Quick And Easy Ways To Help With Hurricane Ian Relief

Now that Hurricane Ian has gone through Florida the clean up begins. There is also a lot of people that need help. Here are some quick and easy ways to help with Hurricane Ian Relief.

Governor Ron DeSantis  is looking for volunteers to assist people recovering from the hurricane. You can sign up through Volunteer Florida. Here are some places that have availabilities for volunteer opportunities.

Our company Beasley Media Group is proud to support the Red Cross. You can text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Another way to help with Hurricane Ian relief is donating to Volunteer Florida Disaster Relief Fund Here. Another way to donate is to text DISASTER to 20222

President Biden approved Governor Ron DeSantis’ request for an emergency declaration. FEMA has put out what their response will be after Hurricane Ian.

FEMA has 3.7 million meals and 3.5 million liters of water staged in Alabama. Florida officials prepared 360 trailers with more than two million meals and more than one million gallons of water for distribution to affected areas. The U.S. Coast Guard staged 17 helicopters, 14 fixed wing aircraft and 18 small boats for immediate search & rescue response with an additional 15 aircraft and 20 small boats on standby. There are several hundred generators and pumps, in addition to debris removal equipment, have been staged for response and recovery efforts.

“We have five FEMA teams that are stationed here to create a total complement of 600 boots on the ground, trauma surgeons, engineers and also K9 units in addition to shallow water boat vehicles. These groups will enter into those neighborhoods of the affected devastated areas, ” Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis told reporters on Wednesday in Lake City.

As any major storm passes through Tampa Bay or Florida, it's important to remember safe ways to recover from a hurricane. After the worst is over, it still may be advised to stay in shelter as you are unaware of road conditions. If you have evacuated your home, it is best to stay in your shelter as you may not be able to access or have power at your house.

You've made it through the wind and the rain. Notoriously, there's debris and streets are flooded. You're initial instincts are probably to go outside to take a look at the damage, but that is when most injuries, and unfortunately, deaths take place. From fallen powerline and generator injuries, to car accidents from flooded streets, these are just a few reasons why after a storm is just as dangerous.

Storm surge happens when hurricanes start to churn along the coast. The NOAA explains that storm surge is produced by water being pushed toward the shore by the force of the winds moving cyclonically.

Storm surge can be one of the most dangerous aspects of the a hurricane. In the past, large death tolls have resulted from the rise of the ocean associated with many of the major hurricanes. Just last year, Fort Myers Beach saw at least 13.8 feet of storm surge after Hurricane Ian.

With the help of the CDC website, we made a list of important safety tips to recover from a hurricane.

If you've evacuated before the storm, it's advised by the National Weather Service to come back to inspect your home only when officials say it is safe. If you stayed in place, be sure to wear protective gear (gloves, waterproof boots, hard hats/helmets).

If your power is out, use flashlights instead of candles.

Stay inside for as long as you can and only drive if necessary. Sometimes flooding of streets can be misleading and it's easy for your car to flood. If you must go out, watch for fallen objects in the road, downed electrical wires, and weakened walls, bridges, roads, and sidewalks that might collapse.

Be sure to report any loses or damage as soon as possible. It's always a good idea to take photos of any damage as you see it. As soon as it's available, have your home inspected by a licensed contractor.

Start the process by airing out your home and throwing out any wet items that won’t dry quickly, like mattresses, couches and books. If mold has already started to grow, clean it up with a mixture of bleach and water.

According to the National Weather Service, carbon monoxide poisoning is one of the leading causes of death after storms in areas dealing with power outages. Review these quick powering and operating your generator safety tips from ABC Action News.

It's a question on a lot of people's minds after a hurricane, "can I flush my toilet?" Well the answer is it depends on the condition of your environment. According to WFLA, sewer systems can become filled and rainwater floods into the streets, so flushing should be avoided.

Keep you fridge closed for as long as possible. It's advised from the FDA to not eat food from your refrigerator if its temperature has risen above 40° F for two hours or longer.

If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food or packaging still contains ice crystals or is 40 °F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.

Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was not out for more than four hours and the refrigerator door was kept shut. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for two hours or more.

If you are in need, you can go to feedingtampabay.org to find a pantry or distribution site near you.

Unfortunately, during and after a storm, scammers try to take advantage of those most vulnerable. According to The Tampa Bay Times, even some Tampa residents have reported a "bad con" that's been played before. Bad actors purporting to be the electric utility emailing and texting customers and telling them if they don’t pay their bill right now. their power will be cut off. Links to make payments are often included.

Tampa Electric Co. spokesperson Cherie Jacobs stated "these emails and phone calls are not from us, these are scammers trying to get your money."

If you have concerns with your account during the storm, go to tecoaccount.com, or your electricity providers website.

Emotions often run high after a disaster, so physical tasks can tire you out more quickly than usual. Be careful not to over-exert yourself. Also remember that emotional healing takes time - if you have lost something or someone, counseling could be a good option for you and/or your family.