Wondering how to help those dealing with damages associated with Hurricane Idalia?
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance recommends donors ask five questions to help them make giving decisions:
- Does the disaster appeal describe the charity’s activities? Look for appeals that are upfront and clear about what disaster relief services you are supporting.
- How experienced is the charity in disaster relief? Donate to experienced organizations that stand ready to provide quick and effective assistance. Be cautious of organizations that form overnight in the wake of a disaster.
- Should goods be donated? Contributing money is the quickest way to help and provides charities with the flexibility to channel resources to impacted areas.
Instead of donating food, consider supporting food banks near an impacted area.
- Have you checked out the charity? Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity, including using the Better Business Bureau’s give.org guide.
- What about crowdfunding requests? If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust.
Also review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take measures to vet posts but others don’t.
Assistance after Idalia
As of Sept. 3, FEMA had yet to declare a major disaster for Manatee County. As of that date, the following Florida counties — Citrus, Colombia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jefferson, Lafayette, Levy, Madison Pasco, Suwannee, and Taylor — were approved under a federal major disaster declaration for individual assistance through disasterassistance.gov.
For information about disaster-related assistance, go online to:
- mymanatee.org;
- floridadisaster.org;
- floridadisaster.biz;
- fema.gov;
- disasterloanassistance.sba.gov
- disaster.gov.
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