Donate to Hurricane Isaias Survivors
You can send funds directly to families impacted by the devastating hurricane
On October 9, Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Florida as a Category 2 storm, with gusts up to 114 mph. Thousands of families were forced to evacuate as the storm destroyed homes, tore roofs off apartment buildings and left hundreds of thousands without power. The federal government has issued emergency declarations for Florida and Alabama.
We are delivering $1,200 each to the poorest families in the hardest-hit areas. This emergency cash will help them cover essential costs for two weeks, such as:
- 🍛 Essentials like food, water, and medicine
- 🏨 Shelter and temporary housing while displaced from damaged homes
- 💳 Bills for phone, utilities, and healthcare for those with injuries
Your donations will reach those in greatest need quickly and remotely.
We are targeting communities in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, selected based on the severity of the storm damage and poverty rates, which exceed 30% in some areas.
The federal emergency declarations currently support response efforts like debris removal and emergency services, but don’t provide individual assistance to households. Your donation fills that gap by reaching storm-affected families quickly with cash they can use for what they need most.
Families apply online, and approved recipients get their cash within days by bank transfer or on a prepaid physical or virtual card. Receiving money — without strings attached — supports families’ short-term survival and long-term recovery.
GiveDirectly has previously sent emergency cash to survivors of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the LA wildfires and many other disasters.
This cash will help families meet their own urgent needs and rebuild their lives.
Cash allows survivors to meet their own needs rather than having others guess for them — which is why people impacted by a crisis say they prefer cash relief over donated goods. Cash also empowers families to restore their livelihoods without resorting to negative coping strategies such as debt or selling assets.
Achieving our current fundraising goal will enable us to reach hundreds of families in greatest need. We have the capacity to deliver much more — help provide urgent relief and reach thousands of additional people impacted by Hurricane Isaias.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to receive money?
We’re reaching families in the hardest-hit areas of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. To qualify, applicants must:
- Be 18 or older
- Have been impacted by Hurricane Isaias and live in an eligible area (see the application for details)
- Earn at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (for example, $54,640 a year for a household of three)
If you were affected, you can apply here: emergencyrelief.aidkit.org/apply?ref=hurricaneisaias
How much will each family receive?
We’re delivering a one-time payment of $1,200 to each eligible household. That amount is based on the cost of essentials in the affected areas such as groceries, rent, utilities, childcare and transportation for ~2 weeks.
When will families receive my donation?
We opened applications in less than 24 hours after Hurricane Isaias made landfall. The first payments are expected to reach families this week, less than five days of the storm. After that, each approved household will receive cash within days of being approved.
What if we raise more or less than the fundraising goal?
Any excess funds will help us deliver cash to more impacted families. If for any reason we are unable to deliver all funds to flood survivors, donations will be delivered to survivors of the next emergency.
How can I help Hurricane Isaias survivors?
One of the fastest ways to help is to donate cash directly. GiveDirectly delivers your donation to families living in poverty and affected by Hurricane Isaias. They can use the funds to pay for food, shelter, and medical needs immediately with no need to ship donated goods.
What is GiveDirectly?
We’re a charity that lets you send money directly to the world’s poorest, no strings attached. In the last decade, we’ve delivered cash to over 2 million people across 15 countries, and we research the impacts it can have for families in need.
The nonprofit GiveDirectly has delivered cash after major disasters before, including in the United States, Venezuela, Jamaica, and the Philippines.
Is my donation to Hurricane Isaias relief tax-deductible?
Yes, donations are tax-deductible in the United States. We accept all major credit and debit cards, PayPal, checks, wires, stocks, cryptocurrencies, DAF (donor-advised fund), and more.
If you’re giving outside the U.S., you can still give to this campaign, but your gift may not be tax-deductible. Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org with any questions or for more information on ways to give.
What if I’d like to make a major gift?
We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to us at info@givedirectly.org.