Hurricane Recovery Fund

Updated October 16, 2024

Alpert Jewish Family Service is collaborating with Catholic Charities to assist victims of the tornados that struck Palm Beach, Martin, and St. Lucie Counties. The agency is providing temporary shelter, clothing, food, medicine, case management, and other supplies. The agency has assisted over 250 households so far.

Updated October 30, 2024

The Red Cross shelter in St. Lucie closed on October 25 after two weeks of serving individuals impacted by Hurricane Milton. The shelter team worked to transition those in the shelter to more permanent options with the assistance of St. Lucie County government. To date, 368 meals and 1,296 emergency supplies have been distributed in Martin County; 5,320 meals and 727 emergency supplies in St. Lucie County; and 823 meals and 1,296 emergency supplies in Palm Beach County.

The Red Cross team began Detailed Damage Assessment (DDA) in those counties on October 18. DDA provides an individual assessment of residential structures within the impacted area based on the classifications defined in the FEMA Damage Assessment Pocket Guide as adopted by the American Red Cross. DDA is the primary method for determining eligibility for damage-based financial assistance programs for the Red Cross, including Immediate Assistance. Based on the results of the damage assessment, immediate assistance resources will be provided. These resources can include recovery casework, financial assistance, spiritual care, and mental health assistance.

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HURRICANE MILTON

Updated November 1, 2024: Hurricane Helene was followed within 2 weeks by Hurricane Milton which hit Florida as a Category 3 Hurricane and impacted areas that had previously been hit by Hurricanes Helene (2024), Idalia (2023), and Ian (2022). While much of the health infrastructure sustained relatively minor damage, the mental health toll of the repeat hurricanes has been significant. Americares sent a 4-person team to Florida to connect with partners and conduct a needs assessment. To date, the agency has:

•    Reached out to 110 partner clinics across Florida to offer assistance prior to the storm.
•    Deployed team to hard-hit areas to assess health needs and deliver care. There has been an increased demand for chronic disease management, especially among diabetes and hypertension patients whose access to healthcare has been disrupted.
•    Prepared shipments of essential medicines, hygiene kits, and relief supplies are being prepared for partner clinics, along with emergency funding to restore health services and repair storm-damaged facilities.
•    Identifying mental health challenges in communities that have faced repeated hurricanes in recent years. Americares is closely monitoring long-term mental health needs in these areas, focusing on underserved populations that face compounded recovery challenges. 

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HURRICANE HELENE

Updated November 1, 2024: Prior to the hurricane, Americares contacted over 360 partners in all states likely to be affected by the storm. Within days of the storm passing, Americares had teams on the ground in Florida and North Carolina. 

The agency shipped 6 tons of medicine and relief supplies to partner organizations in affected areas, with more on the way. Shipments include antibiotics, hygiene kits, asthma medications, water purification systems, and relief supplies. Americares has distributed essential chronic disease medications to clinics, ensuring continuity of care for vulnerable patients.

In total, Americares has provided more than $800,000 in emergency funding to a dozen partner organizations to support access to essential health services, with more funding to come.

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Photos courtesy Americares

Updated October 31, 2024

Catholic Charities has used funding to cover personnel costs for staff to conduct disaster needs assessments/case management for residents affected by the hurricanes. They have also purchased and distributed gift cards for basic needs, and assisted with emergency housing, rental assistance, furniture replacement, homeowners' insurance deductibles, small repairs, storage, and cleanup. Catholic Charities plans to continue assisting families in need through 2025.

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Updated November 5, 2024

Grant funding has helped Convoy of Hope provide needed relief supplies to those affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. This includes but is not limited to food, water, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies. Supplies have been distributed in 43 different communities in Florida to tens of thousands of individuals. Through its strategic partnerships Convoy of Hope can provide a full tractor trailer load of supplies for $30,000 to a disaster site and a tractor-trailer load will be filled with about $90,000 worth of supplies.

Additional funding will allow more distribution and activities around Convoy of Hope's Recovery Phase that will help the agency provide more relief supplies and cleanup assistance through the coming months. Convoy of Hope will be assessing the continued needs of residents and coordinating with partners for matching resources now through the holidays. 

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Photos contributed by Convoy of Hope

Updated November 5, 2024

Elev8Hope has used funding to issue checks to local families lacking insurance to assist with their repair costs. Additionally, the agency has covered hotel stays for several families for 10 days, facilitated entry fees for families moving into new apartments due to their previous homes being uninhabitable, and provided room rentals for those in need. Elev8Hope also made purchases at Walmart, including bedding, pillows, and gift cards to further support families during this challenging time. The agency is collaborating with Martin County Fire Department Benevolent and visiting all properties, assessing needs, and documenting those with no insurance, or who have not received FEMA funding.

