Crisis Centers

Following an emergency or natural disaster such as a hurricane, charitable organizations like The American Red Cross and The Salvation army will set up crisis centers to provide assistance to victims. These groups are dedicated to helping people who have lost homes or other property, been injured or suffered in other ways so that they can recover and return to a normal lifestyle. To do this, they offer a variety of services:

Shelter

Hurricanes can wreak havoc on large areas and destroy the homes of hundreds of families. When this happens, shelters must be set up as temporary housing structures. These locations provide beds, showers and restroom facilities until the occupants are able to make other arrangements.

Food

After any disaster, many charitable organizations will host food drives across the nation. Depending on the severity of a hurricane, massive amounts of canned good and other food items will be collected to feed the hungry.

Clothing

Victims of a hurricane will commonly have to evacuate their homes with very little notice. They will likely not have time to pack many personal belongings, and may only have the clothing they are wearing at the time. A crisis center will collect useable clothing in all sizes to give to those in need.

Medical care

Small injuries are common following every hurricane, so it is essential for a crisis center to have basic medical supplies on hand, as well as people who are able to attend to the injured. A major disaster will warrant a national blood drive that is dedicated to helping those who have been seriously injured and require medical attention at hospitals.

Mental health

People who lose their homes, property and friends and family to a hurricane will often require counseling and help to deal with the shock of what they have suffered through. At a crisis center they will find people who care, are there to help and ready to listen.

Information

Any disaster situation will provoke ongoing questions and uncertainties. Victims will want to know what is going on with their homes, communities and friends, and relatives from other cities and states will try to find out how their family members are doing. The staff at a crisis center will work hard to provide information as it becomes available, and connect people with their displaced family members.

The charitable organizations that provide relief and set up crisis centers rely on contributions from the public to continue offering assistance following a disaster situation. People who would like to help with a donation of time, money or goods should contact a local office to ask what they can do.

Orlando, Florida 20 North Orange Avenue Suite 1600 Orlando, Florida 32801 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Tampa, Florida One Tampa City Center 201 N. Franklin Street, 7th Floor Tampa, Florida 33602 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Jacksonville, Florida 76 S. Laura Street Suite 1100 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Fort Myers, Florida 12800 University Drive Suite 600 Fort Myers, Florida 33907 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Davie, Florida 7450 Griffin Road Suite 230 Davie, Florida 33314 Telephone: (800) 896-2709
St. Petersburg, Florida 695 Central Avenue, Suite 150J St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Atlanta, Georgia 191 Peachtree Street NE Suite 4200 Atlanta, GA 30303 Telephone: (800) 896-2709	Jackson, Mississippi 188 East Capitol St Jackson, Mississippi 39201 Telephone: (800) 896-2709

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