How to Help Victims of Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian has devastated two islands of the Bahamas and unleashed its fury on South and North Carolina.

Donate to one of these top-rated charities to help victims of Hurricane Dorian with life-saving food, water, clothing, shelter and medical services, and start the rebuilding, including roads and power lines.

Abaco and Grand Bahama suffered unprecedented damage from sustained winds of more than 200mph from the Category 5 hurricane, four feet of rain and a storm surge taller than roof lines, shattering everything in its path.

Most of the other 700 islands of the Bahamas escaped serious damage.

If you’ve been following news reports, you know Hurricane Dorian stalled over the northern Bahamas for more than 48 hours – like having an E5 tornado sitting over you for two days.

Choose one of these charities to support with a donation to help the victims of Dorian with life-saving food, water, clothing and medical services, and start the rebuilding, including roads and power lines.

Each one of these charities has a four-star rating for financial performance and effectiveness from Charity Navigator, my go-to charity rating service, and each one lets you donate online in any amount you choose.

Every organization uses donations differently, so read their mission statement or visit their website to understand how your gifts to them will be used.

How to help the Bahamas with tourism

You can also help the Bahamas by visiting the islands not affected -which is most of them..

The Bahamas is an archipelago with more than 700 islands and cays spread over 100,000 square miles, about the size of the state of Colorado.

The greatest impact of Hurricane Dorian is in the northernmost islands of the Abacos and Grand Bahama.

Most of the Bahamas has not been affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The islands in the Southeastern and Central Bahamas were not impacted by the storm, including The Exumas, Cat Island, San Salvador, Long Island, Acklins/Crooked Island, Mayaguana and Inagua.

Nassau, New Providence Island and Paradise Island, experienced some flooding. The Nassau Airport remained open during the storm.

According to David Swanson, president of the Society of American Travel Writers, these destinations, containing the vast majority of Bahamas accommodations, will be up-and-running soon.

Many Bahamians support their families through jobs in tourism, including hotels and restaurants, as tour guides and tour bus drivers. You can support the recovery by being a tourist.

Full disclosure – ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter has been an SATW member for more than 20 years, including serving two terms as an elected Board member.

Where to donate to help Hurricane Dorian victims

The Caribbean Tourism Organization, which promotes tourism to the islands of the Caribbean, including the Bahamas, has activated its Hurricane Relief Fund, to help people and countries rebuild after disasters.

Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/hurricane-relief-fund-cto to donate to the official fund.

photo of Chef Jose Andres World Central Kitchen courtesy Philanthropy Daily

Donate to “Food Responders”

Chef Jose Andres and his World Central Kitchen “Chef Relief Team” are flying food and water to Abaco and the Grand Bahamas to help those affected by Hurricane Dorian.

The group says it has four kitchens and multiple shelters in place, according to a map Andrés tweeted Monday. “If kitchens are destroyed, we build one and cook in big paella pans!” he said on Twitter.

World Central Kitchen has two kitchens set up at Castaways Resort & Suites and the Grand Lucayan Resort on Grand Bahama Island, another kitchen at the Abaco Beach Resort, and one at Atlantis Bahamas in Nassau, and more are planned.

Click here to donate to World Central Kitchen.

Those interested in learning how they can volunteer with the nonprofit can click here.

The Government of the Bahamas has published this page of preferred groups,

They include Royal Caribbean International cruise line and Atlantis hotels, one of the largest in the Caribbean, which has created a specific Atlantis Bahamas Hurricane Dorian Relief Fund.

You can donate directly through the Government of the Bahamas website.

The Red Cross’s Bahama Branch is requesting non-perishable supplies. Supplies include canned goods, water, toiletries, bedding and batteries.

You can donate money directly through bahamasredcross.org.

These charities assisted victims of

Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria last year

and are working again to assist victims of Hurricane Dorian

in the Bahamas and in South Carolina and North Carolina

Each one of these charities has a four-star rating for financial performance and effectiveness from Charity Navigator, my go-to charity rating service, and each one lets you donate online in any amount you choose.

Feeding America

is a United States-based nonprofit organization that is a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.

A mericares Hurricane Relief Fund

is accepting online donations dedicated to hurricane victims. Americares is a non-profit disaster relief and global health organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people in the USA and around the world. Every $1 donated provides $20 in relief.

Save the Children

is helping vulnerable children stay safe and providing relief to families who need it most.

Direct Relief

provides life-saving emergency medical assistance.

Sierra Club

is working with community-based groups to repair environmental damage, including to the 23 SuperFund sites in Puerto Rico.

World Vision

is a Christian humanitarian organization helping children, families, and their communities overcome poverty and injustice.

Habitat for Humanity

Hurricane Recovery Volunteer Registry is rebuilding homes that were destroyed. Donate, or volunteer.

The Salvation Army

is accepting donations via phone (call 1-800-SAL-ARMY), text (text “STORM” to 51555) and online.

Additional groups assisting Hurricane Dorian victims

Florida International University has activated “FIU Strong” to support students, faculty and alumni who may be impacted. “One hundred percent of the money raised will go directly to assist Panthers in need,” according to the school’s website. Click here to donate.

photo courtesy WFDD