Hurricane Helene may cause as much as $35 billion in damages across Florida, North Carolina and other states in the Southeast, according to estimates from Moody’s Analytics, and some of the largest retailers in the country are pledging to donate money and other resources as cleanup begins. Amazon, Walmart, Target and others make up a growing list of retailers who have already announced plans to respond to Helene.
The hurricane made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 26, according to the National Weather Service. Its death toll already includes more than 200 people, NBC News reported. The news organization found that only 2% of residences were insured in areas where the worst of the storm hit.
Major retailers donating to Hurricane Helene relief efforts
Among the largest pledges, Walmart announced that it would put $6 million toward relief efforts. Sam’s Club and the Walmart Foundation are assisting. Those donations include “food, water, essential supplies and grants to organizations providing relief,” the company announced Wednesday. In addition, Walmart also said it would match its customer donations on its website to the American Red Cross with a cap of $2.5 million.
In its announcement, Walmart also detailed services by region that it is working with nonprofits and suppliers to provide. Examples include access to power, free meals, Wi-Fi service, charging stations and laundry and shower services in various cases.
Walmart is No. 2 in the Top 1000, Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of North America’s online retailers by web sales. Its commitments this week were joined by others in the database. Examples include North America’s largest retailer, Amazon.com. Amazon said it had donated 19,500 ounces of baby formula in North Carolina. In the meantime, it also sent 12 truckloads of essential items to relief partners, deployed response teams and created a donation portal for vetted organizations.
Meanwhile, Target (No. 5) shared that it had donated $3 million to a group of disaster relief organizations. They included Convoy of Hope, SBP and local food banks, among others.
Amazon.com, Walmart and Target are also the three largest retailers in the Top 1000’s Mass Merchant category.
Hurricane Helene responses from The Home Depot and Lowe’s
In Home Improvement, a category where many property owners and contractors will be dependent as post-hurricane rebuilding takes place, The Home Depot (No. 4 in the Top 1000) and Lowe’s (No. 11) both made substantial commitments, including pledges of $2 million each toward relief.
“Our thoughts are with the communities that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene,” said Erin Izen, executive director at The Home Depot Foundation, in a released statement. “The Foundation and Team Depot are working alongside our disaster relief partners to assist the people and areas impacted by this catastrophic storm.”
The foundation cited Convoy of Hope, Word Central Kitchen and ToolBank Disaster Services among those it would be assisting.
“This storm has created a life-altering path of destruction from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic — especially here in our home state of North Carolina,” said Marvin Ellison, chairman and CEO at Lowe’s. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected, and I am extremely grateful for our associates and first responders who are working tirelessly to serve these communities.”
In his statement, Ellison said Lowe’s would “continue to help meet our communities’ urgent needs and help our neighbors during the long road to recovery ahead.”
As part of its efforts, Lowe’s is using its stores as distribution centers for cleanup supplies. Moreover, it is sending emergency response teams. They will help support staffing in hard-hit areas as employees residing there deal with personal losses and damage.
Kroger sending water, supporting National Guard efforts
“Our associates, customers, communities and neighbors are deeply affected in the Hurricane Helene aftermath, and we are joining forces with organizations across the country to step up and provide support,” said Rodney McMullen, chairman and CEO of The Kroger Co., in an announcement from the grocer. “Rescue crews and relief organizations on the ground are only now assessing the impact and beginning the long road to recovery.”
Kroger (No. 6) is distributing drinking water and ice to impacted communities. In addition, the grocer said it would send Kroger Mobile Canteen units to help the National Guard. They will also aid military service members who are dealing with Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. With the help of those units, Kroger indicated that it would “provide food, drinks and a place to rest and recharge for service members answering this urgent call to serve.”
It will also circulate gift cards.
“We hope Kroger’s support will feed the spirit of those who are affected and those helping the communities rebuild,” McMullen stated.
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