LBarely two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated large parts of the southeastern United States, Hurricane Milton hit the state of Florida. Communities and emergency responders in the region are grappling with the rapid succession of disasters, a phenomenon that is only likely to become more common due to global warming.

“It’s not just about one natural disaster, but about a series of natural disasters,” says Dr. Tia Dole, Chief 988 Lifeline Officer of Vibrant Emotional Health. Dole says survivors and their families feel despair, shock, grief and sadness – but also helplessness because their suffering has been politicized.

As the region begins to recover and rebuild, many want to help those affected in any way they can. We spoke to experts about how we can most effectively support individuals and communities impacted by these recent storms.

Check in

“Social support is a critical resource for people coping with natural disasters,” says Dr. Priscilla Dass-Brailsford, professor and trauma psychologist at Georgetown University.

There is no way to provide emotional support. Everyone has different preferences – some like to talk on the phone, others don’t. Dole recommends sending your loved ones a message letting them know you’re thinking about them, but not asking them for anything in return.

“I’m a big fan of saying, ‘Hey, I’m thinking about you.’ You don’t have to answer, but I’m thinking of you,” she says.

And don’t check in right after a storm. In the immediate aftermath, survivors often focus on basic physical needs such as safety, food and shelter. They may not be able to talk about the effects of a storm until later.

Over time, survivors will continue to process and attempt to rebuild their lives. Dole suggests reaching out two weeks after an event and “not setting a timeline for the support you would like to offer.”

Hear

If someone affected by a disaster wants to talk about their experience, experts say it’s important to listen without making the conversation about themselves.

“People tend to use tragedies as an opportunity to talk about their own past experiences,” says Dole. Instead, ask questions like: “Would you like to talk about what that was like?”

And whatever you do, don’t say things like, “Well, it could be worse.” Even if this seems like a way to help someone look on the bright side or keep things in perspective, says Dole only harms people by minimizing their experiences. “I can’t think of anything that makes people (more) angry,” she says.

Remember that people may need to talk about trauma multiple times to process it.

“It helps to be available, to listen carefully, and to have the patience to continue hearing stories about survivors while providing comfort and care,” says Dass-Brailsford.

Be careful about what you share online

Sharing information after a natural disaster can be helpful. However, it is important to ensure that information is accurate and that stories and images do not further traumatize those affected by the storm or similar events.

“Viewers may find it difficult to shake the images of death and destruction and it can be deeply disturbing, particularly for individuals who have been survivors of similar disasters in the past,” says Dass-Brailsford.

donate money

What people and communities need most after a storm is money, says Dr. Tim Frazier, professor and faculty director of the Emergency and Disaster Management Program at Georgetown University.

“From my perspective, the best way to help is to provide economic resources to the community,” Frazier said.

Because every community’s needs are different, Frazier recommends donating to local charities or relief organizations that are local and familiar with the needs of each area. He also suggests donating to large groups with lots of resources, such as the Red Cross. “They are masters at going out there and sheltering and feeding displaced people,” he says. “And they will be there as long as it takes.”

donate blood

Blood drives in the Southeast have been canceled due to Hurricane Helene, says Stephanie Fox, media relations director for the American Red Cross. This resulted in “thousands of blood donations going unclaimed,” and Hurricane Milton will likely reduce the regional blood supply even further.

“People outside the affected areas are encouraged to make a blood donation appointment now,” Fox said.

Volunteer through official channels

After a natural disaster, many well-intentioned people decide to take matters into their own hands, travel to the affected area and help. Frazier calls this “spontaneous volunteerism” and says it is “more problematic than helpful.”

Too many spontaneous volunteers in an area can make relief efforts dangerous and inefficient. They can also consume much-needed resources. For example, Frazier says, if a group of 30 people come to help and they take up 30 hotel rooms in an area, that’s 30 hotel rooms that can’t be used by people in the community or trained responders.

However, there is always a lack of people in the relief efforts, says Frazier. “If you are trying to volunteer in communities that are in crisis, please do so through official channels,” he says. These include large organizations such as the Red Cross and United Way or smaller but well-connected local organizations such as church groups or local aid groups.