Hurricane Relief Guide: Where to Find Aid and How to Help Victims

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season devastated countless communities and caused unprecedented flooding in mountain towns normally untouched by tropical storms. Behind every statistic are real people — our neighbors who have lost homes, cherished possessions, and in some heartbreaking cases, loved ones. 

While natural disasters can strike at any time, help and hope are available. 

2024 Atlantic hurricane season 

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. During this period in 2024, 11 hurricanes (five of them major) and 18 named storms developed. 

Among the worst were Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, which left historic marks across the Eastern U.S. In addition, Hurricane Francine hit parts of Louisiana, while six other hurricanes affected Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and other areas of the Caribbean and Central America. 

Immediate steps for hurricane victims 

Focus on safety first 

Your safety and the wellbeing of your loved ones come first when facing a hurricane. Here's what you need to know to stay protected: 

1. If you’re in an evacuation area, don't wait — move to a safer location as soon as possible.
2. Avoid peak traffic by leaving early, before conditions worsen.
3. Only take essentials and supplies you can’t live without, such as:
   • Several days of clothing
   • Non-perishable food and water
   • Important medications
   • Basic toiletries
   • Critical documents in waterproof storage
   • Phone chargers and batteries
4. Seek higher ground, as flooding is often the most dangerous threat.
5. Stay informed through local news and weather updates (a battery-operated radio is a good investment for emergencies).
6. Keep your phone charged and emergency contacts readily available. 

FEMA Disaster Assistance: 1-800-621-3362 

American Red Cross: 1-800-RED-CROSS 

SAMHSA Disaster Distress Hotline: 1-800-985-5990 

Source essential needs 

After ensuring everyone's safety, your next priority is securing food and shelter. If staying with friends or family isn't an option, several organizations are ready to provide immediate assistance. 

FEMA and the American Red Cross maintain emergency shelters nationwide and can quickly establish new facilities when needed. These organizations offer: 

• Temporary housing
• Hot meals
• Clean drinking water
• Basic medical care
• Showers
• Emergency supplies 

Additional resources for support after a hurricane include: 

• Feeding America
• The Salvation Army
• Local food banks
• Homeless shelters
• Churches and religious institutions 

Most of these organizations offer mobile apps and online resources to help you locate the nearest assistance center. We recommend downloading these apps before an emergency, as internet access may be limited during a disaster. 

Pro tip: Save screenshots of important resources and contact information on your phone, in case you lose internet connectivity. 

Where to find financial aid and assistance programs 

Taking care of your immediate needs is the first step of hurricane relief. However, you also need to think about the long term and what you’re going to do to get back on your feet financially. Here are a few resources to turn to for financial aid and assistance. 

Federal and state assistance programs 

FEMA is a top resource when it comes to financial hurricane relief. Here are three ways to apply for financial aid through FEMA: 

1. Go to disasterassistance.gov and fill out an application.
2. Call the FEMA hotline at 1-800-621-3362 or download their app and apply that way.
3. Visit a FEMA shelter or government office and apply for assistance in person. 

No matter what option you use, you will need to be able to provide the following information: 

• Your name and address
• A list of losses and damage
• Your Social Security number
• The name of your insurance company and your policy number 

In addition to FEMA, here are a few other organizations and state assistance programs to check out for hurricane relief: 

Disaster Unemployment Assistance: A good resource if you’re out of a job because of the hurricane. 

Small Business Administration: They may provide loans to small business owners who lost their businesses in the storm. 

Red Cross: Monetary payouts to those who are hurting the most financially. 

State Housing Initiatives Partnership: Another good resource for housing if you lost your home. 

Charitable organizations offering financial support 

While government programs are a good source of financial aid, they may have a lengthy application and approval process. Government organizations are also liable to get flooded with requests and may run out of funds. As such, charitable organizations are another excellent resource for hurricane relief. 

State and local charities often have fewer hoops to jump through to qualify for assistance. There will also be fewer requirements needed to receive assistance. Here are a few charitable organizations to check out for hurricane relief: 

• Your local Red Cross chapter may offer cash payouts.
• United Way specializes in financial aid for disaster relief.
• Local churches and charities will also have some amount of financial assistance for hurricane victims. 

Insurance claims and financial advice 

You’ll also want to file a claim with your home or renter’s insurance company. Because thousands of other people will be doing the same thing, it’s essential to file your claim ASAP and to do everything in your power to expedite the process. Here are a few tips to ensure a fast and smooth process: 

• Contact your provider immediately after the storm.
• Take pictures of the damage and send them to your company if possible.
• Have your policy number and personal information on hand.
• Keep records of your interactions with your insurance company in case you need them later on.
• Get a bid from one or more contractors who estimate how much it will cost to repair or rebuild your home. 

Physical and emotional hurricane relief resources 

With all the hustle and bustle going on during your initial relief efforts, it leaves little time for anything else. Unfortunately, that often means that your physical and emotional well-being goes by the wayside. As such, sickness, depression, and anxiety are extremely common in hurricane survivors. 

Medical aid 

If you need medical aid immediately following a hurricane, you should call 911 and request emergency assistance. Just remember that there will likely be hundreds of other people calling 911, too, so expect long wait times. 

