Hurricane Helene

Active

2024

North America

Disaster Response. Step One. Get There.

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Every little bit helps Airlink mobilize urgently needed responders!

Our Impact

NGO partners supported

Responders sent

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#Airlinked Partners in Action

Operation BBQ at Hurricane Helene cleanup

Situation Overview

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on September 26, 2024, marking the most powerful hurricane ever recorded to strike the Big Bend region. It has stretched more than 500 miles and as it moved northward into Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, it placed more than 60 million people across 12 states under storm watches and warnings. A storm surge warning covered nearly the entire west coast of Florida, where surging waters—described as “unsurvivable”—reached heights of up to 20 feet in some areas. The storm unleashed widespread devastation, leading to catastrophic flooding. Severe winds have knocked out power for nearly half a million residents, compounding the challenges faced by emergency responders. Tragically, more than 200 lives have been lost across six states due to the storm’s impact.

Humanitarian Needs

As impacted residents pick up the pieces of their homes, many are left without power, running water, or cell reception. The lack of electricity has severely hampered communication infrastructure, while damaged roads and bridges further complicate access for emergency personnel. Helene also hit areas still recovering from Hurricanes Idalia and Debby. Airlink is dedicated to assisting residents affected by damage to their homes, food insecurity, and debris clearance, while also focusing on long-term recovery efforts. Our sponsored relief personnel will provide targeted support, including muck-and-gut services, tree clearing, tarping, cleanup, temporary shelters, and the distribution of non-food items. Airlink is actively assisting partners in prepositioning their responses and coordinating flight logistics. The first group of responders from Inspiritus, CORE, and Minuteman Disaster Response were already prepositioned before the storm’s arrival through the generous contributions of United Airlines and American Airlines. So far, Airlink has gotten responders to Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, and is coordinating upcoming flights to North Carolina as well.

Airlink’s Role: Overcoming Logistical Hurdles For NGOs

Airlink is collaborating with airline and logistics partners to deliver essential airlift and logistical support to responding NGO partners, ensuring that aid reaches the right places promptly. We are facilitating flights for expertly trained personnel including emergency responders, health professionals, logisticians, and additional programmatic staff to arrive on the ground as quickly as possible. Given the busy hurricane season and the overlapping responses required by many nonprofits, it is crucial to cover their transport costs to sustain their vital programs and invaluable work within affected communities.

How You Can Help

Will you help us provide travel for urgently needed humanitarian personnel?

A coordinated response that delivers effective and appropriate aid is crucial. Despite well-intentioned efforts by individuals and companies to arrange private donations and giving drives, many supplies end up being unsuitable for the region, unused, and causing strain and congestion on local communities. As much as 60% of aid is often wasted. This is especially critical for responses involving smaller island communities, where overwhelming local resources can have severe consequences.

What sets Airlink apart is our strategic approach to disaster response. We collaborate with a vetted network of over 200 NGOs to carefully assess each request for aid movement. Our expertise in logistics and our strong partnerships with airlines allow us to transport aid efficiently and effectively, minimizing waste and maximizing impact.

Your donation is vital in ensuring a timely and effective response. Your support not only helps us respond to Hurricane Helene but also prepares us for the entire 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Every contribution makes a difference—please consider donating today to support communities in crisis and help us deliver the right aid to the right place at the right time.