USO Support for Service Members Responding to Hurricanes in the Southeast

The USO supports service members deployed for disaster relief after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Your generosity sustains these efforts and supports service members and military families worldwide.*

The Current Situation in the Southeast

On September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm, made landfall along Florida’s northwestern coast and moved across North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia, devastating much of the southeast region. The storm’s destructive path led to historic and catastrophic flooding, devastating winds, loss of power and water, the loss of entire homes and infrastructure, as well as numerous injuries and fatalities.

Still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Helene, on October 9, Florida was hit by Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, leading to tornadoes, power and water outages, more flooding and destruction across Florida.

As local communities throughout the southeast continue to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton as they continue relief efforts, the National Guard and the Coast Guard have sprung into action to help in the storm’s aftermath. With more than 6,000 service members activated to respond to the natural disaster, these units are working around-the-clock, conducting search and rescue, clearing debris and roads, as well as transporting and distributing food and supplies to affected communities.

It’s important to remember that for many members of the National Guard who are currently leading relief efforts in the aftermaths of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the areas they are responding to are their homes. They are members of the very communities that have been affected by the storm, and witnessing such destruction while working under dangerous and high-pressure conditions can take its toll.

That’s where the USO comes in.

How the USO is Supporting Service Members Working in Hurricane Relief

Photo credit USO Photo

USO teams are working around-the-clock to ensure that service members responding to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton have the support and resources that they need in order to recharge, maintain operational readiness and return to their crucial work in the field. This includes:

  • Deploying a fleet of Mobile USO vehicles to the affected areas following Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton’s landfalls. Serving as a “USO-Center-on-wheels,” these vehicles offer many of the same amenities of a traditional, brick-and-mortar USO Center.

  • Providing water, snacks and meals to keep service members hydrated and fueled after a long day in the field.

  • Distributing USO Care Packages, which come in two varieties: Hygiene Kits with essential toiletries and Snack Packs with food to keep them fueled. These packages ensure service members feel supported and valued by their country, as well as provide them with helpful supplies on-the-go.

  • Providing Wi-Fi so that service members can connect to loved ones back home. This is particularly important in disaster zones where there is no internet and little to no cell service.

  • Giving service members who are working in the southern heat and humidity a place to recharge in air conditioning so they can be ready to tackle the next day’s mission.

  • Supporting local military families who have also been affected by the storms with local programs and resources.

The USO Thanks Our Corporate Partners for Their Support in Hurricane Relief Response

The USO would like to thank our corporate partners for their support throughout our organization’s continued hurricane relief response. Thanks to the support of these partners and the American people, the USO is able to provide crucial resources to service members assisting the communities affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.

  • Domtar
  • Drip Drop
  • Harris Teeter, Inc.
  • John Deere
  • Kroger
  • Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
  • Marine Federal Credit Union
  • United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
  • Wawa

*Your contribution will be joined with the contributions of others and used where it is needed most to strengthen the well-being of the people serving in America’s military and their families.

Header image: Army Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy

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