Caribbean Hurricanes
Photo: CIRA /
As the world's humanitarian leader, the United States remains committed to providing life- saving assistance when a disaster strikes. The U.S. Government remains in close communication with government and civil-society officials throughout the region to coordinate relief efforts. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria.
How You Can Help
The best way to help those affected by a disaster overseas is to make a monetary donation to a reputable humanitarian organization working in the disaster zone.
As a U.S. government agency, USAID does not accept donations for its crisis response effort. If you wish to donate, you can contribute to the Hurricane Irma Relief Fund at GlobalGiving or to one of the organizations listed below:
Latest Updates
U.S. Response to Caribbean Hurricanes Infographic 
(pdf - 1 MB)
USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) on September 7 as Hurricane Irma - the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record – barreled across the Caribbean. Disaster experts on the DART were deployed to the region ahead of the storm, and began immediately coordinating with local authorities and humanitarian organizations in St. Martin, Antigua and Barbuda, and The Bahamas to deliver vital humanitarian assistance. Less than two weeks after Hurricane Irma hit, the region braced for more extreme weather as Hurricane Maria reached the eastern Caribbean, making landfall over Dominica on September 18. USAID’s DART remains activated and is closely coordinating response activities with local authorities and partners on the ground. Locally-based USAID disaster experts stationed throughout the Caribbean continue to liaise with their local government and emergency management agencies to report on conditions on the ground and advise on humanitarian needs.
On September 15, a flight transporting more than 8 metric tons (MT) of USAID/OFDA-procured relief commodities—including blankets, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, plastic sheeting, and water containers—arrived on the island of Antigua. In coordination with USAID/OFDA partner Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Society (ABRCS) and other relief actors, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GoAB) National Office of Disaster Assistance (NODS) will distribute the emergency relief supplies to hurricane-affected families sheltering in Antigua. To date, USAID/OFDA has provided relief commodities to benefit approximately 32,500 disaster-affected people in the Caribbean region.
On September 14, two flights transporting USAID/OFDA-procured relief commodities—including blankets, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, plastic sheeting, and water containers—arrived in Antigua and The Bahamas, respectively. The USAID/OFDA assistance will benefit a total of 32,500 disaster-affected people in the Caribbean region.
On September 12, USAID/OFDA supported the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas (GoCB) National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to transport emergency relief supplies from The Bahamas’ capital city of Nassau to the southern Bahamas’ hurricane-affected Acklins, Crooked, and Inagua islands.
On September 13, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Mark Green spoke by phone with the Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ronald Plasterk, to offer condolences and reiterate the United States' support for the people of Sint Maarten as they face the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.
On September 12, nine USAID regional Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) staff arrived on the island of St. Martin—comprising Saint-Martin, a French overseas collectivity, and Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands—to assess hurricane-related damages and coordinate U.S. Government (USG) response efforts. Initial DART reports confirmed extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure on the island. Approximately 91 percent of buildings in Sint Maarten sustained damage due to the effects of Hurricane Irma, according to a September 12 assessment by the Netherlands and Sint Maarten Red Cross Societies.
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