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Read moreHurricane Helene: IFAW deploys to assist emergency shelter operation
Hurricane Helene: IFAW deploys to assist emergency shelter operation
September 30, 2024
IFAW is on the ground helping communities impacted by Hurricane Helene
In the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene, IFAW is now on the ground to support emergency response efforts. Just two days after the hurricane made landfall, our teams deployed North Carolina and Georgia, where widespread flooding and destruction have left more than 50 people dead and millions without power.
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As a founding member of the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC), IFAW plays a vital role in coordinating disaster response efforts. In collaboration with state authorities, we have mobilised our team of experienced responders to assist in areas hardest hit by the storm.
In North Carolina, we have deployed a shelter team to support operations at the Western North Carolina Ag Center in Fletcher, a state-run shelter housing both people and household pets displaced by the hurricane. Our team is ensuring the safety and care of animals in this co-located shelter, while also providing resources and relief to the affected community.
In Georgia, IFAW is supporting the State Operations Center (SOC) with coordination and the potential Animal Search and Rescue (ASAR) efforts.
Given the scale of destruction and the challenges posed by limited communication in affected areas, our disaster response team is closely monitoring the situation across the US Southeast. While the immediate focus is on rescue and sheltering operations, the recovery process will be long and complex. IFAW will remain engaged for as long as necessary, helping to rebuild lives and ensure that animals are included in all stages of recovery.
IFAW deploys to assist emergency shelter operation
September 26, 2024
Hurricane Helene, predicted to be the largest hurricane to hit the US in over a year, has already impacted the Cayman Islands and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, and is expected to make landfall in Florida on Thursday 26 September. As of Wednesday afternoon, it is classed as a Category 1 hurricane, and it is expected to reach Category 3 status by the time it arrives in the US.
Caring for cats evacuated from the Mexican island of Holbox in advance of Hurricane Helene making landfall. © IFAW
IFAW’s Disaster Response staff have deployed to support the Holbox Animal Shelter in Quintana Roo, Mexico, in the evacuation of the animals in their care. IFAW’s Dr. Erika Flores helped safely transport them to our partner Coco’s Animal Welfare for temporary shelter until they can return home. Four municipalities in Quintana Roo opened pet-friendly shelters—Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Lázaro Cárdenas, and Cancún. We provided a hurricane kit to the Isla Mujeres shelter, and the other shelters were able to open on their own.
Our team continues to stand by, prepared to respond in other ways as we are needed.
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