Hurricanes Helene and Milton put enormous strain on the volunteer network, including Disaster Aid USA (DAUSA). For the first time in its history, DAUSA had 18 teams deployed across multiple locations simultaneously providing thousands of hours in volunteer service.
Many FL teams initially responded to Hurricane Helene, but had to temporarily suspend recovery efforts as Hurricane Milton made landfall just days later—intensifying the overall need for disaster assistance.
In total, DAUSA deployed 18 teams across four states, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers. Together, they completed work on over 360 properties. Beyond cleanup, many volunteers also served tirelessly in distribution centers and helped prepare food for both survivors and fellow responders. We thank all our Doners and Volunteers for their effort without their kindness we could not do the work we do.
North Carolina and Tennessee presented some of the most challenging conditions. Homes were flooded up to the second story, with basements full of mud and entire interiors requiring removal down to the studs. In one particularly hard-hit home, volunteers filled sixteen 30-cubic-yard dumpsters over the course of several days.