#Hurricane Season

[great-and-small]

Hands down my fave thing about hurricane season is when zoos put their birds in the bathroom to protect them from the wind and we get images like this

Photo from St Augustine Alligator Farm

[renthony]

I know people love "Waffle House Index" jokes, but please remember that Waffle House workers have talked about the company's blatant disregard for their safety. Waffle House SHOULD be closed when a storm is coming, just like everything else non-essential. Waffle House refusing to close until the last minute is a genuine labor rights issue.

This article from last year talks a little about the ways Waffle House workers have tried to organize to protect themselves from the company. Waffle House being open in a dangerous storm means that the workers can't evacuate or prioritize their own safety. And that's really, really fucked.

[classycookiexo]

PLEASE REPOST

BE CAREFUL FLORIDA AND STAY SAFE

[guerrillatech]

Hurricane Milton tracker: Category 4 storm heads toward Florida's Gulf Coast, massive evacuations ordered

[reasonsforhope]

The loss of life and impact on the communities in Helene’s path is unfathomable — and both the immediate and long-term needs are vast. 

If you’re reading this, it’s likely because you want to help and care about making a difference for those who’ve been impacted by Hurricane Helene.

You’re in the right place. When we see tragedy like this happen in the news, it’s important to not tune it out. Instead, pay attention and truly feel the heartbreak of it — t​​hen, look for and be inspired by the people stepping in to help, and use that energy to make a difference ourselves.

Looking for the helpers

Instead of turning away from tragic events like the devastation from Hurricane Helene — we look closer for people stepping in using what they have, where they are, to make a difference for others.

Inspired by Mister Rogers’ famous quote, we call them the “helpers,” — and they’re usually found wherever there’s bad news in the world. Hurricane Helene is no different. Here are some people, businesses, and organizations helping right now:

Chef José Andrés and ​World Central Kitchen teams are serving thousands of meals to communities in need — from Mexico, and the Big Bend of Florida, and into Appalachia.

Volunteer pilots with the Port City Aviators Flying Club are flying supplies to storm victims in western North Carolina.

The national Disaster Distress Helpline is providing free multilingual crisis counseling to those in need.

Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization that supports food & beverage workers in crisis, is providing financial support for groceries, medical bills, lost wages, and more.

Volunteers with veteran-led disaster response organization Team Rubicon are on the ground in Greenwood, South Carolina clearing roads of trees and debris.

A local library branch in Asheville, North Carolina served as a hub for community members in need of internet service.

Workers at Waffle House were “unlikely heroes” providing food to people in need.

A local Fox News correspondent stopped his live broadcast to help rescue a woman trapped in her car in rising floodwaters.

Emergency response teams rescued more than 50 staff, patients, and caregivers from the roof of a hospital in Erwin, Tennessee.

The SPCA of Brevard rescued 20 animals from Hurricane Helene’s path — and it’s now helping them get adopted.

‍

How to make a difference

After we’ve allowed ourselves to feel the weight of the pain and heartbreak associated with bad news, and look for hope and helpers in the midst of it — we always have the opportunity to join in and make a difference, too. 

Here are some ways to help — whether you’re local or far away:

Donate to national organizations 

Here are just a few large-scale organizations that have helpers on the ground in the region.

American Red Cross

World Central Kitchen

Feeding America

United Way

Salvation Army

CARE

Donate to local organizations

Local organizations, recovery funds, and mutual aid groups have been deployed across the states impacted by Helene. Find donation links and updates below:

All States:

GoFundMe Hub for Hurricane Helene Relief

Mutual Aid Disaster Relief

Southeast Climate & Energy Network

Convoy of Hope

Appalachia Funders Network

Americares

Organizing Resilience

The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Tennessee:

East Tennessee Foundation

First Aid Collective Knoxville

RISE Erwin

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee

North Carolina:

North Carolina Community Foundation

Hearts With Hands

Manna Foodbank

BeLoved Asheville

Foothills Food Hub

Haywood Christian Ministry

Samaritan’s Purse

Forsyth Humane Society

Hope Mill

‍

Volunteer locally

Organizations in the affected area are seeking volunteers to help distribute resources and support crucial aid efforts. While many of us are not local to the region, those who are nearby are encouraged to join in a myriad of volunteer opportunities.

(Note: If you aren't in the area, the best way you can help is by supporting local efforts with a donation. Keeping roads clear for rescue crews and local relief agents is vital in maintaining safety in these already devastated regions).

For local volunteers, check out:

World Central Kitchen

Operation BBQ Relief

Marco Patriots

Operation Airdrop

Baptists on Mission

‍

Contact your elected officials and ask them to take climate action

Climate scientists agree, the intensity and extent of the devastation brought by Hurricane Helene was made worse by climate change. 

While we can’t go back in time and burn less fossil fuels — we can make a difference now to secure a safer future and prevent future climate disasters. 

In addition to talking about how this disaster is connected to climate change in our own conversations and holding media outlets accountable for how they talk about climate change — this is a great time to tell your elected officials that you want them to take meaningful climate action.

We’re making incredible progress in the U.S. and globally in reducing emissions, but we need to work even faster — and incorporate climate mitigation efforts into our plans — to limit the most severe impacts of global warming.

[saintmachina]

These hurricanes are not an "act of God", they are not even "biblical". They are the direct result of sacrificing plants, animals, natural resources, and human lives on the altar of bottom-line profit. The uber-wealthy and influential mine the earth the exhaustion and pump the oceans full of poison and destroy the atmosphere, then have the audacity to act surprised when it results in loss of life.

I am scared for Florida and my heart is in pieces over what Helene already did to the South. But prayers and donations and even infrastructure, as essential as they are, wont change the fact that those who hold the reins of industry, politics, economics, and trade are actively killing the world.

I hope their billion dollar bunkers flood.

[destielmemenews]

Hurricane Beryl has become "extremely dangerous" and will bring life-threatening winds and storm surges to the Caribbean.

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live tracker with The Weather Channel

[somethingusefulfromflorida]

We're gonna get hit by The Big One™ tomorrow, but today has absolutely perfect weather. It's like 70 degrees out right now, the first cool day of the season. Scattered clouds, no rain, no wind, it's not particularly humid, it feels really nice. I've never considered that "the calm before the storm" is a real phenomenon.

[starlet-sky]

I live on the Tampa bay coast only 20 min from the water so I evacuated Sunday night. It is scary not knowing how long it will be before I can get home after Milton. Or not knowing how much damage my home or surrounding areas will get. Please pray for Florida. A lot of areas are barely recovered from Helene less than two weeks ago. :(

[nando161mando]

Florida leaving prisoners to die in the Hurricane

[theofficialastronomy101]

Hurricane Milton as a Cat 5 from the ISS. What a monster!

[thashining]

They just want to win....thats it.

[fateunwritten-if]

Hurricane Milton

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to take a moment to update you all on my situation as Hurricane Milton approaches. I am currently in the path of the storm, and there’s a chance I may lose power. Unfortunately, I was hoping to complete the update before the hurricane hits my city, but I wasn’t able to finish it in time.

As the storm gets stronger, please keep in mind that my ability to work on the project and communicate with you may be affected. While my city has not issued an evacuation order yet, that could change in the next 24 hours.

I appreciate your understanding and support during this time. I would be grateful if you could keep me in your thoughts and wish for safety for everyone affected by the storm.

Thank you, and I’ll do my best to keep you updated as time goes on.

Stay safe, Amelia <3

[theereina]

So, when you see people explaining that they couldn't evacuate, shut the fuck up! Most people can't even afford to evacuate inland in the same state. Then, that's not always a safe option in itself.