Hurricane Helen brought heavy rain, high winds, damage, debris and flooding to several southern states on Thursday and Friday.
Hurricane Helen made landfall late Thursday in Big Bend, Florida, as a Category 4 hurricane, leaving flooding, damage and destruction along Florida’s Gulf Coast before speeding north, causing damage and power outages in Georgia. Tennessee, which has been hit by a tropical storm, is at risk of dam failure on Friday. depression.
Helen made landfall with winds of 140 mph in Taylor County, Florida, just east of the mouth of the Aucilla River, about 16 miles west-southwest of Perry, Florida.
A total of 372,227 power outages were reported in Florida as of Saturday afternoon, according to USA TODAY’s power outage map.
Another hard-hit state was North Carolina. Residents witnessed heavy rain in many areas, including Chimney Rock and Asheville. The highest rainfall reported was 29.5 inches in Busick Laws, Yancey County, North Carolina, Gov. Roy Cooper’s office announced. The state reported a total of 635,887 power outages on Saturday.
As states begin to pick up the pieces of Helen’s destruction, funds are being created for relief efforts and assistance.
Here are some organizations you can donate to if you want to help those affected by Hurricane Helen.
See photos, videos of damage: Helen brings heavy rain, flooding to North Carolina
Hurricane Helen: What organizations can I donate to to help?
american red cross
The Red Cross provides food, shelter, supplies and emotional support to victims of the crisis. Florida already has hundreds of employees and volunteers and has opened dozens of shelters for evacuees. You can also contribute to the national organization’s Helen relief efforts.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army provides food, drink, shelter, spiritual and spiritual care, and other emergency services to survivors and rescue workers. You can donate to Helen’s efforts online.
united way
Local United Way organizations are accepting donations for short-term relief efforts and to continue supporting residents beyond that time. Local chapters can be found on the organization’s website.
gofundme
The Hurricane Relief Fund was “established to provide direct relief to those in need after the hurricane,” the fundraising platform said.
world central kitchen
When a disaster strikes, Chef Jose Andrés and his team set up kitchen equipment and begin serving thousands of meals to disaster victims and responders. You can help by donating on their website.
There are many other organizations that provide specialized care and support.
all hands and hearts
This volunteer-based organization works with local residents to help rebuild schools, homes, and other local infrastructure. The Helen Fund was established.
American reply
Americares focuses on medical assistance, helping communities recover from disasters through access to medical supplies, and providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies. Americares has set up a donation page to help victims of Hurricane Helen.
Operation Blessing
The group works with emergency management and local churches to deliver supplies such as clean water, food and medicine to those in urgent need in affected areas. Donate to the Helen Fund on the website.
save the children
The organization is working to deliver child-friendly supplies such as hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes to families most affected by the storm, as well as providing classroom cleaning kits to schools, childcare centers and early childhood wipes. We are supporting the restoration of learning centers. Please donate to the Children’s Emergency Fund.
Contributors: John Gallas and Kim Luciani, Tallahassee Democrat.