Hurricane Michael Relief Information

With your support, we delivered relief for residents recovering from Hurricane Michael's impact With your support, we delivered relief for residents recovering from Hurricane Michael's impact

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We Continue to Deliver Vital Aid in the Wake of Michael’s Devastation

Read the Hurricane Michael One-Year Update >>

One year ago, Hurricane Michael devastated parts of the Florida Panhandle, sweeping away homes and businesses in coastal towns like Mexico Beach and Panama City. The storm’s power stunned many lifelong Floridians as it ripped through communities with 150 mph winds and a 14-foot storm surge, leaving piles of rubble behind. As the storm moved inland, the destruction continued through areas of Alabama and Georgia, damaging homes and leaving many without power.

As Michael receded, residents faced the task of assessing damage and beginning the road to recovery. For many, the storm’s high winds left massive debris that took weeks to clear. Through it all, Red Cross volunteers remained, providing continued comfort, food and water, cleanup supplies—and much more to help ease the challenges created by this ferocious storm.

You Make Our Work Possible

One year later, we have:

Provided over 8,400 damaged or destroyed households with recovery financial assistance totaling $12.4 million

Provided over 48,900 overnight stays in Red Cross and community shelters

Distributed over 269,200 relief items like diapers and comfort kits that contain deodorant, toothbrushes, and toothpaste

A person with their arm around another person icon

Provided more than 42,400 individual care contacts to support and care for those affected

Served over 2 million meals and snacks with our partners

Your Donations Helped People in Critical Need

Thanks to your support, the people affected by Hurricane Michael had access to food, shelter, supplies and recovery support when they needed it most.

Mary Bernhardt shares how Hurricane Michael impacted her family’s home and neighborhood.

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July 16, 2019. Panama City, Florida

Mary Bernhardt shares how Hurricane Michael impacted her family’s home and neighborhood. The Berhnardts received Red Cross financial assistance to help repair damages after the storm.

_{Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross}

Lettie Craig talking to a Red Cross volunteer in her home.

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July 17, 2019. Panama City, Florida

Lettie Craig, who lives alone, received financial support to repair her home after Hurricane Michael.

_{Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross}

Hurricane Michael damage at a beach-side community in Mexico Beach, Florida.

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October 13, 2018, Mexico Beach, Florida.

Hurricane Michael inflicted a monstrous amount of damage to this beach-side community as it slammed into the the Florida Panhandle with almost 150 mile per hour winds. Boats were tumbled every-which way on the shore along harbor areas and even well inland. Homes were blown completely off foundations and tossed many yards away, and in many cases homes were reduced to construction rubble.
_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

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October 13, 2018, Mexico Beach, Florida.

Almost every building suffered severe damage. The damage was so extensive the curiosity was the very few homes or businesses that did not have observable severe damage instead of the norm of devastation.

_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

A Red Cross volunteer passing a baby back to its mother at a shelter in Panama City, Florida.

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October 13, 2018. Bozeman High School Red Cross operated shelter. Panama City, Florida

Danielle’s daughter Harper turned six months old the day Hurricane Michael made landfall. Her family evacuated on October 9, 2018 and has not returned home yet to assess the damage. This is the third hurricane her family has experienced in three years: first in Jacksonville in 2016 and again in Georgia in 2017. “This is way worse” says Danielle. “But it’s a lot easier now that we have somewhere to sleep.” As Red Cross shelter workers bring more jars of baby food to her family’s gathering of cots, she turned to her 3-year old Daughter Makinzy and said “I hope your school’s ok.”
_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Kaila and her 1 year old Corah at a Red Cross shelter.

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October 13, 2018. Bozeman High School Red Cross operated shelter. Panama City, Florida

In the days following Hurricane Michael, Red Cross shelter resident Kaila hasn’t returned home. “I know it’s gone. I don’t even need to look.” Kaila and her children, including 1-year-old Corah, are still waiting to hear from other members of her family who were out of town when the hurricane made landfall. She has relied on the comfort provided by Red Cross workers and other residents while she awaits more news. “These people have helped me so much. Made me feel comfortable.”

_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Local resident Ollie Lasenberry, comfortably ensconced on her cot in the corner of the shelter.

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October 13, 2018, Red Cross Shelter, Bozeman High School, Panama City, Florida.

