United Way of Florida launches state-wide Hurricane Ian Relief Fund

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Communities across our state are coming together to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Usually when a disaster strikes people turn to non-profits and agencies like The United Way for help but now many of those facilities located on the west coast of Florida are in desperate need of help themselves.

Traver McLaughlin, with The United Way of Palm Beach County, says all together there are 28 United Ways spread out across the state. At least 12 of those facilities though have been destroyed or severely damaged due to the storm, making it extremely difficult to help the communities they serve.

Some of the most-impacted United Ways sustained a direct hit and include South Sarasota, Charlotte and Lee counties. There was also serious damage in Orange County.

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McLaughlin says those offices and agencies are essentially starting from scratch and desperately need help to rebuild.

“They have lost so much from flooding and wind damage and what happens is, now you have to replenish that and you don’t replenish that just by going to the store and buying that. You have to really go out there and work and try to figure out ways to store that food in a flooded area, where there is no building. There may not be any roads that get to that building. So are you housing all of these things? That’s what United Way is trying to do, make sure we are providing the infrastructure to help out those in need,” McLaughlin said.

To help with recovery efforts, all of Florida’s United Ways have launched a state-wide relief fund. You can go to their website and make a donation online or send a check.

That money will then be distributed among multiple counties—helping to pay for things like new supplies, transportation, as well as food and storage units, allowing those areas hit hardest to once again carry out their daily functions to help others.