Updated 9/30/24
What’s Happening?
On Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and storm surges of up to 20 feet, the hurricane has caused widespread flooding and damage across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, with urban flooding occurring in much of the Southeast. According to officials, at least 90 people have died because of the storm, with hundreds more missing. About 300 roads are closed in North Carolina, which has seem some of the most catastrophic flooding. As of Monday, more than 2 million people were still without power across the Southeast.
What are food banks and Feeding America doing?
Food banks across the Southeast have begun responding with emergency food distributions that include water, shelf-stable food and some pre-made meals. In the Big Bend area, where Helene came ashore, food distributions are underway on Monday and will continue throughout the week and into next. In Tampa, hot meals were delivered to emergency shelters over the weekend. Elsewhere, food banks are gearing up for emergency food distributions this week. Food banks are also working with state officials to coordinate their response and direct support to communities that have been hit the hardest. Meanwhile, Feeding America has deployed 11 truckloads of disaster boxes and eight truckloads of water to impacted areas. Feeding America continues to work with national partners, federal agencies and statewide food bank associations to coordinate the response. Feeding America is also working with national donor partners to secure food and fund donations.
Do you need help after Hurricane Helene?
Food banks are committed to supporting their communities before, during and long after a disaster occurs. If you need food assistance in the wake of Hurricane Helene, food banks are there. Use our food bank locator to find the resources nearest you.
How can I support the response to Hurricane Helene?
- Donate to Feeding America's Disaster Response Fund. Ensure local food banks can respond in the wake of the storm by supporting Feeding America’s response fund.
- Donate to food banks in the impacted area. Donating funds is the most efficient way to support affected food banks as they respond to the need after a disaster. From purchasing extra food to putting gas in trucks, a monetary donation goes a long way at the local level. Find local food banks and donate.
- Follow affected food banks on social media. Local food banks will know what they need most to respond to in their community. Whether that’s food, funds, or volunteers – watch their social channels to learn the best way to make a local impact.
- Learn more about Feeding America’s disaster response efforts. Feeding America and local food banks are on the ground before, during, and after a disaster, ensuring those impacted have food and hope during the toughest of times. Learn more about our national response.