How To Help Hurricane Dorian Relief Efforts

Over the weekend, Hurricane Dorian wreaked havoc over the Bahamas, damaging 13,000 homes and killing at least five people. As of Wednesday, Dorian — which was recently downgraded to a Category 2 storm — is inching its way toward the coast of Florida. From there it’s expected to crawl up the coast and alongside Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina later this week.

“We are in the midst of a historic tragedy in parts of the northern Bahamas,” Prime Minister Hubert A. Minnis said in a press conference on Monday. “Our mission and focus now is search, rescue and recovery.”

If you want to help communities affected by Hurricane Dorian, below you’ll find several organisations accepting donations for relief efforts.

  • Chef José Andrés’ organisation, World Central Kitchen, provides meals to individuals impacted by natural disasters. Last weekend, the organisation announced that they are preparing meals to be served in the Bahamas (and are preparing kitchens in both Florida and the Carolinas). To donate, visit World Central Kitchen’s website and follow their Twitter page for updates.

  • International Relief Teams provides health support to those affected by poverty or natural disasters. They are accepting donations to prepare 1,000 disaster kits to be dispersed in Florida. If you want to donate, visit the group’s website.

  • Save the Children helps restore education and day care programs for kids in the wake of disasters; they are currently deploying an emergency response team to help those impacted by Dorian. Visit the organisation’s website to donate. (10 per cent of donations to specific causes, like Dorian relief, will be allocated to their general Children’s Emergency Fund.)

  • The American Red Cross is also accepting donations to provide relief supplies, food, and shelter during Dorian. As we’ve written before, however, practice good judgment.

    Just because they’re the most well-known organisation doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll spend your money in the way you had hoped (the organisation has faced accusations of mismanagement and failure to get the majority of donated funds to local organisations in need). ProPublica has a helpful guide for choosing the most effective organisations to donate to after disasters.

To find other ways you can help — or to make sure your donation is going to a credible organisation — visit Charity Navigator’s website. They compiled several highly-rated organisations that are currently supporting relief efforts. CNN is providing live updates on its website if you want to follow the latest news.

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