Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeastern Louisiana on Sunday, marking the fifth strongest hurricane to ever strike the US. The storm devastated the state and neighbouring Mississippi, even reversing the flow of the Mississippi River, and left millions of people without power and many dealing with severe flooding and winds. Though the storm has since weakened into a tropical depression Monday afternoon, thousands have been impacted with significant damages.
The city of New Orleans has said the best way to help victims of Hurricane Ida is to donate money directly to mutual aid funds and response organisations on the ground. Below, see a list of groups to help you get started in assisting recovery efforts.
- Recommended by the city of New Orleans, United Way of Southeast Louisiana is accepting donations to help families get back into their homes, rebuild schools and businesses, and provide care for vulnerable members of the community.
- Another suggestion from NOLA, the Greater New Orleans Foundation has a disaster response and restoration fund to mobilize and support a network of community organisations active in disasters.
- Imagine Water Works is a New Orleans-based conservation group led by Native, Creole, queer, and trans community members with extensive experience in mutual aid and disaster preparedness, relief, and recovery.
- Cajun Navy Relief has volunteers on the ground all over the Gulf Coast to provide assistance to those in need. The organisation is accepting supplies, monetary donations, and volunteer applications.
- World Central Kitchen is providing fresh, nourishing meals to people in need in the wake of the hurricane.
- Another Gulf Is Possible has a mutual aid and rapid response fund that directly donates to Indigenous, Black, and brown frontline workers and individual families affected by the storm.
- Second Harvest Food Bank is actively responding to the hurricane's impact by preparing food boxes, bottled water, and frozen meals. In addition to monetary donations, it is also accepting non-perishable food, bottled water, cleaning supplies, as well as more volunteers.
- SBP helps victims rebuild their homes and restore local businesses in the aftermath of a disaster, as efficiently as possible.
- Save the Children, an organisation that works to protect children during national emergencies, has started a children's relief fund to respond to their urgent needs.
- Americares Foundation has deployed an emergency response team to the Gulf Coast. All donations will support the team's response.
Image Source: Getty / Scott Olson