Hurricane Helene made its devastating landfall as a Category 4 storm on the evening of Thursday, September 26. In just a few days, it wreaked havoc across the Southeastern United States, particularly in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and the western regions of both Carolinas. The storm brought unprecedented flooding and powerful winds as it continued through September 27, even after being downgraded to a tropical storm. Numerous tornadoes also formed in both North and South Carolina due to the storm’s intense winds and temperature fluctuations. This natural disaster has impacted millions, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity and many homes and businesses destroyed.

At least 100 fatalities have been confirmed as a result of the storm with over 600 people still missing—though USA Today reports that many of those cases are expected to be resolved as communications are restored. Hundreds of roads have reportedly been shut down or completely wiped away by flood waters. And with significant damage to power lines, most communication methods have been severely disrupted.

If you’re looking for ways to help those affected by Hurricane Helene, read on to find tips and resources below.

Keep Phone Lines Empty

While it might be tempting to keep calling your loved one who you haven’t been able to get into contact with since the storm, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) explicitly states not to take up phone lines but to text instead. This allows the lines to be open for emergencies.

FEMA also has quick links available that list local resources and relief pages for each state affected on their website.

There are many disaster relief organizations doing work on the ground to help affected communities. As of now, most of these recognized relief organizations are mainly seeking monetary donations rather than clothing. The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) lists the state-specific VOAD sites that have resources on how and where to donate and volunteer.

When it comes to specific organizations you can donate to right now, you can visit these listed below:

It’s important to be wary of scams during this time. Though it is extremely unfortunate, it is not unheard of for scammers to take advantage of devastating events like this and pose as a relief organization or person in need. FEMA has a whole page on its site dedicated on how to spot disaster fraud and scams.

If you’re unable to donate your time or money, another way to help is by donating blood. Universal donors (those with O negative blood type) are always in high demand, especially during times like these. You can find local blood drives on OneBlood or the American Red Cross.

From: House Beautiful US