Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida Wednesday night at a Category 3 hurricane, bringing winds of 100 mph and causing dozens of tornadoes across the state. Over 100 homes were destroyed and more than 3 million Floridians lost power due to the potent storm.
East-central and northeastern Florida saw the biggest damage, and across the state, the storm produced “significant flooding,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
The number of deaths caused by the hurricane remains unknown, but St. Lucie County Sheriff Keith Pearson told WPBF News: “We have lost some life.”
On Thursday morning, the hurricane passed onto the Atlantic Ocean, leaving officials, health organizations, and rescue parties to assess the damage on the ground.
Ahead, see a list of organizations providing aid to those affected, and consider making a donation.
- The Florida Disaster Fund “distributes funds to service organizations that will serve individuals within their communities with disaster response and recovery.” DONATE HERE
- Local charity Feeding Tampa Bay provides food, home assistance, and “essential resources and pathways back to stability in the days, weeks, and months following the storm.” DONATE HERE
- Metro Ministries is helping secure housing for those in need, as well as providing families with food, water, and essential supplies. DONATE HERE
- Mercy Chefs is on the ground in Florida, distributing meals to those in need. DONATE HERE
- The American Red Cross is on the ground distributing meals and supplies to communities affected by the storm. DONATE HERE
- Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to a long-term response to the Florida hurricanes and other natural disasters. DONATE HERE
- Following their lifesaving work in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, The Salvation Army is providing emergency aid, food, emotional and spiritual care, and long-term recovery services to survivors affected by Milton. DONATE HERE
- American Humane, the country’s first national humane organization, has a team of specially-trained first responders on the ground “to help rescue, shelter, feed, and care for the animal victims of this disaster—a vulnerable group that’s often overlooked,” they said. DONATE HERE
- Information on how to access shelters in Florida and apply for assistance can also be found at disasterassistance.gov. Residents can also call 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585.
- And, the Florida Disaster Legal Aid Helpline offers free legal guidance to those facing disaster-related challenges like eviction, home title and ownership, contractor issues, and insurance claim problems.
Rosa Sanchez is the senior news editor at Harper's Bazaar, working on news as it relates to entertainment, fashion, and culture. Previously, she was a news editor at ABC News and, prior to that, a managing editor of celebrity news at American Media. She has also written features for Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue, Forbes, and The Hollywood Reporter, among other outlets.
