2-1-1 Big Bend
2-1-1 Big Bend's mission is to provide assessment, emotional support, critical assistance, education, training and referrals with accurate, up-to-date resource information.
Just as you would call 9-1-1 for emergencies, you can call 2-1-1 for human service information and assistance. We are available 24 hours a talk to listen and provide emotional support, crisis counseling, suicide prevention and information and referrals. You do not have to be in crisis to call, there is no eligibility criteria and our services are free. Our telephone counselors can help navigate through the maze of community services in a nonjudgmental manner.
During a disaster, 2-1-1 Big Bend collaborates with local emergency managers, governments and other organizations to provide disaster information, such as road closures, sandbag locations, pandemic testing sites and more. We assist in taking the pressure off the 9-1-1 system. Because life is 24/7, so are we!
Click here for more information about 2-1-1 Big Bend.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross responds to an emergency every 8 minutes. From small house fires to multi-state natural disasters, the American Red Cross goes wherever needed to ensure people have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them most. We respond to an average of more than 60,000 disasters each year, including hurricanes.
For information about our work as well as donation and volunteer information, click here.
To contact the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, call (850) 878-6080 or for immediate assistance call (888) 843-5748.
Second Harvest of the Big Bend
Second Harvest of the Big Bend is one of three Feeding Florida-member food banks engaged in disaster response, including hurricanes and other natural disasters.
In the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, Second Harvest works with agency partners and emergency management officials to coordinate initial and ongoing disaster response, including the distribution of water, nonperishable food and other essential supplies. Citizens impacted by a hurricane should visit our website to find daily updates from our distribution partners prior to and in the immediate aftermath of a storm.
For more information about Second Harvest's disaster response efforts, visit www.fightinghunger.org.
The Salvation Army of Tallahassee
The Salvation Army is a national first responder in times of disaster. Our responsibilities include, but are not limited to: dispatching mobile feeding units to provide food, water and other basic essentials, setting up comfort stations, offering transitional housing and providing cleanup supplies, as well as providing trained support staff and emotional and spiritual counselors.
During a disaster, the Salvation Army may open temporary shelters to provide emergency housing to evacuees or to those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the disaster. A disaster shelter may be located in schools, churches, community buildings or Salvation Army facilities.
During the recovery phase, the Salvation Army may support cleanup and rebuilding activities after a disaster by distributing cleanup supplies, such as mops, brooms, buckets, shovels, detergents, and tarps to disaster survivors.
For more information, call (850) 222-0304 or please visit salvationarmyflorida.org/tallahassee/.
VolunteerLEON
Whenever a disaster/emergency strikes, as Leon County Emergency Management and disaster response organizations work to respond to and recover from the event, volunteers will be needed to support this effort. If you are interested in assisting by volunteering, please provide us your information. Whenever there is a need for disaster volunteers we will then be able to message you information on the current needs and how to connect with organizations that are requesting assistance.
In the event of a disaster partner organizations such as the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Big Bend Disaster Animal Response Team, American Second Harvest of the Big Bend and others will be posting their critical needs on VolunteerLeon's Get Connected page. The best volunteers are trained in advanced. We encourage you to become affiliated with response and recovery organizations during blue skies, so that you can receive orientation, training and other information that will make your service more effective and meaningful.
For more information/questions please contact VolunteerLEON at 850-606-1970 or visit http://volunteer.volunteerleon.org/
Remember C.A.R.E.
Cash ‐ financial gifts get help to people fast
Ask before donating any supplies
Respond by volunteering with local relief agencies
Everyone can help
To register as a disaster volunteer, click here.
Volunteer Florida
Volunteer Florida is the state’s lead agency for volunteers and donations before, during and after disasters. In partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Volunteer Florida:
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Coordinates with Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and local and state government emergency management agencies to meet volunteer and donation needs.
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Provides staffing during activation of the State Emergency Operations Center.
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Provides training and presentations on the roles of government and nongovernmental organizations in disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation.
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Provides fiscal and program management for federal, state and privately funded programs.
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Provides training for government, non-government and private sector organizations on disaster volunteer and donations management.
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Mobilizes and deploys resources to assist communities responding to and recovering from disaster.
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Operates the ESF (Emergency Service Function) 15 and deploys trained Volunteer Florida staff to assist the Florida Division of Emergency Management if necessary.
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Operates the Volunteer and Donations Hotline and the Florida Donations Portal.
Immediately following disasters, individuals seeking financial assistance should register with FEMA at 800-621-FEMA or www.disasterassistance.gov.
Big Bend Community Organizations Active in Disaster
Big Bend Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD). COAD provides a structure for non-profit organizations, and the faith-based community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster. COAD focuses on coordinating efforts to best serve communities. Nonprofit partners include: 2-1-1 Big Bend, America’s Second Harvest of the Big Bend, Catholic Charities, Florida Baptist Active in Disaster, Goodwill, Red Cross, Salvation Army, United Way and more.
Who Should Join COAD?
Civic groups, businesses, faith-based associations, individuals and government agencies that address unmet needs prior to, during and following a disaster. To join COAD, please fill out the form below. Upon receiving the form, a representative will contact you directly to learn more about your organization and to answer any additional questions.
Click here to join.