Hurricane Recovery Resources and How to Help
The aftermath of any storm is life altering for those in its midst as well as for those of us out of the path watching what is happening in neighborhoods just like ours. Our hearts are with every community dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and our prayers are with those in the path of Hurricane Milton.
Resilience is often defined as the ability for everyone in a community, business, family, etc. to survive, adapt, and thrive no matter what shocks (extreme events) and stressors (everyday challenges) it faces. The primary work of local governments is to reduce the stressors so that each community member has better resources and tools to deal with the shock(s). SSDN supports local governments working on sustainability and resilience and the need for that work is made even more evident during disasters. Their work is important and we are proud to be a part of all they do to make our neighborhoods resilient.
For those in the disaster zones, we want to emphasize a note made by fellow member, Alissa Farina:
Set up a good documentation system to track how every dollar is spent and every action by those whose salaries/overtime they will be seeking reimbursement from FEMA for. Make sure staff log their time.
As communities across the southeast are working toward recovery, bracing for the next event, or covered in blue skies watching their neighbors struggle, they need your support. Here are some ways to help those in need post-Helene in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida put together by our friends at @Waterkeeper Alliance and each state’s central resources hub.
North Carolina:
- MountainTrue has developed a western NC resources guide. MountainTrue is the parent organization to four North Carolina Waterkeepers: French Broad Riverkeeper in Asheville, Green Riverkeeper and Broad Riverkeeper in Saluda, and Wautagua Riverkeeper in Boone.
- North Carolina Department of Public Safety
Georgia:
- Savannah Riverkeeper (Georgia) has created a GIS tool sharing ways to help with recovery.
- Georgia Emergency Management Agency
Florida:
- St. Johns Riverkeeper (Florida) is sharing ways to help affected neighbors.
- FloridaDisaster.org is a comprehensive site for addressing disaster
FEMA Resources:
Disasters are hard – hard to watch, hard to live through, hard to recover from. We encourage you to share resources and ways to support our neighbors, friends, communities and please check your sources to avoid spreading misinformation at this critical time.
There is beauty after the disaster in watching the outpouring of love, financial support, aid, prayers, and so much more. We are in this together.
