How to help victims of Hurricane Ian in Florida

BILL: SHORTLY AFTER HURRICANE IAN MADE LANDFALL, IT LEFT MILLIONS WITHOUT POWER AND OTHERS WITHOUT SHELTER SPURRING THE AMERICAN RED CROSS TO GEAR UP FOR DISASTER RELIEF. KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S KALE SEARCY CAUGHT UP WITH A DUO FROM OMAHA BEFORE THEIR TRIP. >> AFTER FLORIDA WAS ROCKED BY SURGING WATER AND FORCEFUL WINDS, AMERICAN RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS ARE HEADING TO THE COAST FOR SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS. CINDY BRINKER AND PAT SHIELDS WILL MAKE THE 1400 MILE JOURNEY TO FLORIDA. >> WE’LL GET INTO ORLANDO TO REPORT IN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AND BE FURTHER DEPLOYED. ONCE WE GET TO ORLANDO, PREPARING THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLE TO SUPPORT THE MILLIONS IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IAN. >> GIVING THE FOLKS THAT ARE TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THE DISASTER A LITTLE BREAK AND IT’S ONE LESS THING THAT THEY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS WHERE AM I GOING TO GET MY NEXT MEAL? WE’RE THERE FOR THEM. >> BRINKER SAYS SHE VOLUNTEERED DURING HURRICANE KATRINA BUT EVEN NOW SHE’S UNSURE WHAT THEY’LL WALK INTO. >> IT’S WIRES DOWN. NO ELECTRICITY, NO PHONE RECEPTION. SOMETIMES NO DRINKING WATER, >> TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS THEY CAN PHYSICALLY DURING THEIR TWO WEEK TRIP, WHILE ALSO FOCUSING ON PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. >> JUST GIVING SOMEBODY A CHANCE TO TALK AND LET THEM TELL THEIR STORY, WHAT THEY’VE BEEN GOING THROUGH. IT CAN BE CAN BE PRETTY EMOTIONAL. >> RED CROSS SAYS ALL VOLUNTEERS ARE ON STANDBY TO GO WHEREVER THE NEED IS THE GREATEST AND HELP PEOPLE IN FLORIDA RECOVER. KAYLEE CIRCE, KETV NEWSWATCH 7. BILL: YOU CAN HELP THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS. SCAN THE CODE ON YOUR SCREEN WITH YOUR PHONE. THAT WILL SEND YOU TO A WEBSITE WHERE YOU CAN DONATE TO THE RED CROSS DISASTER RELIEF FUND. PROCEEDS WILL HELP HURRICANE VICTIMS IN FLORIDA, AND VICTIMS

Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm, bringing winds of 150 mph and a devastating storm surge.Rescue efforts are underway with roughly 2.5 million homes and businesses without power, many communities destroyed and countless people trapped.The storm has left the state and reentered the Atlantic Ocean, but it has also left the state battered and in need of picking up the pieces.Here are some ways to help the people of Florida affected by Hurricane Ian:Hearst Television affiliates nationwide are partnering with the American Red Cross to help people affected by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, western wildfires and other disasters. Click here to learn more.The Red Cross is also urging people to donate blood, according to its website. You can find a blood drive in your area by searching your ZIP code here or by calling 1-800-733-2767. The state of Florida has a Florida Disaster Fund that you can donate to here or by texting “disaster” to 20222. There are also volunteer opportunities, both in-person and virtual, through Volunteer Florida. Find a list here. Opportunities include joining a Red Cross Disaster Action Team that provides 24-hour support on the ground and a Disaster Mental Health Services team to help Floridians with long-term recovery from trauma.

Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 storm, bringing winds of 150 mph and a devastating storm surge.

Rescue efforts are underway with roughly 2.5 million homes and businesses without power, many communities destroyed and countless people trapped.

The storm has left the state and reentered the Atlantic Ocean, but it has also left the state battered and in need of picking up the pieces.

Here are some ways to help the people of Florida affected by Hurricane Ian:

Hearst Television affiliates nationwide are partnering with the American Red Cross to help people affected by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, western wildfires and other disasters. Click here to learn more.

The Red Cross is also urging people to donate blood, according to its website. You can find a blood drive in your area by searching your ZIP code or by calling 1-800-733-2767.

The state of Florida has a Florida Disaster Fund that you can donate to or by texting “disaster” to 20222.

There are also volunteer opportunities, both in-person and virtual, through Volunteer Florida. Find a list . Opportunities include joining a Red Cross Disaster Action Team that provides 24-hour support on the ground and a Disaster Mental Health Services team to help Floridians with long-term recovery from trauma.

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