Hurricane Milton made landfall late Wednesday night near Siesta Key in Sarasota County along the west coast of Florida, according to the National Hurricane Center. Milton, which had previously been labeled a Category 5 hurricane, diminished to a Category 1 storm as it moved inland. Still, storm surge warnings were in effect all along the coast on Thursday, and forecasts continue to call for heavy rainfall. Authorities are still assessing the damage, but reports suggest over 3.2 million customers are without power, demonstrating the urgency of the need for Hurricane Milton relief funding.

Help is already on the way. Just before the storm hit, President Biden reported that FEMA had staged 20 million meals and 40 million liters of water for Milton relief, and the Pentagon had prepositioned search and rescue teams, helicopters, and high-water vehicles as close to the storm as possible.

Hurricane Milton Relief Funds and Organizations

If you also want to help but aren't sure where to start, tax-exempt charities that have indicated they are accepting Milton-specific donations include:

Airbnb.org. Airbnb.org is a charitable organization aimed at helping people find a temporary place to stay in times of crisis. As they did with Hurricane Helene, the organization says that those interested in offering free or discounted stays to people impacted by the hurricane can visit Airbnb.org for more information on how to sign up to host (Airbnb waives all service fees for Airbnb.org hosts and guests). You can also support people impacted by Hurricane Milton by donating to Airbnb.org—donations cover the cost of temporary stays for this response and other crises.

American Red Cross. To make a financial donation, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-435-7669, mail a donation form, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate to American Red Cross Disaster Relief, which helps people affected by disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and tornadoes. You can designate your gift online to go towards Helene and Milton relief efforts.

(In addition, the cancellation of blood drives across the southeast have caused thousands of blood donations to go uncollected. Those outside the affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment here. If you've never given blood before, it's super easy—my daughter and I give often. Bonus? They give you free cookies!)

Read the full article about Hurricane Milton relief funds by Kelly Phillips Erb at Forbes.