Updated October 22, 2024

The Equestrian Aid Foundation helps members of the equestrian community across the United States who are in crisis as a result of natural or otherwise unexpected disasters. The foundation's Disaster Relief Fund grants are intended to help horse people afford their essentials while they are figuring out next steps. 

In response to the Wellington tornado to date, Equestrian Aid Foundation has approved grants for nine equestrian individuals and families, totaling $20,550. They expect many more applicants in the coming weeks. Here are some examples of Wellington disaster grants EAF has provided to date:

• A local stall mucker lost all the tools of her trade to the tornado. A grant of $550 enabled her to replace two wheelbarrows and forks, thereby minimizing disruptions to her livelihood and self sufficiency
• The morning after the tornado, a grant of $2,500 enabled the purchase of plywood and supplies necessary to board up and secure a barn and home with critical damage
• A grant of $5,000 is helping an equestrian professional with a young family repair catastrophic damages to his farm, barn, and home so his business can be operational for the upcoming equestrian season

Because Equestrian Aid Foundation is a national nonprofit, they are also currently processing a lot of grants to horse people in other parts of Florida as well as North Carolina. The foundation expects to receive more requests for help from Western NC later in the recovery process, as horse people regain basic stability and are better able to assess their losses and seek viable help options. Across all geographic areas, EAF's funds are helping horse people replace essential items, fill refrigerators, and rebuild livelihoods. To date, the foundation's Helene/Milton disaster grant expenditure outside of Palm Beach County has been $24,500.

Updated October 30, 2024

In total, for both hurricanes, Global Empowerment Mission has provided over 100 semi truckloads of supplies to over 50,000 individuals in North Carolina and Florida, and will be on the ground supporting those affected indefinitely. The agency has also placed more than 189 individuals in free, short-term housing through Airbnb.org, and distributed more than 120 Starlink devices.

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Photos courtesy of Global Empowerment Mission

Updated October 24, 2024

Habitat for Humanity of Martin County is supporting residents impacted by Hurricane Milton by helping them assess damage and make minor repairs, such as window repairs and replacing railings. The agency's efforts are currently focused in Port Salerno, Hobe Sound, and Stuart.

Updated October 24, 2024

While maintaining an average delivery of 8,000 services each month including food, clothes, financial assistance, workforce development, housing assistance and enrichment services, House of Hope is offering extended services to hurricane victims to help with their immediate and longer term needs. Since Hurricane Milton made landfall, House of Hope has 200+ new households receiving pantry services. Additionally, a large portion of the agency's almost 3,000 existing pantry clients have found themselves in need of duplicating recent pantry visits because of the loss of their food from damage or power outages. For the devastated county of Okeechobee, House of Hope is the primary resource for food and other supplies. To be sure that they have enough to support existing clients, new clients, and food bank partners, House of Hope has been purchasing larger quantities of meat, eggs, dairy, cleaning supplies and toiletries that are not typically donated in quantities that meet the need. 

The House of Hope clothes closet and financial assistance programs are also seeing higher demands. The 200+ new households seeking support have even higher than average needs since many were left with nothing much more than the clothes they were wearing during the storm. House of Hope clothes closets offer vouchers to shop thrift stores and collect clothes, shoes, sheets, towels, blankets, small appliances, home goods, kitchen items, furniture, etc. The agency distributes gas, shoes, and supermarket gift cards to help clients buy what they need. They offer financial assistance to replace lost or damaged glasses, prescriptions, work items, school supplies, uniforms, tools, and other items needed to get back to school or work, and to bring income back into their household. For those who lost wages due to the storm, House of Hope can offer assistance to pay bills and support household needs until they can get back on their feet.

House of Hope plans to have extended resources to help individuals and families find long-term shelter, recover transportation options, support their pathway to return to work, etc.

Updated November 6, 2024

Broadly, United Way funds are being used to support staffing to distribute more the 3,200 hygiene kits to communities in need through Free and Charitable Clinics, local non-profits, and religious and community organizations. Also being distributed are 1,500 items of OTC medications, and hygiene and sanitation items for clinics on the front lines. As need for the physical items subsides, the team will be launching service delivery programs for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).

