Just weeks apart, two powerful hurricanes battered the Southeastern U.S., causing widespread devastation. Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall on September 26, 2024, in Florida’s Big Bend region. On October 9, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, struck Florida’s west coast near Siesta Key.
Communities in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and beyond have faced severe impacts with lives disrupted, homes destroyed, and critical infrastructure damaged, some of it completely ruined. The scale of the destruction has triggered urgent relief and recovery efforts that are now underway.
World Vision has been on the ground from start, responding to the urgent needs created by these catastrophic storms. Partnering with local churches, we’ve delivered vital supplies such as clean water, generators, diapers, personal care items, and more, to ensure that people in hard-hit areas can access essentials they need. Our commitment to supporting these communities in both immediate recovery and long-term rebuilding is unwavering.
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World Vision responded immediately to the hurricanes. Following Helene’s landfall, four 53-foot tractor-trailers loaded with relief supplies were dispatched to partner churches in Florida and North Carolina. In the following weeks, nine more tractor-trailers departed for storm-affected regions in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, including hard-hit Asheville, North Carolina. As of Thursday, October 17, 2024, these 13 shipments have served over 16,000 people.
In response to Hurricane Milton, World Vision has delivered 12 truckloads of supplies to people in impacted areas, reaching nearly 23,000 people.
Thanks to generous donors and through the help of more than 20 church partners, World Vision has distributed a total of 25 truckloads of aid to support families in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas as of October 17.
“This is one of the most devastating disasters that has hit the United States in our time,” said Reed Slattery, World Vision’s National Director of U.S. Programs.
Our relief efforts have been bolstered by partnerships with local churches like St. John Baptist Church in Arden, North Carolina, whose Pastor Gwen Jones expressed gratitude for the timely aid: “World Vision’s call was an answer to prayer.”
While immediate relief is the priority, World Vision has also committed to working alongside families and communities as they rebuild their lives over the coming months and years.
“The devastation is overwhelming, but we’re here, working hand in hand with local pastors and affected communities. Our priority is to meet the urgent needs of children and families while also planning for recovery,” Slattery said. “The healing process is not just about rebuilding homes. It’s about restoring dignity and supporting people as they reclaim their futures.
“We know the road to recovery is long, and World Vision will continue to stand with the communities affected by Hurricane Helene. We are committed to offering support, compassion, and resources to help impacted families recover.”
Currently, our efforts are focused on post-storm clean-up. Building supplies will be critically needed as we move into the next phase of our efforts. With cooler temperatures setting in, there is increasing concern for communities still lacking electricity and running water.
We also aim to support educational needs. We’re ready to supply impacted communities with resources like books, backpacks, and Classroom Well-being Kits to help schools and students affected by the hurricanes.
