Ways to Help Your Community After a Hurricane
Hurricane Florence has brought devastating affects to many people across the east coast. Stress levels can be high as people are struggling to deal with the aftermath. It’s important that the community comes together after a natural disaster. Of course, the first thing you should do is to make sure your family and your neighbors are okay. If you and your family live in different locations be sure to contact them after the storm to be sure everyone is unharmed. If you have elderly neighbors, check on them to see if they need anything. Once these are taken care of you can help others. Not sure what to do? Here are some ways that you can help your community after a hurricane.
Find a Local Non Profit Organization
Get involved with a local non profit that will be helping with Disaster Restoration. The organization will let you know what is needed and can give you information on where you can be of assistance. You may help distribute supplies, pitch in at a storm shelters or use special skills that you may have to contribute. The organization will already have a plan and you can help them carry it out.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a wonderful way to help your community after a hurricane. There is so much that needs to get done that any help will be greatly appreciated. Some possible ideas are collecting money for victims, handing out food and water, starting a food drive, helping at a blood drive and more.
Donate
An easy way to help is to donate money to local organizations or charities that are offering relief for storm victims. If you don’t know where to give, the Charity Navigator website can help: www.charitynavigator.org. The Red Cross is always a great choice when donating. Your donation will help respondents and will be used buy supplies and tools to help in recovery. Michael Jordan, who owns the Charlotte Hornets and grew up in Wilmington, which was hit hard by the storm, set up a microsite to direct donations to reputable organizations. Finally monetary donations are much better than giving supplies unless an organization is asking for specific things. For example The Diaper Bank of North Carolina, based in Durham, is collecting donations for diapers and feminine hygiene products for people displaced by the storm. (You can also buy items on the group’s Amazon wish list.)
Assist in Clean Up
If you are physically able and willing to assist in clean up, there will be opportunities to do so. It may be more difficult than the other options, but it can be very rewarding seeing the difference you can make. Storm victims can be very exhausted, physically, mentally and emotionally so anything you can do to help will be huge.
There are so many ways that you can help your community after a hurricane. If you want to contribute to relief efforts, don’t hesitate to get involved.
We care about you. Your safety is our number one priority. If you experience water or storm damage to your home after a hurricane, ServiceMaster Quality Restoration in Charlotte, NC is open 24/7 for all of your disaster restoration needs. Contact us today at (704) 324-8528.
