern Ohio — were on the ground Wednesday in Florida, where they were prepared to help as many as 60,000 people find shelter and supplies.
The Red Cross has also sent several hundred type-O blood products to Florida to ensure blood continues to be available for patients in areas expected to be impacted by the storm.
Help coming from Columbus: Ohio Task Force 1, AEP Ohio, Red Cross head south to help with Hurricane Ian relief
Donations to the Red Cross will enable the organization to continue bolstering those relief efforts and assist people in recovering from the disaster.
How to donate:
Give blood by visiting www.redcrossblood.org to make an appointment or by downloading the Red Cross blood donor mobile app.
Donate to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or texting the word IAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation
Volunteer by visiting www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html#step1
The Salvation Army in Central Ohio
The Salvation Army has as many as 37 canteens, or mobile feeding units, and one field kitchen ready to mobilize across the affected area of Florida immediately once the worst of the storm has passed.
The Salvation Army is already serving some of the predicted million evacuees at a few of its shelters in Florida, while a caravan containing mobile feeding units will depart from Texas with more than 6,000 pre-made meals to begin feeding Floridians on Saturday, said Maj. Tricia Brennan, area coordinator for the Salvation Army in Central Ohio.
Additionally, two major warehouses in Tampa, Florida, and McDonough, Georgia, are being prepped with food, water, cleaning supplies, hygiene products, and anything else that will be needed by the thousands of people in the storm’s path.
As relief efforts evolve to meet the needs of Floridians, Brennan said that monetary donations are most helpful so that items can be purchased in Florida without truckloads of supplies needing to be transported across state lines. All designated disaster donations go to direct services for survivors and first responders.
How to donate:
Visit www.HelpSalvationArmy.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769)
Florida Disaster Fund
The Florida Disaster Fund, the state's official private fund assisting with disaster response and relief efforts, was activated Wednesday.
Donations to the fund are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, a nonprofit agency.
How to donate:
Mail checks to made out to “Volunteer Florida Foundation” to 1545 Raymond Diehl Rd., Suite 250, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Include “Florida Disaster Fund” in the memo line.
Eric Lagatta is a reporter at the Columbus Dispatch covering social justice issues and nonprofits.
elagatta@dispatch.com
@EricLagatta
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How people in Ohio can help victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida
