When disaster strikes, I always ask, 'but what can I do to help here in the Quad Cities?'

Here's what we can do to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The storm left unbelievable devastation behind in the Bahamas. Abaco and Grand Bahama were particularly hard hit.The first Red Cross aid flight landed in Nassau yesterday afternoon  with 38 tons of relief supplies on board.

Two additional flights are planned for this weekend. In terms of current Red Cross response, Red Cross volunteer EMTs and nurses have been helping people evacuated from Abaco and landing at the airport. They are providing first aid and transporting people back and forth to hospitals.

As Dorian continues to move along the U.S. coast, the American Red Cross is supporting communities from Florida to Virginia. As weather conditions improve, volunteers will work with partners to assess any damage, and provide food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort to people in need.

 

Here's how you can help:

Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word DORIAN to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. In the U.S., this includes providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance. In the Bahamas, the American Red Cross has committed an initial contribution of $2 million to support relief efforts and is partnering with the IFRC and the Bahamas Red Cross to help the islands recover.

For those interested in helping people specifically in the Bahamas, they should write “Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas” in the memo line of a check and mail it to their local Red Cross chapter with the completed donation form available at redcross.org/donate.

Global Giving has established the Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund to provide emergency supplies and long-term assistance to help in rebuilding.

The Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation is providing information on where donors in the United States can drop off supplies to send to the Bahamas.

World Central Kitchen, led by founder José Andrés, is currently on the ground setting up kitchens to feed those displaced by the hurricane.

Visit the websites to learn more about each organization, and to find out if donations are tax-deductible in the U.S.

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