With Hurricane Florence set to hit the coast of South Carolina in the next 24-48 hours, Catholic Charities of South Carolina is preparing to help people affected by the storm.
Kelly Kaminski, director of disaster services for Catholic Charities, said the agency activated its Emergency Operations Center and disaster services team on Monday (Sept. 10) and moved all disaster response operations to its Greenville offices. The agency is coordinating with county emergency management teams, FEMA and Catholic Charities USA to assist people once the storm has passed.
Kaminski said the agency is working with local partners to have mass goods of water, cleaning supplies, baby items and other needed supplies readily available in areas along the coast that will take a hit from Florence. Pallets of water, clean-up kits and emergency food were en route to South Carolina effective Wednesday (Sept. 12).
Catholic Charities is a member of the South Carolina Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster. Through this group, they coordinate efforts with other relief groups such as the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, the Southern Baptist Convention, the United Methodist Church and local disaster response agencies. The agency also works with county and state emergency management to make sure it is providing the most needed services in each location, and not duplicating programs already in place.
Kaminski said that currently money is the best thing to donate to help Catholic Charities’ outreach to storm victims. Those who want to donate can visit www.charitiessc.org/donate or text “Disaster” to 555888.
Those who want to donate supplies should check with their local Catholic Charities office to see if they are open and where donations should be dropped off. Catholic Charities of South Carolina is asking for donations of the following to help storm victims: gift cards to stores such as Wal-mart, Target, Lowe’s and Home Depot; cases of water, traps, baby items, adult diapers, non-perishable food items, trash bags, sunscreen, bug spray and cleaning supplies.
Read more about Catholic Charities’ hurricane response plan and how you can help in the flyers below.
Hurricane Florence response: Things to know
Hurricane Florence donations: How to help
Huracán Florence Donaciones: Como ayudar
NOAA photo: Florence Strengthens to a Category 4 Hurricane on Sept. 10.
