Hurricane Ian: How to Help

Hurricane Ian was one of the most powerful storms to ever hit the United States. Project HOPE has local staff supporting the most vulnerable communities.

Project HOPE an Emergency Response Team (ERT) deployed Florida before Hurricane Ian landed, enableeng us Access to the most affected areas within the first 12 hours. over a week later, the death toll continues climb and hundreds of thousands are still without electricity, clean drinking water and safe travel. Project HOPE is focused on ensuring that the most vulnerable and excluded populations — the old, people with disabilities and preconditionsPeople living in poverty and undocumented people —can access the help and care they need.

Your support saves lives.Help us reach people affected by Hurricane Ian and other crises today.

The crew is To work to provide psychological first aid, medical support and urgently needed supplies in evacuation shelters, emergency shelters and health clinics. To date, we have distributed 76,250 relief supplies and delivered items such as over-the-counter medication, diapers, bedpans, infant items, chronic illness items, hygiene kits, water, perishable groceries and first aid kits in Cape Coral, Estero, Fort Myers, North Port, Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Most clinics remain closed due to power outages and damage, and others are reopening with what little supplies have not been lost. As such, Project HOPE is working to assess needs and provide clinics with medical supplies so they can reopen and meet the needs of their community.

We will continue to work with national and local partners in affected areas to conduct assessments and access communities that still need our support.

Read on to learn more about how you can help.

Supporting vulnerable communities

Project HOPE has a particular focus on vulnerable communities after Hurricane Ian, including the elderly, people with disabilities and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

“We see that the marginalized populations are not receiving adequate support — it’s communities of color, people living in poverty, those who are undocumented or living with disabilities who need it most. Some of the more rural communities are completely cut off. Yes, there are shelters and community centers, but they are not always accessible. [These populations] can’t help if they don’t have a car or can’t afford the gas to drive there. For example, yesterday our teams delivered tarpaulins to a caravan community where people sleep in mobile homes that no longer have a roof. Project HOPE focuses on these vulnerable groups because we know from our experience responding to disasters like this and working in clinics in this region during the pandemic, these are the communities that continue to give long after the news cycle and donations will struggle to get back on our feet.” — Chessa Latifi, Senior Program Officer, Project HOPE

Both Lee County and Charlotte County have populations that tend to be older than the rest of Florida. Charlotte County has a median age of 60 and 40% of residents are over 65 years old. In Lee County, home of Fort Myers, nearly 30% of the population is over 65 years old.

The population of Florida’s southwest coast has grown rapidly in recent decades, increasing sevenfold since 1970, according to the Associated Press. Lee County’s population alone has grown 19% in the last eight years.

Project HOPE’s domestic hurricane responses

Project HOPE’s emergency response teams have spent the past week in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic in response to the emergencyhurricane Fiona,They visit shelters and affected communities to deliver WASH and medical supplies, PPE and disaster hygiene kits, and stay on the ground when needed.

Project HOPE has a long history of responding to natural disasters and has responded to several hurricanes in the US and territories, including hurricanesHarvey,Irma,Maria,laura,IdaandKatrina.