When Hurricane Ian’s 150-mile-per-hour winds demolished the Fort Myers home of two Holocaust survivors in their nineties, the Jewish Federation was there to help. The two and others in their community were evacuated, rehomed, given food and received emergency assistance.

Just as with the recent war in Ukraine and other times of crisis, the Federation was able to mobilize quickly and send aid where it’s most needed. Why? Because we were there long before the storm. Our partnerships with a national network of Jewish Federations ensure that funding goes straight to boots-on-the-ground support and that help is given when it’s needed, not when it’s too late.

Already, your contribution to the Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund has thrown a lifeline to families without food and displaced from their homes. With your support, we were able to help 200 older adults evacuate to a Jewish senior living facility in Sarasota, and we delivered High Holiday meals to 900 residents in seven towns along the coast.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh has sent $13,700 to support relief efforts in Florida so far, and we’ll continue to assist rebuilding efforts. The Florida network includes Jewish Federations in Sarasota, Tampa, Jacksonville and many other affected areas. And our international partner the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) continues to help in other areas devastated by natural disasters around the world. That’s what the Federation does: strengthen Jewish life, support people in need and build a safer, more inclusive world.

Hurricane Ian continues to wreak havoc on Florida’s mainland. As a dangerous category 4 hurricane, the storm surge is expected to exceed 12 feet and more than 20 inches of rain. Much of the state’s power and water have been cut off, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents still in need of shelter and aid.

We’ll continue to help years after many other organizations have left. How many of us remember Hurricane Harvey, which devastated the Houston Jewish community in 2017? The Jewish Federation network continues to help people in Houston, some of whom still experience long-term repercussions from hurricane damage five years after the storm, which could include housing insecurity, financial insecurity or simple disconnection from Jewish life because the hurricane forced people to move homes.

Your continued support through the Hurricane Relief fund allows us to continue to touch lives in Jewish communities and everywhere else affected by Hurricane Ian. To contribute, please visit the Hurricane Relief fund page on our website or contribute to the Community Campaign. The Community Campaign builds the network, ensuring that we can help immediately.