How to help the communities affected by Hurricane Dorian

Hurricane Dorian is currently wreaking havoc on Grand Bahama Island and is expected to move towards Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia over the coming days.

The storm, which was originally forecast to make landfall along the Atlantic coast of Florida this weekend, edged farther east to slam the Bahamas. Dorian is now a Category 5 hurricane that's gained winds of up to 165 mph, and is reportedly the strongest storm the world has seen in 2019.

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As Dorian continues to pound the Bahamas and the eye of the storm passes overhead, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a statement warning residents that this is a "life-threatening situation" with wind gusts expected to reach 200 mph, destructive waves, and a storm surge of 18 to 23 feet above normal tide levels.

If you're looking to help the communities affected by Hurricane Dorian, here are some actions you can take and charities you can support.

International Medical Corps

At the request of the Florida Department of Health, the International Medical Corps — a global humanitarian nonprofit that focuses on emergency response and relief — is deploying medical teams to the state.

You can donate here to help the organization deliver healthcare and supplies to those impacted by Dorian, and learn more about the International Medical Corps response plan on-site.

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St. Bernard Project

St. Bernard Project (SBP) is a nonprofit, disaster relief organization that helps communities rebuild and recover long-term. The organization is currently taking donations that will help fund protective equipment for volunteers, buy mucking and gutting supplies, and new flooring and mold removal for flooded homes.

Mercy Corps

As a global humanitarian aid organization, Mercy Corps responds quickly when disaster strikes, offering communities care and supplies. The organization currently has a team of responders heading to the Bahamas who aim to help affected islands such as Grand Bahamas and Abaco. You can donate here to fund their efforts and help volunteers mobilize.

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Heart to Heart International

The team at Heart to Heart is tracking Dorian and deployed a disaster response team on Aug. 30, which includes the Mobile Medical Unit, two support vehicles, and four logistics experts. The organization also has a disaster response team member in North Carolina and disaster response medical volunteers stationed in Florida. The team is monitoring the storm's impact on the Bahamas and is currently reaching out to partners to determine how to help there as well. You can support Heart to Heart's Dorian medical aid efforts here.

Americares

Americares is a nonprofit disaster relief organization that focuses on emergency medical care and global healthcare. In wake of Hurricane Dorian, the organization has vowed to match every donation made to families affected by the storm and similar disasters.

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All Hands and Hearts Smart Response

The more than 57,000 volunteers at All Hands and Hearts Smart Response are dedicated to providing natural disaster relief and are closely monitoring Hurricane Dorian. You can sign up as a volunteer to aid in relief first-hand, or donate to the organization's Dorian recovery fund.

Direct Relief

Direct Relief is a humanitarian organization with a presence in more than 80 countries. Its team has emergency medical caches stationed in Florida, the Carolinas, and along the Gulf Coast, and are ready to provide first-aid supplies to those in need.

"Through formal agreements with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, the Pan American Health Organization, and dozens of NGO and government entities, including in the Bahamas, Direct Relief is able to deploy emergency resources rapidly," according to Direct Relief's website.

You can learn more about the organizations efforts on-site and donate to Dorian relief efforts here.

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Good 360

Good 360, a Virginia-based charity organization, has been monitoring the storm and is looking to assist nonprofits in need of product donations. Good 360 is currently taking donations from both corporations and individuals, and is requesting water, personal care items, portable chargers, diapers, tarps, pillows, sheets, and blankets to help those impacted by Dorian.

The following organizations are also working on Hurricane Dorian relief efforts:

• Save the Children

• Water Mission

• The Salvation Army

You can also use Charity Navigator to stay up-to-date as more trusted organizations offer their support, get advisories and new information about Hurricane Dorian from the National Hurricane Center, and use 211.org to easily access online resources, tips, and support. Please stay safe. 

UPDATE: Sept. 3, 2019, 12:21 p.m. EDT Updated to include additional organizations.