Hurricanes are large, destructive storms that form in warm ocean waters. When they travel to land, they can be damaging to any community in their path. Hurricane season lasts from June to November in the United States. So far, this fall, the United States has been hit by two devastating powerful hurricanes. They are Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. Parts of Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina have been devastated by the storms. While the federal, state, and local governments take action to help people out during these terrible times, so do ordinary citizens. Let’s take a look at how citizens help each other during hurricanes.
Pinnacle Search and Rescue is an organization of citizens that helps people during hurricanes. It started in 2005, when flooding from Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed New Orleans, Louisiana. Local officials asked anyone with a boat to volunteer to help. Hundreds of people from south Louisiana arrived with their boats. They rescued thousands of people from the floods. At the time, people referred to them as the “Cajun Navy.” Many of the volunteers continued to help people whenever hurricanes struck in the Southeast. Many of them have organized under the name Pinnacle Search and Rescue. When a hurricane strikes, they arrive to help government officials with search and rescue missions.
World Central Kitchen is another group that has helped people massively during this hurricane season. The group was started by José Andrés in 2010 after an earthquake devastated the country. They provide fresh meals for people affected by disasters all over the world. They also deliver important supplies such as food and water. This fall they provided thousands of gallons of drinking water to people all over the southeastern United States affected by hurricanes. They have served almost 1,000,000 meals to people displaced by the hurricanes.
What Can You Do? Ask an adult what they will do to help. Some people give money. Some people give supplies.
Photo Credit: US Army Photo/Alamy Stock Photo
