Giving Compass' Take:

• Elysia Gabe shares five effective ways donors and volunteers can make an impact during Hurricane Florence and other natural disasters.

• One piece of advice is to donate goods, but it's important not to send unsolicited items. Donors should check with organizations in the affected areas to learn what they need.

• Learn more about helping during a hurricane with Giving Compass' Disaster Relief and Recovery magazine.

This year’s hurricane season has been extraordinarily active and destructive across parts of the U.S. If you’ve been following coverage of Hurricane Florence, you’re well aware of the dangers it poses, including life-threatening storm surges, catastrophic flooding and historic rainfall.

As this storm unfolds, you may feel compelled to help. Yet because of the sensitive nature of disaster relief work, it’s important to preemptively take stock of your options and figure out the most impactful ways to lend a hand. To assist you with this journey, we’re sharing five effective ways to support communities in the wake of a natural disaster. We’ve done our work so we can provide you with a list of reputable causes that are committed to providing disaster relief.

  1. Send Funds: Oftentimes, the most effective way to help victims and survivors following a natural disaster is with a financial gift to disaster relief organizations that have strong presence in affected communities.
  2. Give Blood: Unlike other medical supplies, blood and platelets can’t be stockpiled in advance due to having a short shelf life.
  3. Donate Goods: If there’s an organization you’d like to support, check to see if they’re currently accepting donations of goods before organizing, collecting or sending anything.
  4. Volunteer Time: Before deciding where and how to volunteer your time, it’s important to assess the situation and your skillset.
  5. Keep It Up: Consider donating time or money to long-term recovery needs, especially since this phase of disaster response tends to be the most underfunded and under-resourced.

Read the full article on how to help during Hurricane Florence by Elysia Gabe at 3BL Media.