Kathy Coy stands among what is left of her home after Hurricane Michael destroyed it in Panama City, Florida. She said she was in the home when it was blown apart and is thankful to be alive.
CNN  — 

When Hurricane Michael made landfall October 10th as a Category 4 storm, it brought 155 miles per hour winds, storm surges, flash floods and heavy rains.

Charities and volunteers are on the scene to help with long-term recovery. You can assist these efforts by clicking the ‘Take Action’ button below or through this link.

If you were in the hurricane’s path or had to evacuate, you can let friends and family know that you are safe through the American Red Cross Safe and Well page and Facebook’s Safety Check on their Hurricane Michael Crisis Response page. Both of these tools can also be used to check on people you know in the area.

Other ways to assist

Community blood centers in the region are urging the public to donate. All blood types are needed along with platelet and plasma donors.

The not-for-profit blood center OneBlood, can be found in almost all of the counties in Florida and in the southern regions of Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. You can search for their blood drives here, or by calling 1-888-936-6283.

Lifesafe, which serves hospitals in Alabama, Florida and Georgia, provides an online tool to find a donor center or mobile drive near you, or you can call 1-888-795-2707 to make an appointment to donate.

The American Red Cross is also encouraging people to give blood. They report a critical need for both blood and platelet donations. You can make an appointment either online, through their blood donor app or by calling 1-800-733-2767.