If you’ve tuned into the news or happened online at all in the last week, you know how devastating Hurricane Florence has been to the people in the Carolinas and Virginia. As of this writing there have been 32 deaths and billions of dollars worth of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. The storm has been downgraded, but the flooding will continue for days to come. Yesterday the governor of North Carolina asked residents not to return home yet, to wait for the flooding to subside.
As home builders and remodelers in Salt Lake City, we know how devastating it must be for the residents of the area. Not knowing if your home has been damaged by the storm or if it has been destroyed, must be a horrible thing. As home builders, we also know how difficult it is going to be for the people affected by Hurricane Florence to rebuild. Many people won’t have flood insurance, many people won’t have enough insurance, and some might not have any insurance. It’s heartbreaking to think of what these people are going through right now. If you’re wondering how to help the victims of Hurricane Florence rebuild, there are thankfully many ways you can contribute.
Rebuilding after a natural disaster is always difficult and it takes a lot of time. There tends to be a fair amount of red tape and the sheer number of victims makes rebuilding take even longer. There are so many steps that need to be taken before rebuilding can take place – assessment, cleanup, planning, design, rebuilding – and that doesn’t include the paperwork or dealing with the insurance companies.
The people of North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Virginia have a long road ahead of them. The good news is there’s something you can do to help. If you’d like to help the victims of Hurricane Florence rebuild please consider taking a look at the various charities listed below. Many of them accept donations online, while others are in need of donations such as diapers, personal hygiene products, clothes, boots, etc. Don’t forget the pets. Rescue shelters are overburdened with animals right now. Many of those animals will be trucked to animal shelters around the country so if you’ve been thinking about adopting a pet, now might be a great time to do it.
How to Help the Victims of Hurricane Florence Rebuild
Amazon is partnering with the American Red Cross and Feeding America to create wish lists for those who wish to purchase items for those in need due to the hurricane. Items such as bleach, dish soap, flashlights, toilet paper, first aid kits, and shampoo are just some of the basic necessities people are struggling to find. You can choose which items you’d like to donate and Amazon will take care of the rest.
You can donate to the American Red Cross in many different ways. Go directly to their website redcross.org, call their number and donate over the phone (1-800-RED-CROSS) or text “FLORENCE” TO 90999. Be sure to designate your donation to Hurricane Florence Relief. In addition to giving a cash donation you can also donate blood. Blood banks are always in need of blood so even if the blood you donate doesn’t make it to the Carolinas, it will still be put to good use. You can also donate your time to the American Red Cross by volunteering.
Diaper Bank of North Carolina provides diapers, feminine hygiene products and incontinence supplies to those in need. You can make a donation on their website from your computer, if you are in the area you can drop diapers and other products off at their headquarters, and you can donate your time by helping assemble kits that they drop off to those in need.
As home builders in Salt Lake City, we especially appreciate organizations like Rebuilding Together. The organization started in 1973 in Midland Texas as a way to help neighbors who had trouble maintaining their home keep it up to date. Originally volunteers got together during April and assisted those in need. The program has grown ever since and now they have more than 100,000 volunteers who help families rebuild when disaster strikes. You can donate money directly to Rebuilding Together on their website, and you can volunteer to help rebuild the homes. Either way, you’ll be doing a great thing.
Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
The Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina is working diligently with their partner agencies to provide food, water, hygiene items, and cleaning supplies to the thousands affected by the hurricane. Your tax-deductible gift makes their work possible. Once disaster relief and recovery needs have been met, remaining funds and food will be used to support our ongoing hunger-relief efforts. For every $10 you give, the Food Bank can provide 50 meals!
Another great organization that helps families rebuild their home after natural disasters. In addition to helping families in need realize their dream of owning an affordable home, Habitat for Humanity also helps to rebuild communities after natural disasters like Hurricane Florence. You can make a tax deductible cash donation to the organization on their website, and you can also volunteer your time and help build some homes. If you don’t live in the area where help is needed you can still volunteer your time locally – there are always people in need of affordable homes.
So many pets have been displaced due to the hurricane. Sadly, many of those pets and their families will never be reunited – many families have lost their homes and have no place for a pet at this time. You can help by donating to the shelter directly on their website as well as by adopting an animal at your local shelter. Often times displaced pets from one region will be moved to another shelter in other parts of the country. Make room for these newly displaced pets by adopting the animals that are currently in the shelter. You can also donate your time at the shelter by walking pets, grooming them, cleaning their cages and other tasks at the shelter.
When donating to any site, be sure to check that they are a legitimate organization. Check with the Better Business Bureau, Guide Star, or Charity Navigator to learn if the charity you have chosen is reputable organization, you can also find many more places that need your help on those websites.