If you don’t have time to wait on the phone, do everything in your power to get to a medical facility. Stay safe while you do this and avoid hospitals and medical centers within the disaster area. You should also be courteous of healthcare workers and remember that they’re extremely overworked with relief efforts. 

Another option, if your health situation isn’t too critical, is to wait for the government to set up mobile health clinics. This is typical following a natural disaster, and it’s a great way to bring essential healthcare to hurricane victims who can’t seek it out for themselves. 

Mental health support 

Surviving a hurricane is one of the most traumatic experiences a person can go through. Add on top of that the fact that you may have lost your home, your job, your possessions, or, heaven forbid, a loved one, and you have every right to be wrecked mentally. 

Thanks to a renewed emphasis on mental health, there are several great resources to turn to if you need mental health support. 

National Disaster Distress Helpline: The National Disaster Distress Helpline is one of the most commonly used assets for mental health support following a hurricane. They offer advice, a listening ear, and empathy, in addition to referrals to professional counselors and resources. 

SAMHSA: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has its own disaster distress hotline you can call. It’s dedicated solely to helping victims after a natural disaster, and it’s available around the clock. 

FEMA: FEMA has their very own Mental Health Warmline that you can call when you need mental health support after a natural disaster. The Mental Health Warmline is completely free and available to anyone seeking hurricane relief. 

In addition to these national resources, you can also turn to local psychiatrists and counselors for mental health assistance. Whether you’re religious or not, priests, pastors, and other religious leaders will also be happy to offer support and encouragement when you need it most. 

How you can help hurricane victims 

If there's a silver lining to the Atlantic hurricane season, it's that it often brings out the best in people. For as many people who were and still are seeking hurricane relief, there are just as many who want to offer it. 

Find volunteer opportunities 

For those wanting to take a hands-on approach, from helping people rebuild their homes to clearing debris and rubble, there are no shortage of ways to get involved in relief efforts. 

Join a work group: In addition to offering relief efforts on your own, you can also join groups. This might be a better option because of the health and safety risks involved with working in a disaster area. There's strength and safety in numbers, and you'll likely be more productive as part of a group. 

Create your own work group: If you're feeling extra motivated and you have skills that can help those seeking hurricane relief, you can create your own work group. If you have skills related to construction, plumbing, HVAC, or similar industries, you can do a lot of good in disaster areas. Here are a few organizations that can help you find opportunities: 

• American Red Cross
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
• Local churches 

Offer medical assistance: Aside from helping people rebuild their lives, the main way that you can help hurricane victims is by offering medical aid. This is especially true for doctors, nurses, therapists, and other health professionals. Contact your local Salvation Army or Red Cross chapter to find out how you can help. 

Donate blood: Even if you don't have medical experience, you can still make a difference in the health department. Blood and plasma are often in short supply after hurricanes, and injured victims may need them to survive. 

Donate to relief efforts 

No matter how badly you might want to, you may not be able to go directly to a disaster site and physically help hurricane victims. However, that doesn't mean you can't still make a difference. Between losing their homes, jobs, and possessions, hurricane victims will be struggling financially. 

As such, you can make a huge difference by donating to hurricane relief funds. The safest way to make sure your donation makes an impact is to donate to known charities, such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Global Giving, and Team Rubicon. 

You can also donate to specific individuals through GoFundMe and similar crowdfunding platforms. There's also a good chance that charities and churches in the disaster area will receive donations and pass them along to families and individuals who need them the most. 

However, it's important to watch out for potential scammers and fraud. There are plenty of people out there willing to take advantage of people wanting to help others financially. Be sure that you only donate to known sources that you've vetted so that your money goes to those in need. 

Donate goods 

In addition to donating money to hurricane victims, you can also donate specific goods and products. Your local food bank, for example, will likely be taking special collections for hurricane victims. 

Here are some of the most needed items for affected individuals after a hurricane: 

• Food - preferably canned goods that last a long time
• Blankets
• Toiletries - including toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and toothbrushes
• Towels
• Bottled water
• Baby supplies - such as formula, bottles, pacifiers, clothing, and more.
• Clothing - specifically socks, underwear, coats, shirts, and pants
• Survival kits - flashlights, batteries, first aid kits, and more
• Tools - gloves, trash bags, hand tools, and more 

If you can't send your goods directly to someone, donate through local disaster shelters, food banks, and supply drives. 

Donating money vs. goods 

Money is often the most useful donation that victims can receive. 

Hurricane survivors can use money any time of the year. Food and goods, on the other hand, aren't necessarily always useful. While food is essential, FEMA and other organizations often make sure to have that covered. The same is true with clothing, water, and other types of goods. 

Helping each other and recovering after a natural disaster 

There are plenty of resources to turn to when a hurricane strikes. The Salvation Army, American Red Cross, and FEMA are the best all-around resources, both for donations and if you're looking for aid. 

Additionally, there are lots of disaster-specific organizations that provide disaster relief to individuals. This includes United Way, Global Giving, and Team Rubicon, among others. These organizations are also always looking for volunteers eager to serve in the affected areas. 

Whether you're looking to give or receive assistance, the important thing is that you take action. With enough resilience, teamwork, camaraderie, and generosity, affected communities can get through anything that Mother Nature throws at them.