ATLANTA — Calling it the largest storm to ever hit Florida’s Big Bend region, the American Red Cross is urging Americans to rush donations to their organization as recovery efforts in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia are underway.

The storm’s path carried it through south Georgia in the area around Valdosta before going further to the Atlanta metro area and into Tennessee and the Carolinas.

According to the Red Cross, they’ve already opened shelters for thousands of Americans in need due to impacts of the storm, which first made landfall as a Category 4 Hurricane on Friday morning.

“We urgently need your help to support the families and communities impacted by this devastating storm,” Red Cross said in their donation plea.

The nonprofit outlined what different donation amounts can help provide:

• $50 provides a full day of food and shelter for one person at a Red Cross emergency shelter, including three meals, blankets and bedding
• $150 provides a crib for an infant
• $360 deploys an emergency response vehicle for a day to help deliver meals, snacks and other relief supplies

“The coming days will be the most difficult of many families’ lives. Even when this disaster subsides and it’s safe to return home, many will have no home to return to, and their communities may be forever changed,” the Red Cross said, adding that rushing a donation now will “help us reach families devastated by Hurricane Helene with critical relief like warm meals, clean water and shelter in the challenging days ahead.”

Click here to rush a donation to the Red Cross.

The Humane Society’s Animal Rescue Team will be on the ground distributing resources and veterinary care, as well as search and rescue efforts in the areas impacted by the storm.

They are asking for donations to their Emergency Animal Relief Fund.

A donation to the Humane Society’s Emergency Animal Relief Fund goes towards:

• Rescuing, caring for and providing temporary shelter to animals in need.
• Renting and outfitting temporary animal-sheltering facilities.
• Purchasing, renting and outfitting rescue vehicles, including trucks and boats.
• Providing long-term care for rescued animals and transporting them to placement partners.
• Helping lost and displaced animals reunite with their families.
• Hiring emergency response staff and training staff and volunteer responders.
• Helping shelters and other animal protection facilities impacted by disasters and other emergencies.
• Educating the public about the importance of taking pets with them during disaster evacuations and planning for those evacuations.
• Assisting private humane organizations and federal, state and local officials in preparing for and responding to disasters and other emergencies that affect companion animals, farm animals and wildlife.
• Increasing the infrastructure and capacity of the HSUS’s emergency response efforts through fundraising, education and awareness raising.

Click here to donate to the Humane Society’s Emergency Animal Relief Fund.