The sun was shining Tuesday after historic flooding killed at least 14 people in South Carolina, but it will take months, perhaps years, for the state to recover from damage and destruction estimated at $1 billion.
The state Emergency Management Division said the best way to help was to donate money to charities it has designated to assist with official relief efforts:
- Adventist Community Services
- American Red Cross of Central South Carolina. You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
- Feeding America
- Harvest Hope Food Bank
- Lutheran Disaster Response
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- Salvation Army
- Southern Baptist Convention/Disaster Relief
- United Methodist Committee on Relief
- United Way of America
- United Way of South Carolina
But with more than 40,000 homes still without running water to drink, cook with and wash with, food banks, churches and other charities are also accepting food, bottled water, clothing, first-aid supplies and cleaning products.
Related: South Carolina Flooding Danger Remains as Historic Rainfall Passes
The emergency management agency provided a comprehensive list of what's needed, which you can find in PDF form here. The secretary of state's office, meanwhile, has a searchable index of registered South Carolina charities you can trust here.