Hurricane Milton: How to get help and give help in Tampa Bay
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A message on boards put up over windows in Tampa ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall. Photo: Bryan R. Smith/Getty Images
First Helene, now Milton: Tampa Bay has had a rough couple of weeks.
- Many of us — or our friends and neighbors — need help right now and a long recovery awaits.
State of play: Governments, organizations and everyday folks are again working to get relief to storm survivors, while federal emergency officials and local nonprofits are setting up for longer-term aid.
- And for those who want to help, some local and state groups are collecting donations and assembling volunteers.
Here are some ways to help and get help. Please send resources or opportunities not listed here to [email protected].
Give help
Donate cleaning supplies and safety gear at these locations of home-building nonprofit Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside:
- Pinellas Administrative Headquarters : 14010 Roosevelt Blvd., Suite 704, Clearwater
- Pasco County office: 7237 Little Road, New Port Richey
- Hernando County office/Hernando County Chamber of Commerce: 15588 Aviation Loop Drive, Brooksville
In Pinellas County, officials asked to donate supplies by coordinating with the Emergency Operations Center by calling 727-464-4333.
In Miami, various organizations are collecting goods to send north.
- Club Space is partnering with Global Empowerment Mission to collect essential goods for impacted families.
- City of Miami Gardens is hosting a drop-off relief event at Norwood Park Friday-Sunday, 1pm-5pm. Residents are encouraged to bring non-perishable items.
Statewide, the Smile Trust, a nonprofit organization, is setting up relief hubs to provide resources and collect donations.
Register for volunteer opportunities through the following organizations:
- Volunteer Florida
- Feeding Tampa Bay Emergency Response Volunteer Team
- Operation BBQ Relief
Donate money to these local and state organizations:
- Rebuilding Together Disaster & Readiness Recovery: Money goes toward Rebuilding Together Tampa Bay, which provides home rehabilitation assistance to low- and mid-income families.
- Florida Disaster Fund: The state of Florida's official private fund that distributes money to service organizations and individuals
- 211 Tampa Bay Cares: Connects people to housing, food, mental health resources and more
- Feeding Tampa Bay: Distributes groceries and operates standalone market and cafe
- Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside: Builds homes for low-income families
- Metropolitan Ministries: Provides disaster relief, meals, housing, education and more
- Tampa Bay Resiliency Fund: A fund run by a coalition of nonprofits that provides disaster relief to residents
- Tampa Bay Rapid Response Fund: A fund run by the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to address emergency situations.
- United Way Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund: Goes toward United Way's disaster response, including volunteer and nonprofit coordination
- Global Giving Hurricane Milton Relief Fund: The nonprofits fund will go toward immediate aid, such as food, water and medical supplies, then support long-term recovery efforts.
- Save the Children Children Emergency Fund: Works with local organizations to provide child-focused supplies to families, including diapers and baby wipes.
- Team Rubicon: The veteran-led nonprofit organizes volunteers to assist with clean up.
Get help
FEMA aid will likely soon be made available for Milton victims.
- Once it is, apply online here, by phone at 1-800-621-3362 or via the FEMA app.
- FEMA can't help with damage covered by your insurance, so file a claim with your insurer first.
Mental health support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 211 or the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990.
- For Pasco residents, the BayCare Mobile Crisis Response Team is available at 727-372-4357.
Free groceries are available at Feeding Tampa Bay's food distribution events.
- Check its event calendar, which features events in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk and Manatee.
Free food at Bandit Coffee Co. in St. Pete.
- The local shop organized a community cookout on Friday, offering free food and encouraging residents to bring perishables to be cooked.
Free temporary housing is available for residents displaced by the storms through Airbnb.
- Request assistance by contacting your local 211 contact center.
Tampa Bay Mutual Aid is open to distribute supplies, offer wellness services and share resources.
Small business owners can apply for an emergency loan of up to $50,000 through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program.
- Apply here.
Wifi hotspots are available through Spectrum across the Tampa Bay region. Look for the "SpectrumWiFi" network. Here's a map of hotspot locations.
- Walmart, Publix and other stores also often have WiFi.
A legal aid hotline is available for hurricane survivors who cannot pay for an attorney, per the Tampa Bay Times. The number is (866) 550-2929.
Follow local governments on social media for the latest disaster response updates.