When a hurricane rolls through and ruins everything in its path, it can leave millions of families displaced, their homes flooded, and their belongings destroyed.
As someone who is just an onlooker, it's easy to feel helpless, but there are several things you can do when a hurricane hits to help those impacted by the natural disaster.
Even if you don't live anywhere near the area that was ravished by the hurricane, there are several ways to contribute and make a difference for the men, women, children, and animals who are now struggling to rebuild their lives.
In addition to donating to the Red Cross, which provides immediate aid when disaster strikes, there are other things we can do to give back our time, money, and old belongings.
Take a look to see some of the ways you can help when a hurricane hits — and don't forget, these are just a few of the many ways you can make a difference!
Make sure to SHARE this with your friends so they know how to help in case of an emergency!
If you’re looking for ways to help the victims of the recent hurricanes, consider donating to the Red Cross, or lending a hand with one of the ideas below.
Thumbnail Photo: Texas Army National Guard
1. Help With Clean Up
Once the hurricane has passed, volunteers will be needed to help clean up and restore the areas that were hit.
If you can't travel to physically help with clean up efforts, you can also help by donating cleanup supplies, like ladders, debris containers, and nail guns.
2. Open Your Doors
The simplest thing you can do for someone who has been displaced by a hurricane is open your doors to them.
Whether you're a local business owner with a bed and breakfast or just a homeowner with a spare room, everything helps when families have to pick up and leave everything behind.
Several websites, like AirBNB, even have disaster response programs to help displaced families find shelter, and you can help out by signing your house up as an activated listing.
3. Give Blood
Before a hurricane even hits, it helps to donate blood so hospitals can be prepared for the influx of demand to come.
Even if you aren't located near the area that was hit, it helps to donate blood and keep stores of blood available nationwide.
You can visit several websites to find places to donate blood, including America's Blood Centers, the American Red Cross, and the Armed Services Blood Program.
4. Foster A Pet
When large areas get flooded or evacuated, it is hard for shelters to find last-minute homes for so many of their animals.
By becoming a temporary foster home for a displaced animal, you can help both the shelter that is low on resources and the animal who, even under normal circumstances, will love to spend time in a warm, loving home.
If you want to get involved with fostering after a hurricane, check the ASPCA's website to learn more.
5. Donate To Homeless Shelters
When hurricanes cause such massive flooding and damage that it's unsafe to be outside, it's vital that the homeless have somewhere to stay.
In times of crisis, homeless shelters become overcrowded and underfunded, which is why any donation — whether it's monetary or in goods — is needed.
6. Donate To Children
When families are displaced, it is hard for them to bring everything they need to take care of their young children.
Several charities, like Save The Children, come in during times of crisis to supply necessities like diapers, cribs, and even child-friendly shelters. By donating to these child-specific charities, you can help parents keep their child's life relatively normal while hurricane relief efforts are underway.
7. Fulfill A Wish List
During times of need, charities and shelters will often create Amazon wish lists to reflect the items they need most.
During Hurricane Harvey, for instance, the SPCA created an Amazon wish list that included dog toys, tape, and trash bags.
These wish lists make it easy for charities to get the exact products they need in a timely manner, as demand rises and supply diminishes.
8. Donate Old Clothing
When a hurricane hits, several charities will collect old clothing and personal items and drive or ship them to the areas impacted the most.
If you have extra clothes you're willing to part with, be on the lookout for charities in your area that are making donations.
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