How are food banks and Feeding America responding to Hurricane Helene?
Updated 10/18/24
What’s Happening?
On Thursday, September 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm. With maximum sustained winds of 140 mph and storm surges of up to 20 feet, the hurricane has caused widespread flooding and damage across Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas, with urban flooding occurring in much of the Southeast. According to officials, at least 230 people have died because of the storm, with hundreds more missing. Much of the Southeast continues to grapple with power outages, flooding and residents are assessing damage, just as some are being impacted by Hurricane Milton.
What are food banks and Feeding America doing?
Feeding America has deployed 165 truckloads of food, water and other relief supplies to 11 food banks in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
Food banks have also been impacted by the storm, and many have begun regular distributions now that 90 percent of roads throughout the Southeast have been cleared.
Many food banks are distributing emergency food and resources in their communities, including disaster boxes and water. Food banks are also working with their agency partners to help get those organizations back online, so that they can start food distributions as well. Food banks in unaffected areas have offered support - including vehicles, food and staff - to help assist in the hardest-hit communities.
At a national level, Feeding America is working with lawmakers to help ensure the needed food and funds are allocated to food banks responding to Hurricane Helene. Meanwhile, Feeding America continues to work with national partners, federal response agencies and statewide food bank associations to coordinate the response. Feeding America is also working with national donor partners to secure food and fund donations.
Do you need help after Hurricane Helene?
Food banks are committed to supporting their communities before, during and long after a disaster occurs. If you need food assistance in the wake of Hurricane Helene, food banks are there. Use our food bank locator to find the resources nearest you.
How can I support the response to Hurricane Helene?
- Donate to Feeding America's Disaster Response Fund. Ensure local food banks can respond in the wake of the storm by supporting Feeding America’s response fund.
- Donate to food banks in the impacted area. Donating funds is the most efficient way to support affected food banks as they respond to the need after a disaster. From purchasing extra food to putting gas in trucks, a monetary donation goes a long way at the local level. Find local food banks and donate.
- Follow affected food banks on social media. Local food banks will know what they need most to respond to in their community. Whether that’s food, funds, or volunteers – watch their social channels to learn the best way to make a local impact.
- Learn more about Feeding America’s disaster response efforts. Feeding America and local food banks are on the ground before, during, and after a disaster, ensuring those impacted have food and hope during the toughest of times. Learn more about our national response.