DALLAS — Volunteers nationwide are offering help to the hundreds of thousands of people who have been affected by Hurricane Ida.
The storm intensified over the Gulf of Mexico too quickly for officials to prepare for a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans’ 390,000 residents, but many people in the hurricane’s path escaped to safety.
Now organizations are racing to help shelter the displaced and repair the damage after the Category 4 hurricane made landfall Sunday, bringing devastating winds, rain and floods to Louisiana and Mississippi. By Sunday evening, all power to New Orleans had been knocked out.
Here’s how people can help the storm’s victims.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross sent an emergency response vehicle and personnel from the Red Cross Arlington, Texas, warehouse to provide aid and support to residents in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Ida. More than 600 volunteers are positioned to help out in the hardest-hit areas.
Across Louisiana and Mississippi, the Red Cross has opened evacuation shelters offering refuge. The number of open shelters and people staying in them is changing hourly.
Text the word IDA to 90999 to make a $10 donation or visit redcross.org/donate/donation.html/. Donations will help provide shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance during disasters.
More information can be found at redcross.org or 800-RED-CROSS.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army emergency disaster teams in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida have set up units to help respond to anyone in need. The Salvation Army said crews are staged in Beaumont to help in the aftermath of Ida.
Donations can be made at helpsalvationarmy.org or 1-800-SAL-ARMY.
Minuteman Disaster Response
Minuteman Disaster Response, a McKinney nonprofit that serves Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana, deployed a crew to Baton Rouge. The 10-member crew was sent to help with water rescue operations, emergency communications, and drone work.
Donations can be made at minutemanresponse.org/donate/.
Texas Baptist Men
Texas Baptist Men, a North Texas-based organization, is sending disaster relief teams to assist people affected by Hurricane Ida.
The nonprofit has deployed a mass feeding kitchen, a shower unit and an incident command unit to South Louisiana.
Donations can be made at tbmtx.kindful.com/.
World Central Kitchen
Chef José Andrés with World Central Kitchen, an organization that provides food relief, prepared thousands of meals for New Orleans residents. Donations can be made at donate.wck.org/.
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