How to help those affected by Hurricane Helene

At least 215 people have died and hundreds are still unaccounted for in the wake of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26 and roared across the Southeast, devastating entire communities.

Exhausted rescue crews and volunteers continue to work long days — navigating past washed out roads, downed power lines and mudslides — to reach the isolated and the missing.

The full impact of Hurricane Helene won't be known for weeks, but groups from both the public and private sector are mobilizing efforts to help those affected by the Category 4 storm that has already caused billions in damage. People are in need of shelter, water, food and health care, as well as basic essentials.

If you want to help, here are some organizations that are providing assistance:

Charities

Because damage from Helene is spread out over six states in an area that reaches from Florida's Big Bend to the Appalachians in Virginia, experts say to look for groups with a history of aid in the specific city or state you want to help so that your donation reaches your intended area more quickly.

As always, experts recommend making sure a charity is legitimate before you donate and choosing groups that are well-established. You can find information about them on GuideStar and Charity Navigator.

The following charities has been vetted by NBC News:

• Baby2Baby: Supplies for children and families
• The Humane Society of the United States’ Emergency Animal Relief Fund: Helping animals
• World Central Kitchen: Offering food and fresh water
• Save the Children: Helping children and schools
• American Red Cross: Providing shelter, food, water and support, including Disaster Mental Health. You can also sign up to volunteer here.
• BeLoved Asheville: Delivering food and vital supplies
• Manna FoodBank: Feeding hurricane victims

Impacted states have also set up disaster relief funds or have partnered with local organizations to help hurricane victims:

• North Carolina Hurricane Recovery
• Feeding the Carolinas - Supporting food banks and pantries in South Carolina.
• One South Carolina Fund - Supports and directs funds to nonprofit organizations providing relief and recovery assistance
• Salvation Army - Providing shelter, food and health services in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Caroline and Virginia.
• Samaritan's Purse - Providing emergency aid, including food, water and debris removal, in North Carolina, Florida and Georgia.
• United Way - Helping recovery and relief efforts for residents.
• Americares - Delivering medicine, supplies and emergency funding.
• North Carolina Diaper Bank - Providing diapers, period products and formula.
• Hearth With Hands - Providing food, water, cleaning supplies, paper products, medical supplies, clorthing and pet supplies in Asheville, North Carolina.
• HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response - Bringing emotional support canines to people affected by natural disasters.
• Disaster Relief in Georgia - Georgia's emergency management agency has compiled a list of established local organizations providing relief to residents.
• Florida Disaster Fund - Distributes donations to service organizations that help people with disaster response and recovery in Florida.
• Community Foundation Tampa Bay - Funds local charities working on the front lines of Hurricane Helene relief efforts

In pictures: See damage from Hurricane Helene

Consider waiting

Rebuilding efforts following Hurricane Helene will take months, if not years, and the full picture of need is not available yet, experts say.

They say that following disasters donations start out strong in the immediate aftermath of the event and then slows down when it is no longer top of mind, even though that's when the need made be growing when government benefits expire.