How you can help victims of Hurricane Ida

Help: Hurricane Ida

How you can help people impacted by Hurricane Ida

Hurricane Ida destroyed homes and upended lives in Louisiana this week, and relief organizations are responding.

Ida made landfall Sunday near Grand Isle, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph.

The ferocious storm brought down power lines across Louisiana and Mississippi, leaving more than a million people to pick up the pieces without lights or air conditioning. Water service has also been disrupted across the region.

Here are some ways you can help, and ways to avoid getting scammed.

Avoid getting scammed

After disasters like Ida, people want to help those affected by the storm. That great, but it’s also the perfect environment for scammers who want to make a quick buck off someone else’s tragedy.

It’s recommended that you do some research on the organization to which you’d like to donate before sending any money. Websites from the Better Business Bureau and Charity Navigator are just a couple of the resources that can help you research a charity.

Reputable charities

Here are some organizations that are already on the ground in Louisiana, helping those in need. This list is according to NOLA Ready:

Organizations like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Humane Society and the Louisiana SPCA are also helping with relief efforts in Louisiana.