The browser you are using is not supported. Please consider using a modern browser.

Skip Navigation
Act Now Donate
Start of main content.

News

New American Families Affected by Hurricane Ian

Global Refuge logo

Global Refuge Staff

September 30, 2022

Support immigrant families affected by Hurricane Ian today.

Over the past two days, Hurricane Ian has been barreling through the southeastern United States, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake. Among the thousands of Floridians that have been evacuated are nearly 200 immigrant children and families in the Global Refuge network.

Unfortunately, many new Americans live in high-risk areas, such as mobile and single-family homes near the canals and waterways and in the high-rise apartments of central and coastal Florida. The days before the storm’s arrival were a flurry of activity for Global Refuge and partner staff as they rushed to support the families while planning their own evacuation.

“We were working to provide the families with the locations of shelters closest to them and went over a safety plan of what to do after landfall,” shared Damaris Albino, an Global Refuge regional supervisor. “[It] was truly a nightmare for all Floridians. It's a lot of devastation.”

She anticipates that those in our network will need a lot of support long after the stormwaters have receded. Many immigrant families are ineligible for government relief services, while others are unwilling to apply for or access even those benefits they are eligible for due to the inhospitable political environment.

Thumbnail for a video entitled 'Hurricane Ian: How You Can Help'

To mitigate those difficulties, Global Refuge is collecting donations for our Family Support Fund for emergency needs such as temporary housing, diapers, food, and clean water. It is not the organization’s first time serving climate-displaced populations; after Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Global Refuge was there to provide direct support for repairs to storm-damaged homes, new binders and notebooks for children who lost all of their school supplies, and so much more.

And just as they did after Harvey, Damaris is confident that both Global Refuge families and all in her state will find a way to rebuild.

“My team will continue serving our communities today more than ever,” she says. “Floridians are strong and resilient, [and] we will overcome this situation stronger than ever, working hard until we recover our ‘Sunshine State’ again.”

Give now

The Latest

  • News

    July 31, 2025

    Global Refuge Celebrates Election of Rev. Yehiel Curry as New Presiding Bishop of the ELCA

    Global Refuge joins the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in celebrating the election of Bishop Yehiel Curry as its new presiding bishop.

    Read More
  • Press Release · Refugee Resettlement

    July 21, 2025

    TPS for Afghanistan Expires, Leaving Thousands at Risk of Deportation and Job Loss

    The policy change leaves nearly 12,000 Afghans in the U.S. without protection from deportation and, in many cases, without valid work authorization.

    Read More
  • News

    July 16, 2025

    Generous Donors Plant Hope with a Very Special Gift

    A generous couple recently donated a tractor to Global Refuge's community garden in Fargo.

    Read More
  • News

    July 14, 2025

    How Does the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Affect Immigration Fees?

    On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a large budget reconciliation bill, into law. The Senate and House of Representatives narrowly passed this version of HR 1 on July 1 and July 3, respectively. The OBBBA makes sweeping changes across the U.S. immigration system on enforcement, work authorization, fees, and access to services like SNAP, and healthcare services such as Medicaid, Medicare and the Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

    Read More
  • News

    July 14, 2025

    How Does the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Affect SNAP?

    On July 4, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), a large budget reconciliation bill, into law. The Senate and House of Representatives narrowly passed this version of HR 1 on July 1 and July 3, respectively. The OBBBA makes sweeping changes across the U.S. immigration system on enforcement, work authorization, fees, and access to services like SNAP, and healthcare services such as Medicaid, Medicare and the Children Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

    Read More

Share