As philanthropic leaders and as individuals, PhilMO Members are drawn to respond when neighbors — in Missouri, across the U.S., and globally — are in crisis. And we certainly have neighbors in crisis after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The complex havoc wrought by these North American storms is still being tabulated, and the devastation to life and property is expected to be historic. Early estimates indicate each may be a $50 billion disaster, an stunning threshold reached by eight storms in the last 45 years: Katrina, Harvey, Ian, Maria, Sandy, Ida, Irma, and Andrew. As crisis weather (hurricanes, flooding, heat, drought, etc.) acuity is expected to build, philanthropy has an essential role to play in immediate disaster response, recovery, and building resilience for long-term needs.
To support Missouri funders in understanding the best evidence-informed, equity-centered disaster philanthropy practices, PhilMO is partnering with the Center for Disaster Philanthropy to offer a customized breakout session during the Show-Me Philanthropy Statewide Conference & Annual Meeting on January 30-31, 2024, in Columbia, MO. We hope you'll join us to learn more and also share your experiences with Missouri-focused disaster response.
And, right now, we know there are Missouri philanthropic institutions – and individual Missourians – who seek to offer meaningful support to those living through our current crises. We encourage you to reflect on these five types of disaster support:
- Immediate Response Funding: provide unrestricted grants to trusted local organizations on the ground to allow the allocation of resources where they are needed most. (Scroll down for such a list by state.)
- Collaborative Giving: contribute to regional or national disaster relief funds to amplify relief efforts and expand the breadth of impact.
- Long-term Recovery Support: after immediate waves of relief and attention settle, long-term support enables rebuilding infrastructure, livelihoods, and resilience in the communities affected the hardest.
- Equitable Recovery: consider prioritizing historically underserved and vulnerable populations, who are so often disproportionately affected by disasters.
- In-Kind Support and Volunteerism: don't limit yourself to grants. Do you have in-kind support you can lend? Access to transportation, housing, or expertise?
To learn more about what is specifically needed now, consider viewing this webinar hosted by our colleagues at Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP): Hurricane Helene: How Funders can Support Recovery.
You can also review the resources below that have been curated by CDP, federal and state government, and PhilMO's counter-parts in affected states. We hope these trusted resources inform your immediate giving and that you'll learn alongside us in January's breakout session.
Fall 2024 Disaster Response Resources
Understanding the Context of these Disasters:
Hurricanes, Typhoons and Cyclones
2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Hurricane Helene: Strongest hurricane of 2024 makes landfall in Florida
When the flooding is worse than the hurricane
CDP Pooled Fund & State/Region-Specific Resources:
Atlantic Hurricane Season Discovery Fund
Hurricane Helene Resources, Florida Philanthropic Network
Appalachian Helene Response Fund, Appalachia Funders Network
Disaster Relief and Recovery Resources, North Carolina Network of Grantmakers
Helping Communities Recover From Hurricane Helene, Philanthropy Southeast
The Impact of Hurricane Helene, Grantmakers for Southern Progress
Government Assistance for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Milton:
Evacuation Assistance: If you live in a county with an evacuation order in place and need evacuation assistance, please call 1-800-729-3413 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. for the hurricane evacuation charter bus schedule. Again, this is for residents that are in areas with evacuation orders. Florida has also partnered with Uber to provide free rides to a shelter using the code MILTONRELIEF.
State Assistance Information and Resources Line: The state of Florida has activated the State Assistance Information Line. Residents needing information and resources can call 1-800-342-3557. There are English, Spanish & Creole speakers available to answer questions.
Florida Emergency Shelters: A list of emergency shelters, including those that can accommodate people who need assistance and those who have pets can be found at Shelter Status | Florida Disaster.
Live Updates: For live updates, follow FLSERT on X and Instagram and FDEM on Facebook.
Information Hub Resources: Additional resources and state updates on Hurricane Milton can be found by visiting:
Please find FEMA’s Website on Hurricane Milton, available in Spanish.
Read the Fact Sheet on Pre-Landfall Preparations for Hurricane Milton.
Read FEMA's Tweet with Updates on Emergency Alerts.
Read FEMA’s Tweet on Evacuation Orders, Open Shelters, and More Resources for Florida Residents.
Government Assistance for Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene:
Hurricane Helene FEMA Resources: FEMA has a list of State, Tribal and Local official websites and resources on FEMA.gov/Helene.
Supporting the Response: If you are an organization wanting to support, please contact the FEMA Voluntary Agency Liaisons at FEMA-VAL@fema.dhs.gov.
FEMA’s Website on Hurricane Helene.
Updated Fact Sheet: Sparing No Resource to Support Communities Impacted by Hurricane Helene Here.
General Federal Resources for Disaster-Impacted Communities:
Applying for Disaster Assistance: People in designated counties can apply for FEMA assistance in three ways: online by visiting disasterassistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362 or in the FEMA App.
Reunification: People who need help reconnecting with loved ones missing after the hurricane can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
Small Business Administration (SBA) Support: SBA offers low-interest loans to help in disaster recovery. These loans can be used for losses not covered by insurance or FEMA for both personal and business needs, or business operating expenses that could have been met if the disaster had not occurred. SBA disaster loans are available to businesses of all sizes, homeowners, renters, and private non-profit organizations in declared disaster areas. To find out if you’re eligible to apply, visit the Disaster Declaration Search Page. Types of SBA Disaster Loans include:
- Physical Damage Loans: For the repair and replacement of physical assets damaged in a declared disaster.
- Mitigation Assistance: Provides funding to make improvements to reduce future damage.
- Economic Injury Loans: Helps cover operating expenses for small businesses affected by the disaster.
- Military Reservist Loan: Assists small businesses with operating expenses when employees are on active duty leave.
Combatting Disinformation: The Administration, including FEMA, has also been tracking and combatting the significant amount of false information circulating online related to the Federal response – which can discourage people from seeking critical and life-saving assistance. The Administration is actively working to identify and combat this misinformation and disinformation and support survivors in every possible way, and with this new account, the White House will now uplift federal actions and resources on Reddit.