While current projections indicate the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula may avoid the worst of Hurricane Florence, we also know that the region is likely to experience significant rain and high winds. This may lead to additional flooding, downed trees and power lines, and personal property damage. Above all, we encourage all of our partners – individuals and organizations alike – to heed warnings, get prepared and place your personal safety as the highest priority.

State and local officials have declared states of emergency ahead of the storm’s arrival to boost preparedness efforts and to mobilize emergency managers and response teams so they can respond quickly once the impact of the storm is known. On a personal level, you are encouraged to make your own plans to ride out the storm.

• Have water, non-perishable food, and medications (and the same for your pets) stocked and within reach.
• Locate, collect or purchase batteries, flash lights and a first aid kit.
• Keep a full tank of gas in your car.
• Follow news of the latest developments through radio, television or mobile apps as long as possible. Ensure your cell phones are fully charged.
• Locate insurance policies and phones numbers, emergency contacts, utility service providers and any other important contact information that may be needed.

For more details on steps you can take to be ready for Hurricane Florence or a future disaster, please visit www.vaemergency.gov or www.ready.gov.

Many people are compelled to help following a disaster. It is important to ensure that your time and resources are spent in response to actual needs and that they do not hinder response efforts.

1. Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Immediately following a disaster, a community can become easily overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Contacting and affiliating with an established organization will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained and supported to respond in the most effective way.
2. Do not self deploy. Seeing images of disaster may compel you to head to the impacted area. Don’t underestimate the complexity of working in a disaster area. Until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support, volunteers should not enter.

• Be sure to affiliate with existing voluntary organization before coming to the disaster area.
• Wait until it is safe to travel to sites and opportunities have been identified.
  
  3. Be patient. Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster--especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.

Additional information and any local volunteer opportunities will be posted to www.handsonrva.org. HandsOn Greater Richmond is a member of the Virginia Capital Area Region VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Time of Disaster).

How and where to donate:

As with most disasters, there are both immediate and long-term needs in affected communities. National early response and recovery organizations rely on donations to fuel their work and we will share information about what they are doing and how to help.

Similarly, we believe local community foundations are uniquely positioned to understand and identify the specific needs of their service areas, and they partner with trusted nonprofit partners to address and monitor longer-term response efforts over time.

Upon landfall, we will share more detail about efforts to address needs in our area. We will also collect information about response efforts in communities hardest hit by the storm and connect you with their community foundations.

Need more information?

We are here for you. Please call us if you have any questions and visit our website for future updates.