Delivering hope: Hurricanes Helene and Milton disaster relief

Two consecutive hurricanes have battered the Southeastern U.S., leaving widespread devastation in their wakes. Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on September 26, 2024, in Florida’s Big Bend region, was followed by Hurricane Milton just weeks later on October 9, striking Florida’s west coast near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm.

These back-to-back disasters have severely impacted communities across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and beyond, with lives upended and homes and infrastructure destroyed. Relief and recovery efforts now underway.

World Vision has been on the ground from the onset, responding to the urgent needs created by these catastrophic storms. Through our network of local partners, we’ve been delivering vital supplies such as clean water, generators, diapers, personal care items, and more, ensuring that people in hard-hit areas can access the vital relief they need. Our commitment to supporting these communities in both immediate recovery and long-term rebuilding is unwavering.

World Vision is already on the ground in Florida, responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Milton while also continuing to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Our teams are now assessing hard-hit areas, including Bradenton, St. Petersburg, Melbourne, and Tampa, with plans to expand to other?affected regions soon. We’ve prepared 10 trucks to deliver relief supplies from six World Vision Storehouses in the coming days. On Saturday, October 12, Crisis Relief Boxes will be assembled and distributed to affected communities. We are also coordinating with local organizations, including 11 church partners in west and central Florida, to distribute relief supplies.

Continuing our support for communities affected by Hurricane Helene

In the days immediately following Hurricane Helene’s landfall, World Vision dispatched an early convoy of four 53-foot tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies to partner churches. With the generosity of donors and through our local partners, we served over 5,000 people in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina within several days. We also served families in South Carolina. During the first week of October, nine additional trucks deployed to affected communities, including hard-hit Asheville, North Carolina, for distributions on Saturday, October 5, and the following days.

“This is one of the most devastating disasters that has hit the United States in our time,” said Reed Slattery, World Vision’s National Director of?U.S. Programs, “As we are witnessing an increasing amount of destruction uncovered as communities come [back] online, the urgency of needs has grown.”

“Needs include generators, water, hygiene kits, gas tanks, personal goods, and toys for kids to bring a sense of normalcy during this crisis,” Slattery says. “We will be assessing the needs of communities and our partners and providing the support and help they need to get through this disaster.”

Pastor Gwen Jones from St. John Baptist Church in Arden, North Carolina, emphasized her community’s urgent need for “water, generators, and cell chargers.” She described the situation as traumatic but expressed deep gratitude at the prospect of receiving relief items soon, saying “World Vision’s call was an answer to prayer.”

While immediate relief is the priority for now, World Vision has also committed to working alongside families and communities as they rebuild their lives over the coming months and years.

“The devastation is overwhelming, but we’re here, working hand in hand with local pastors and affected communities. Our priority is to meet the urgent needs of children and families while also planning for recovery,” Slattery said. “The healing process is not just about rebuilding homes. It’s about restoring dignity and supporting people as they reclaim their futures.

“We know the road to recovery is long, and World Vision will continue to stand with the communities affected by Hurricane Helene. We are committed to offering support, compassion, and resources to help impacted families recover.”

Our teams will continue evaluating the damage in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to determine if more shipments are necessary, and if so, where they should be sent and which church partners they should be sent to.

Back-to-back disasters have devastated the Southeastern U.S.

Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, directly impacted people in six states and claimed at least 227 lives. Helene weakened to a tropical storm over the Tennessee Valley, bringing flood rains and high winds inland from the Gulf Coast. It prompted evacuations, school closures, and emergency declarations in Florida and Georgia, with over 40 million people under hurricane and storm warnings.

Hurricane Milton crashed ashore near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 storm on October 9, 2024. The storm caused significant damage, including widespread storm surges, flooding, tornadoes, and power outages to over 3 million homes and businesses.

YOU CAN HELP NOW

All gifts to World Vision’s?U.S. Disaster Relief Fund from now through December 31 will be matched to serve U.S. families in need of emergency aid, up to $500,000.

Companies that would like to donate product can reach out to our corporate engagement team. Options for corporate partnerships also include grant opportunities, branded fundraising pages (raise money from employees/customers), and point-of-sale giving options.

We are grateful for those who have already partnered with us on behalf of the children and families affected by these disasters, including Dick's Drive-In Restaurants, Reverse Logistics Association, Association of Water Technologies (AWT), McKesson, QVC, Hit Promotional Products, ACE Hardware, CULLIGAN CARES FOUNDATION, and Costco Wholesale.