Hurricane Helene tore through Florida’s Big Bend on Thursday, September 26, 2024, leaving coastal and inland cities in pieces. Those left in the wake need as much help and assistance as possible. Below we included links to organizations and government programs helping Florida residents rebuild and recover.
American Red Cross: The American Red Cross is providing multiple areas of support from their Disaster Distress Helpline (1-800-985-5990) to Reunification teams and more. Follow the American Red Cross of North Florida and American Red Cross of Central Florida for specific regional updates.
Second Harvest of the Big Bend: Second Harvest of the Big Bend is providing food stations all throughout the big bend. Click here for more information regarding food distribution sites here. Follow the Second Harvest of the Big Bend on Facebook for more updates.
United Way of the Big Bend: United Way of the Big Bend provides disaster relief assistance in the counties of Leon, Taylor, Madison, Jefferson, Wakulla, Franklin, Gadsden and Liberty. Click here to follow updates on assistance and recovery.
HopeFlorida: HopeFlorida pulls together resources to help connect Floridians to outside organizations providing food, repairs, basic goods and more. If you or someone you know has been affected by Hurricane Helene and need assistance, fill out this form.
Samaritan’s Purse: Samaritan’s Purse has a base established at Calvary Baptist Church in Perry, Florida to help with homeowners in the surrounding cities. There is also a base at Calvary Chapel in St. Petersburg, Florida in Pinellas Park.
Florida Baptist Disaster Relief: Florida Baptist Disaster Relief has a disaster relief command center at First Baptist Church in Perry, Florida. This command center provides meals, recovery, assessments and more.
The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army has mobile units throughout the big bend and the rest of the coastal communities hit by Hurricane Helene. These mobile units are providing free food and drinks in the areas affected. Click here for more information regarding feeding sites near you.
Convoy of Hope: Convoy of Hope has a disaster relief location set up in Perry, Florida where residents can get food, water, essentials and more. They have also brought over 1,500 Rubbermaid bins for Taylor County coastal residents to recover items from their homes.
Florida Disaster through the Florida Division of Emergency Management: Florida Disaster has distribution sites throughout Florida providing food, water and more. To find a distribution site near you, click here.
FEMA: FEMA provides a wide array of resources. Click here to find a Disaster Recovery Center near you. Click here for disaster assistance.
State, local, non-profit and private organizations are all coming together to help Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina and Tennessee residents through this stressful and uncertain time. Thank you to all the states outside of the southeast who provided resources after Hurricane Helene. Click the links below to learn more about others helping to restore affected communities.
Latest updates from Governor DeSantis
Wells Fargo Foundation has provided over $1 million in disaster relief funding to the southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Funding is going to the American Red Cross and Volunteer Florida.
AT&T has worked to provide high-speed internet access for law enforcement and rescue teams in areas most affected.
Spectrum has given over $1 million in disaster relief from Hurricane Helene all across the southeast.
U-Haul is offering 30 days of free storage in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Click here to find a location near you.
Operation Blue Ridge
For our friends outside of the Sunshine State, below are some resources in Georgia and North Carolina.
John Locke Foundation
Georgia Public Policy Foundation
We understand there are many other fantastic organizations not mentioned above that are helping Americans all across the southeast. If there is an organization we failed to mention that provides services you think Floridians should be aware of, please email us at jmi@jamesmadison.org.