Local resident Ollie Lasenberry, comfortably ensconced on her cot in the corner of the shelter, shares her experience with shelter living with American Red Cross volunteer Bob Wallace. Ollie, along with a number of her neighbors who were residing in adjacent areas, came to the shelter on the Monday before the storm ravaged the Florida Panhandle the following Wednesday. “It’s very nice here. The Red Cross got us cots and gives us food. It’s not the greatest food,” said 86-year-old Ollie. “But it’s food and serves what we need.”

_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

American Red Cross workers Terri Mehling and Mark Edwards load a Red Cross feeding vehicle with hot foods.

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October 16, Panama City, Florida.

American Red Cross workers Terri Mehling and Mark Edwards load a Red Cross feeding vehicle with hot foods to allow city residents who are without electrical power and water to have a hot meal. The food was prepared in mobile kitchens set up by Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. The red Cambro being loaded will keep the food at a safe, hot temperature for many hours.

_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Five-year-old Alejah enjoys her meal while living in the shelter.

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October 16, 2018, Breakfast Point Red Cross Shelter, Panama City Beach, Florida.

Five-year-old Alejah enjoys her meal while living in the shelter. Alejah, along with her family, found refuge in the Red Cross shelter after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Michael.
_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Malaisha and her two-year-old daughter Dellakate were delighted to receive hot meals from American Red Cross feeding vehicle.

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October 16, Panama City, Florida.

Malaisha and her two-year-old daughter Dellakate were delighted to receive hot meals from American Red Cross feeding vehicle. Malaisha and Dellakate walked out to meet the Red Cross vehicle as it circulated through their neighborhood that was heavily damaged by Hurricane Michael.
_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Red Cross worker Chuck Parker plugged in Donna's oxygen concentrator at a shelter.

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October 16, 2018. Breakfast Point Academy Red Cross operated shelter. Panama City Beach, Florida

Donna, who has undergone several surgeries that require her to breathe through an oxygen concentrator, was staying at a shelter at Rutherford High School when the generator at that location failed. As transportation was being arranged to move residents to the newly opened Red Cross Shelter at Breakfast Point Academy, the battery on her oxygen concentrator ran out of power.

Red Cross worker Chuck Parker was notified of the situation. He had a truck with a 110-volt socket and didn’t hesitate to rush Donna inside, plug in her oxygen concentrator, and turn on the air conditioning.

“He saved my life.”

_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Kristen, age 11, and her dog Sadie Lady have been at each-other’s side in the days following Hurricane Michael.

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October 17, 2018. Tallahassee, Florida.

Kristen, age 11, and her dog Sadie Lady have been at each-other’s side in the days following Hurricane Michael. They have been staying at the Red Cross shelter at Port St. Joe Elementary.
_{Photo by Daniel Cima/American Red Cross}

Your Gift Supported Relief and Recovery for Michael Survivors

“When I received the (Red Cross) money through my debit card, I just sat down and cried. I was so thankful.”

Lettie Craig

The Red Cross has raised $36.7 million, including the value of critical donated goods and services, to help Hurricane Michael survivors in Florida, Alabama and Georgia. As of September 30, 2019, the Red Cross had already programmed approximately $35 million on emergency relief and recovery efforts for people affected by Hurricane Michael.

Hurricane Michael Expenses and Commitments

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After the Storm: Our Ongoing Support

When the emergency phase of our response ended, we turned our focus to planning and delivering programs that will help people recover.

One year after Hurricane Michael rocked communities in Florida, Alabama and Georgia, the Red Cross continues to provide support for hurricane survivors. This is a team effort: We collaborate with government agencies and nonprofit organizations, as well as businesses and faith-based organizations to help residents access the critical services and resources they need to rebuild their lives.

We also provided additional financial assistance— totaling approximately $8.5 million—to thousands of households that needed extra help. This recovery assistance, geared toward more complex concerns like home repairs, allowed residents to prioritize their own needs, from helping with the purchase of a new roof or specialized medical equipment to paying for transportation and lodging costs.

Grants for Community-Based Recovery Services

Along with financial assistance for severely affected residents, the Red Cross is also supporting community-based recovery efforts in North and South Carolina through strategic grants to nonprofit organizations with a strong track record of providing vital services. With more than $4 million awarded so far, grant recipients are providing a wide range of support in impacted communities across both states.

