Hurricane Milton made landfall in the Tampa Bay area on October 9, causing fatalities and approximately $50 billion in damage. Multiple areas of the state experienced flooding.
Hurricane Helene caused widespread destruction and fatalities across the southeastern United States in late September 2024. Florida, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia were affected, and a large population of craft artists were affected. Many are still grappling with severe challenges, such as significant damage to their homes or studios, loss of essential tools and equipment, and major disruptions to their ability to continue their craft practice. Several of the hardest hit areas were completely cut off from washed out roads, loss of power/water, and loss of internet/cellular service.
Hurricane Debby made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in Florida near Steinhatchee August 5, causing flooding and at least five casualties. As it moved inland and became a tropical storm, Debby caused flooding in the southeastern states, including Georgia and the Carolinas.
Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Gulf Coast of Texas as a Category 1 hurricane July 1, causing extensive power outages, and flooding in Texas and several other states. Power outages combined with hot summer weather created especially dangerous conditions in the Greater Houston area, and several deaths occurred as a result of the storm. As the storm traveled inland, remnants of Hurricane Beryl caused flooding in other states, including Vermont and New Hampshire.
In July, Minnesota also experienced significant flooding from torrential rainfall, and rivers crested to their highest levels in years. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved federal disaster declarations for the affected parts of Texas and for 22 counties in Minnesota.
CERF+ is connecting with local partners on the ground to learn more about the needs of local artists and offer resources to craft artists who were affected by the storms. If you are a craft artist or artisan affected by the storms, please visit our recovery resources and submit an application for our Emergency Relief program. For any inquiries regarding the application process, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]. We’re here to assist you every step of the way.
Disaster Recovery Resources for Artists
In addition to our Emergency Relief grant, CERF+’s Studio Protector also has resources to support artists as they begin to assess and re-enter their damaged studios, including:
• CERF+ Webinars on Readiness and Recovery for Artists
• Protect your Art Studio from Power Outages
• NCAPER Arts Field Guide to Federal Disaster Relief
• Nest Climate Guides for US Makers
The Disaster Distress Helpline (DDH)provides confidential, multilingual crisis counseling and support for anyone in the U.S./territories experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters, including COVID-19. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 to reach a trained counselor 24/7, 365-days-a-year.
Please be safe, and let us know if we can do anything to help.
Finally, for those who are able to, please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Your support directly helps craft artists in the aftermath of emergencies and disasters.
