The devastation caused by Hurricanes Florence and Michael in the Carolinas, the Florida panhandle, and surrounding regions has dominated the news for weeks. Beyond physical damage to homes and belongings, natural disasters like hurricanes and flooding cause an immense amount of stress, as well as physical and emotional exhaustion, making it even more difficult to rebuild your life once the storm passes. In times like this, those most affected by these disasters rely on help from others, including family, friends, government organizations, and businesses to help rebuild and recover.
If you know someone who has been affected by these disasters, or if you simply want to lend a helping hand, there are a number of things you can do to assist in the rebuilding efforts.
Rebuilding and Recovery: How Can You Help?
Donate to Accredited Organizations
Monetary donations, as well as donations of equipment or supplies to accredited organizations, are the most helpful in times of crisis. If you want to donate equipment or supplies, contact an accredited organization and find out what items they need before you donate; sending unsolicited goods redirects resources away from providing essential services. Keep reading to find our list of accredited organizations.
Send Goods to Loved Ones
If you can, contact your loved ones to find out what they need. Furniture, mattresses, and clothing are essential items that may have been lost or destroyed, and stores may not have re-opened or may have sold out of common necessities, making it difficult to replace any lost items. Items like books and artwork may not be necessary for rebuilding, but they can help add a sense of normalcy in an otherwise turbulent time.
Getting Things Where They’re Needed
If you’re shipping supplies or equipment to an accredited organization or sending goods to your loved ones, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your shipment will arrive where it’s needed. Your best option is to work with a reputable LTL (less than truckload) or parcel shipping provider that offers emergency shipping services.
In addition to furniture and other household goods, TSI can ship a number of crucial items and supplies to areas hit by natural disaster, including:
- Generators
- Emergency supplies
- Pallets of water and medical supplies
- Building materials
If the damage is severe, goods can be held in nearby warehouses and delivered when safe and convenient.
If you don’t know anyone who’s been impacted by the recent hurricanes but still want to help, there are a number of foundations you can donate to. Before you donate, read the Center for International Disaster Information’s guide to how best you can support disaster relief efforts.
Accredited Organizations:
- United Way
- Team Rubicon, a veteran-lead disaster response team
- The Humane Society of the United States' Disaster Relief Fund
- The American Red Cross
- Airbnb - Open housing for Hurricane Michael
- Portlight
- Star of Hope Mission
- UNICEF USA
- GlobalGiving
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina
- All Hands and Hearts Smart Response
- Feeding the Gulf Coast
If you would like to help the non-humans in Florence or Michael's path, organizations accepting donations for the welfare of animals include the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the Best Friends Animal Society and the Charleston Animal Society.
For more information on how to help others recover from natural disaster, visit Ready.gov.
Before Disaster Strikes
Preparedness is the key to seeing yourself through a natural disaster. In the wake of Hurricane Florence and Hurricane Michael, many of us are wondering how best we can prepare for any future natural disasters. Before you consider how to safeguard your belongings, there are two things you should do to ensure your own safety:
- Make an emergency plan, including evacuation routes and meeting points. Practice the escape plan, especially if you have kids.
- Keep a disaster kit ready, including essentials like batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit, and any important medications. Check out our complete list of what to include in your disaster kit.
Sometimes disaster strikes with no warning, but other times, affected areas may have a few days notice. Staying safe should always be your priority, even if that means leaving your belongings behind, but if you have advanced notice that a storm might be coming, you may have time to think about what you can save. In these cases, you might even be able to ship your valuable or sentimental furniture or possessions out of the area before disaster strikes using emergency moving services.
Are you prepared for natural disaster?Get ready for natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and more with our emergency preparedness resources: |
TSI offers expedited and emergency shipping services across the country, as well as the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. With our same-day or next-day service, you can send your valuables and other belongings to friends and family in a safe location, or to a storage facility to weather the storm.
On the Road to Recovery
Recovering after a natural disaster is never easy. It takes a coordinated effort by those affected, their loved ones, government and charitable organizations, and businesses to rebuild. Call us to learn more about our emergency moving services, expedited shipping, and how we can help you and your loved ones get back or your feet.
About the author: Stephanie Rosenlund is the Director of Strategic Solutions at TSI, the long distance move and shipment provider for thousands of businesses, families, and individuals every year. Stephanie knows all the tips and tricks to make your move or shipment simple and specializes in freight shipping and interstate relocations. In her free time, she loves exploring the world with her husband and two kids.
