Just weeks after Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc across the Southeast, another powerful hurricane is poised to touch down in Florida by late Wednesday. Category 5 Hurricane Milton is expected to bring another wave of heavy rainfall and life-threatening winds to the region, leaving many in west-central Florida scrambling to evacuate.
Both Helene and Milton are projected to become among the most destructive — and costliest — storms in U.S. history. Helene killed more than 100 people and left over 2 million homes and businesses without power in the Southeast, racking up total damages and economic loss between $95 billion to $110 billion, according to preliminary estimates from AccuWeather.
Though the Helene first made landfall in Florida, destruction quickly spread to Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia and North and South Carolina. Experts are forecasting similar ripple effects with Milton.
Ahead of the second hurricane's landfall, relief workers across the country, including from the Wisconsin Red Cross, are working to prepare for the destruction.
If you want to help people impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton, here are some ways you can support the Wisconsin Red Cross and other relief organizations on the ground:
More:Hurricane Milton grows 'explosively' stronger with 180-mph winds: Live updates
How to help Red Cross of Wisconsin in Hurricane Helene and Milton relief efforts
The American Red Cross of Wisconsin has deployed more than 60 volunteers across the South to aid in Helene relief efforts and Milton preparations, according to Jennifer Warren, regional communications director for Red Cross Wisconsin.
Some volunteers are working to mitigate destruction in the wake of Helene, while others are helping people evacuate and prepare for Milton, she said.
Warren said it will take several days to understand the full scope of the destruction after Milton's landfall, and Wisconsin volunteers will remain deployed in the Southeast for the next several weeks.
"The Red Cross will be there for as long as we have to be," Warren said. "This past week's efforts are just the beginning."
Here's how you can aid the Red Cross's Hurricane Helene relief efforts, according to Warren:
- Donate to the Red Cross online. The national organization has a donations portal for Hurricane Helene aid.
- Call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text "Helene" to 90999 to make a donation.
- Donate blood. Hundred of blood drives in the Southeast have been canceled due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and the Red Cross is in need of blood donations to replenish the losses, Warren said. You can find a blood drive near you on the Red Cross donation locator.
- If you are located near the Southeast, Warren said volunteers are always needed to help clean up hurricane damage. Over 2,100 people are volunteering in the south with the Red Cross, but volunteers will soon be juggling relief efforts for two hurricanes.
What are other organizations helping Hurricane Helene and Milton victims?
Along with the Red Cross, here some other organizations you can donate to that are helping people affected by Hurricane Helene and Milton, according to USA TODAY. Some of these organizations don't have Hurricane Milton funds set up as of Tuesday, as the storm has yet to make landfall, but will likely expand their efforts to aid Milton victims in the coming weeks.
The Salvation Army
TheSalvation Armyprovides food,drinks, shelter, emotional and spiritual care and other emergency services to survivors and rescue workers.You can donate to hurricane relief efforts online.
United Way
Local United Way organizations are accepting donations to help relief efforts for both the short term and to continue helping residents later. You canfind local chapters across Floridaon the organization's website.
GoFundMe
The Hurricane Relief Fund "was created to provide direct relief to people in need after a hurricane," the organization wrote on GoFundMe. It's gathering funds to redistribute to people affected by Hurricane Helene.
World Central Kitchen
ChefJosé Andrés and his teams are on the ground amid Helene's destruction to set up kitchen facilities and start serving thousands of meals to victims and responders. You can help bydonating on their website.
All Hands and Hearts
This volunteer-based organization works alongside local residents to help by rebuilding schools, homes and other community infrastructure. It hasa Helene fund started.
Americares
Americares focuses on medical aid, helping communities recover from disasters with access to medicine and providing personal protective equipment and medical supplies.To help Hurricane Helene victims, Americares hasset up a donation page.
Operation Blessing
This group works with emergency management and local churches to bring clean water, food, medicine and more supplies to people with immediate needs in disaster areas.Donate to its Helene fund on its website.
Save the Children
This organization works to get child-focused supplies into the hands of families hardest-hit by the storm, including hygiene kits, diapers and baby wipes, as well as classroom cleaning kits to schools and assistance in restoring child care and early learning centers. Donate to theChildren's Emergency Fund.
USA TODAY contributed to this report.
