Minnesota disaster workers are being deployed to help victims of Hurricane Helene, which has devastated areas of the southeast U.S. from Florida to North Carolina and left around 100 people dead so far.
How you can help those affected by Hurricane Helene
Minnesotans are volunteering their time to help hurricane victims.
The American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region has deployed four emergency response vehicles and over 30 trained disaster volunteers to assist those impacted by the hurricane, with more preparing for dispatch.
The Salvation Army Northern Division has sent workers with experience navigating the emotional trauma of disasters, who will provide emotional care to both victims and other workers.
Here are some organizations and efforts you can donate to if you want to help those affected by Hurricane Helene.
Be cautious when contributing to help after natural disasters. Charitable giving spikes during emergencies, meaning scammers may create fake charities to take advantage of people who want to help, according to the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Scammers may:
- Use names that are similar to organizations you may be familiar with to get you to make a “donation.”
- Use (AI) generated or altered images to get you to donate
- Request payment by virtual currency so they can get your money quickly
“We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers,” company says in a statement.