Hurricane Helene made landfall Thursday, unleashing its power as it swept through North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Virginia. Spanning over 500 miles, its reach extends from the coastal shores of Florida to the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.
The Category 4 hurricane caused massive destruction, leaving more than two million citizens without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Utility companies are facing challenges with damaged and obstructed roads as they strive to restore electricity to residences and businesses.
Numerous roads, particularly in the Carolinas, are still shut down, hindering the transport of essential supplies.
Since Thursday, at least 137 people have been confirmed dead across the six states and the death toll continues to rise as more remain missing according to CNN.
To help those affected by Hurricane Helene, visit these organizations that accept donations put together by USA TODAY:
American Red Cross: Red Cross volunteers from Florida to Tennessee are helping communities by providing food, disaster supplies, shelter, and additional assistance. The organization is taking donations to fund relief efforts.
The Salvation Army: The organization has deployed teams to provide emergency aid, food, and long-term recovery services for survivors and rescue workers. To contribute to its efforts, visit its Hurricane Helene relief donation page here.
GoFundMe: GoFundMe has set up a dedicated hub with verified fundraisers for people and communities affected by the storm’s devastation. The company also has its own Hurricane Relief Fund, which provides cash grants to those who need help.
Americares: The nonprofit focuses on emergency medical relief and has set up a donation page to help communities recover from Helene.
All Hands and Hearts: The volunteer-based organization assists in short-term and long-term disaster recovery efforts and has launched a Helene fund to help with its 12-month response.”
Update:
According to the American Red Cross, more than 20,000 volunteers from across the country have been deployed to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas after the recent storm.
Volunteers have been serving as shelter staff, helping to provide evacuees with a cozy place to stay, meals, and power to charge their devices.
Individuals over 18 can apply as long as they’re available to deploy for two weeks. The American Red Cross will cover transportation to the location, provide shelter, and supply food and beverages.
Another hurricane is heading towards Florida, south of Tampa Bay. While Milton is not anticipated to affect Tennessee’s weather like Hurricane Helene did just over a week, ago, it is expected to be equally, if not more, devastating.
Milton has strenghthened into a catergoty 4 hurricane and is now expected to reach category 5 once it makes landfall.