The Southeast has experienced two powerful back-to-back storms within two weeks of one another. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm made landfall on September 26 and carved out a devastating path from Florida’s Gulf Coast to Tennessee (impacting Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee). Reports of destruction and record-level flooding stretched more than 600 miles. Officials reported more than 200 deaths from the storm.

Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, made landfall on October 9 across western Florida – impacting communities beginning to recover from the last storm. Residents are grappling with widespread flooding, power outages, and gas shortages.

As the region undergoes recovery efforts, the following organizations are actively involved in providing immediate relief, assistance, and essential services to community members:

World Central Kitchen is currently responding in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee to serve communities in the aftermath of the hurricanes. Their food truck partners and Rapid Response Field Kitchen are providing hot meals to individuals and families impacted by the storms.

The American Red Crossis providing tens of thousands of overnight shelter stays across multiple states. Its emergency response vehicles have been deployed from all over the country and are distributing meals, water, and critical relief supplies.

Community Foundation Tampa Bay’s Rapid Response Fund supports area nonprofits working on the front lines of Hurricanes Helene and Milton relief efforts. Funds will be deployed to local nonprofits providing emergency food, shelter, clothing, and medical treatment.

St. Petersburg Free Clinic supports the region’s health equity by providing nutritious food. In response to Hurricane Milton, they are distributing food, meals ready to eat (MREs), and water to those impacted by the storm.

The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina is located in and serves one of the hardest hit communities of Hurricane Helene – Asheville, NC. Their Emergency and Disaster Response Fund will support recovery efforts related to the devastating impacts of the storm.

United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County is working in partnership with local government and nonprofit partners to manage and distribute financial donations for immediate and long-term recovery as well as donations of supplies and materials for those impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Unicoi County Family YMCA serves the most impacted community in Tennessee, which was affected by Hurricane Helene. All YMCA of East Tennessee locations are accepting donations of water, flashlights, batteries, and phone chargers and additional supplies and delivering them to the Unicoi County YMCA.

CCF fundholders who wish to support these efforts through their donor-advised fund may make grants directly on DonorConnect. For any donor inquiries, please contact your Relationship Manager or email DonorRelations@calfund.org.