Communities are desperately seeking Mental Health and Psychosocial support after their tragic experience. Project HOPE is hearing this more and more after emergencies occur. New funds for Hurricane Milton will be used to support individuals who need mental health support including requests from Senior Centers.

Project HOPE has a team of emergency response experts on the ground in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota region providing critical medicine and humanitarian relief, providing support to local first responders in the most affected communities. The agency is coordinating with local and state officials and continues to assess long-term impacts and look for opportunities to strengthen the health system. Teams have also been clearing debris. Project HOPE is also supporting under-resourced communities, including families living in mobile homes, agricultural workers, and those affected by health crises like poverty and substance abuse issues in need of assistance following Milton’s destruction. Project HOPE has distributed essential supplies for these communities, including at Suncoast Estates, one of the largest mobile home communities in the US.

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Updated November 25, 2024

Project LIFT is working with Save Our Salerno, Casco Tools, Elev8Hope, and Martin County Firefighters Benevolent Association to providing temporary housing to residents displaced from the tornadoes caused by Hurricane Milton. The groups are teaming up to place 4 to 6 "tiny homes" on properties affected by the storm in the New Monrovia area of Stuart. Town of Palm Beach United Way Hurricane Recovery funds to Project LIFT will support the purchase of one of the homes.

Updated October 17, 2024

Team Rubicon's response for Hurricane Milton is focusing on clearing roads within affected areas so community members can safely return home, and emergency services can access residents in need. These efforts are ongoing in Lee, Tampa, Pasco, Citrus, Charlotte, St. Lucie, and Manatee Counties in Florida and will be critical in jumpstarting recovery for people returning to flooded homes, fallen trees, and other dangers from the storm. Team Rubicon is still responding in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee for Hurricane Helene. In total, the agency has 11 active operations for Milton and Helene. Work to date includes:

• TR has served roughly 56 communities over 5 states
• Dispatched over 850 volunteers on 16 operations (including 6 route clearance teams), 17 recons,, and 2 QRFs
• Team Rubicon volunteers have...
  • Over 150 completed work orders on 128 structures (mostly muck outs and debris removal), serving 320 individuals
  • Cleared over 17,400 cubic yards (over 1,080 trucks) of debris and 430 major obstructions from roadways. 
  • Received requests from 82 emergency managers, community partners, and/or government bodies
  • Contacted over 266 clients in need of assistance 

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HURRICANE MILTON

Updated 10/23/2024: The WCK Relief Team in Florida was able to reopen its large-scale Field Kitchen near Tampa shortly after Hurricane Milton passed. Kitchen staff resumed efforts to cook tens of thousands of meals each day to distribute to the communities across Florida. Alongside the wonderful partnerships WCK has formed with local restaurants and food trucks, our teams have been distributing warm meals to communities in need by car, boat, and helicopter to help bring comfort and ease the burden of affected families. As communities across Florida start to regain power and open businesses once again, WCK anticipates wrapping up operations later this week. In total, World Central Kitchen has served nearly 270,000 meals across Florida.

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HURRICANE HELENE

Updated 10/23/2024: Residents in North Carolina are still reeling from the harsh, lasting effects of Hurricane Helene. WCK teams have been constantly adapting relief strategies to meet the changing needs of the people in North Carolina, who have suffered from an acute shortage of fresh food and clean drinking water. WCK is focused on resupplying community sites with potable water, and each day 10 tanker trucks—totaling 62,000 gallons of water—replenish local residents coming to fill their containers. World Central Kitchen has also helped numerous restaurants establish running water, leaving the water storage equipment behind to be used as they reopen. So far, teams have distributed over 650,000 gallons of much-needed water. WCK has also fine tuned Field Kitchen operations at Bear’s Smokehouse in Asheville, where they have been serving 20,000 meals per day. To date, WCK—alongside its partners—has served nearly 500,000 nourishing meals in North Carolina. WCK will decrease its presence in areas where running water is restored and businesses reopen, and continue serving meals in areas like Swannanoa, Hendersonville, Burnsville, Marshall, and Yancy, where restoration has been slowest.

World Central Kitchen is currently working with 21 restaurants to serve approximately 4,600 meals per day in the eastern part of Tennessee. In Georgia, WCK has concluded its relief efforts after wrapping up food distribution at QUOLA Soup Kitchen and the Golden Harvest Food Bank over the weekend. Across Tennessee and Georgia, WCK has served more than 150,000 meals.

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Photos courtesy World Central Kitchen