B’nai B’rith International has opened its Disaster Relief Fund to help those who might be impacted by hurricanes this year. The 2012 Hurricane Season Disaster Relief Fund will be kept open throughout the remainder of the hurricane season to aid those who might be caught in the path of future storms.  

Hurricane Isaac grabbed headlines across the country this week as the storm slowly rolled across the Gulf Coast. The weather system was eventually downgraded to a tropical storm, but the damage done to Louisiana and Mississippi was severe. Thousands of people were forced out of their homes, hundreds of thousands are without power and the cost to repair the communities affected will be in the billions. 

In opening the 2012 Hurricane Season Disaster Relief Fund, B’nai B’rith will be able to allocate funds to meet post-hurricane needs, as well as have donations available to be used in the rebuilding process long after the storms, and the headlines, are gone.  

“B’nai B’rith has helped disaster victims since 1865. Hurricane season is just getting started. As Hurricane Isaac demonstrates, we don’t know where these storms will hit and the impact they will have. We just know that people need help. It’s a long season,” B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs said. 

This hurricane season has been the busiest since 2005 with 12 named storms to date. With that kind of activity, now is the ideal time to focus on helping, in order to keep pace with any storms yet to come. 

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by Hurricane Isaac. The Southeast usually faces violent weather at this time of year and as a humanitarian organization we need to be ready to help when a natural disaster arises,” B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin said.

In 2005, B’nai B’rith provided more than $1.1 million in aid to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The money was allocated to various projects and agencies, tending to immediate needs as well as long term assistance in the years following the disaster.  

You can make donations via a secure link here or mail to: B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief, 2020 K. Street, NW, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20006.