New Jersey response teams lend helping hand to victims of Hurricane Helene

Hurricane Helene left many communities in the Southeast devastated as the death toll passed 100, millions of people are without power, and flooding damaged homes and businesses.

States including Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Tennessee and the Carolinas saw historic flooding, with Atlanta getting over 11 inches of rain in 48 hours, a record for the region.

Amid this time of crisis, New Jersey first responders and local and national organizations are offering assistance.

Efforts by New Jersey first responders

New Jersey extended its own relief down south to help those affected by the storm.

On Sunday, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management sent 14 members of the state’s All-Hazards Incident Management Team to Georgia to support recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

The team will provide ground support, facilities management, operations, resource allocation, public messaging and safety oversight, the agency said. The emergency management team is trained to handle complex events and incidents nationwide.

The New Jersey Task Force 1 team was deployed to Asheville, North Carolina, on Saturday to provide assistance to local communities recovering from the hurricane, the New Jersey State Police said.

The team consists of 80 members with three tractor-trailers, two box trucks, five F-450 utility vehicles, two crew carriers, an F-250 towing vehicle, two passenger vans, two utility terrain vehicles, a fleet service truck, six boats with trailers and a water support trailer, the state police said.

The agency said the team was on the ground Saturday providing search-and-rescue support and helping communities with recovery.

The NJ Task Force 1 members are safe and continuing their mission, the state police said in a tweet on Saturday.

Donate to organizations to support those affected by hurricane

National and state relief organizations continue to offer aid to those who were affected by the hurricane.

Here are some national and local organizations that are accepting donations for those in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia and Tennessee who need help after the destruction caused by Helene.

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross provides food, shelter and other emergency assistance to people in crisis. The North Jersey branch is in Fairfield, with others in Jersey City, Paterson and Phillipsburg.

People can donate to the American Red Cross to support people affected by Hurricane Helene.

United Way

United Way Worldwide set up a disaster relief and recovery fund for Helene victims. Donations to its page will be directed to United Way branches in the affected regions across the Southeast.

United Way has a North Jersey branch, but donations should be sent to the hurricane fund page to ensure that contributions reach the affected regions.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army provides emergency relief for those in emergency situations. The organization set up a donation page to accept funds that will go toward emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies.

GoFundMe

Instead of giving to an organization, donors can send money that will be distributed to people who are fundraising for themselves or on behalf of someone else, through the GoFundMe Hurricane Relief Fund page.

Save the Children

This organization provides children-focused supplies to families, schools and learning centers that were devastated by Hurricane Helene. Items being sent include hygiene and cleaning kits, diapers and baby wipes.

People can donate to its emergency hurricane relief fund here.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ first responders helping Hurricane Helene victims