Hurricane Michael Financial Grants

Grantee	Total Disbursement Amount	Counties Served	Website	Synopsis
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc, Mental Health	$100,000	FL: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla, Washington, Leon	https://ccnwfl.org/	Provide counseling services by professional mental health providers to all Hurricane Michael disaster survivors in the federally declared counties who were adversely affected by Hurricane Michael.
Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc. - Rebuild	$327,688	FL: Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Taylor, Wakulla, Washington, Leon	https://ccnwfl.org/	Provide disaster case management, construction management and funding for home repairs to the most vulnerable populations.
Habitat for Humanity of Bay County	$250,000	FL: Bay	https://habitatbay.org/	Habitat for Humanity of Bay County will complete 18 critical home repairs, many of them full roof replacements, and two new Habitat Strong homes for low-to-moderate income Hurricane Michael survivors and their families this year.
Mennonite Disaster Services	$250,000	FL: Bay, Calhoun, Jackson	https://mds.mennonite.net/current-projects/	Purchase building materials to support a target of 8 new homes and perform more than 30 repairs in Jackson and Calhoun Counties and in Bay County, volunteers aim to build 15 new homes and perform more than 50 repairs.
North Florida Inland Long Term Recovery (LTRG)	$50,000	FL: Calhoun, Jackson	https://www.northfloridarecovery.org/	LTRG capacity building supporting salary and compensation for an executive director as well as community outreach and targeted marketing to reach more individuals needing recovery assistance and generate additional funding for recovery needs within Jackson and Calhoun Counties.
Rebuild Bay County (LTRG) (FA - United Way of NW FL)	$50,000	FL: Bay	https://rebuildbaycounty.org/	This grant facilitates building the long term recovery group’s capacity to provide assistance and resources in Bay County recovery efforts. RBCI seeks to do this through three support elements by 1) facilitating materials distribution for rebuilding or major repair of housing; 2) volunteer management and support for incoming groups and individuals to be matched with other non-profit or faith-based organizations; and 3) recovery management and planning through outreach and marketing to provide timely recovery information and resources to other organizations and households.
*All Hands & Hearts - Smart Response	$187,500	FL: Jackson	https://www.allhandsandhearts.org/	Offering weatherization and repair project that will help the most vulnerable clients (live below poverty guidelines, disabled, 65 or older and/or have youth in home under age of 10.)
*Inspiritus, Inc. (Georgia grant)	$145,337	GA: Grady, Baker, Dougherty, Early, Miller Randolph, Seminole, Terrell	https://weinspirit.org/	This grant includes outreach to help underserved and vulnerable households get connected to social services they need, construction management of major housing repairs, volunteer management, and recovery management and planning.
Citizens of Gulf County Recovery Team (LTRG) (FA - United Way of NW FL)	$14,812	FL: Gulf	https://www.recovergulf.org/	These funds will help cover our office supply overhead for the remainder of the year and also support our work with volunteers who play a critical role in the recovery process. The funds earmarked for grant training and services will enable us to grow our base of funding for future projects to help us continue to work with Gulf County's vulnerable population as they repair and rebuild from Hurricane Michael's destruction.
DSC Society of St. Vincent de Paul	$200,000	FL: Washington, Holmes, Jackson, Calhoun, Gulf, Liberty, Franklin, Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, Taylor	NA	DSC SVDP will be serving an anticipated 235 individuals recovering from Hurricane Michael in 11 declared counties through their House in a Box program. This is a unique program which replaces furniture lost in disasters with new furniture.
*Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (Camp Noah) FLA	$93,167	FL: Bay, Gulf, Jackson	https://www.lssmn.org/campnoah/	Camp Noah will partner with the Florida-Bahamas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to serve elementary aged children and equip them with resiliency and preparedness skills through 3 community day camps serving 125 children. Camp Noah will create a safe space for children to process their experiences and gain necessary skills to aid in their recovery from this trauma and other traumas they might experience in the future.
SBP - St. Bernard Project FLA	$250,000	FL: Bay	https://sbpusa.org/	This grant supports SBP’s continued efforts to serve low-to-moderate income Hurricane Michael-impacted families in Bay County through an already-established home rebuilding program, repairing/rebuilding at least 10 homes through Red Cross funding and a 1:1 matching grant with Volunteer Florida.

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