As Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida today, two area non-profits that provide assistance to those in need around the world are pitching in.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Oct. 8, Stamford-based Americares Emergency Response Team is reaching out to 110 partner clinics in Florida in the path of the storm to offer assistance.
Meanwhile, Fairfield-based Save the Children announced is preparing to help children and families hardest hit by the powerful storm.
Hurricane Milton has strengthened to Category 5 and continues to intensify two days before it’s due to strike Florida’s Gulf Coast, where communities now are rushing cleanup from catastrophic Hurricane Helene, according to CNN.
CNN also reported it is expected to make landfall Wednesday evening as a destructive and life-threatening storm. It is due to hit between Cedar Key and Naples, which includes the Tampa area.
Hurricane Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to bring life-threatening storm surge, hurricane-force winds and heavy rain to the Tampa Bay area and prompting evacuations, according to the National Hurricane Center.
“Florida’s Gulf Coast is bracing for what could be the third major hurricane in 13 months,” said Americares U.S. Director of Emergency Response Mariel Fonteyn. “Communities still reeling from Hurricane Helene and continuing the recovery from Hurricane Idalia last year are going to need help. We’re ready to respond and support survivors’ health needs.”
Americares is prepared to deliver critically needed medicines and relief supplies to partner organizations in Florida to meet the health needs after the storm makes landfall. The organization is also prepared to provide emergency funding to help repair damaged health facilities and restore health services disrupted by the storm.
With emergency supplies pre-positioned ahead of Hurricane Milton, Save the Children is equipped to help deliver critical, child-focused supplies to Florida kids and families who need them most– including diapers, wipes, hygiene kits and more.
In addition, the global humanitarian organization stands ready to help restore child care and early learning centers damaged by the storm. Save the Children’s psychosocial team is also on standby to aid long-term recovery efforts by supporting the mental health needs of children and caregivers.
“Children are always among the most vulnerable when disaster strikes, and our thoughts and hearts go out to kids and families in the pathway of this dangerous storm,” said David Niersbach, head of Save the Children’s emergency response and recovery team. “Save the Children is prepared to meet kids’ immediate and long-term recovery needs in the wake of Hurricane Milton, including helping them return to learning and getting the mental health supports to cope and heal.”
At the same time, Americares continues to respond to Hurricane Helene, which slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast on Sept. 26 as a Category 4 with a massive storm surge, wreaking havoc and causing massive destruction and major flooding from Florida to western North Carolina and Tennessee.
Americares quickly deployed response teams to assess the health needs in the hardest hit communities across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee and continues to deliver shipments of hygiene kits, antibiotics and relief supplies to partner organizations in affected areas.
The Stamford-based organization is preparing to install water purification systems for partner organizations in North Carolina without running water and coordinating deliveries of bottled water to Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Americares is also providing emergency funding to partner organizations throughout the Southeast to repair storm damage, remove downed trees blocking health facility access, fund transportation for health center staff and support other storm-related expenses.
Donations
Both organizations are also seeking donations to help fund their efforts in Florida. Donations to Americares 2024 U.S. Hurricane Fund will support its responses to Helene, Milton and future storms. To donate, go to americares.org/hurricanerelief. Save the Children has the Children’s Emergency Fund, which is used to help Save the Children protect kids in the United States when disasters like Hurricane Milton strikes. To learn more about Save the Children, please go to www.SavetheChildren.org.
