South Carolina's coastal counties face hurricane risk every year, and the Red Cross South Carolina Region is the statewide responder for hurricanes, flooding, severe storms, and home fires. Its long-term recovery case managers stay in hurricane-hit communities for months after each event. Here is how to donate money or blood, volunteer, and get help.
The coastal counties, especially Horry around Myrtle Beach and the Sea Islands, face hurricane threats annually. Hurricane Florence caused catastrophic flooding in Horry and neighboring counties in 2018, and Hurricane Ian in 2022 and later storms have kept affecting the Lowcountry. Inland is not spared: Columbia's 2015 thousand-year flood along the Congaree River and its tributaries displaced thousands of residents.
The Red Cross responds with emergency shelters and immediate assistance, then keeps long-term recovery case managers working in hurricane-affected communities for months afterward. If a storm or fire has displaced you in South Carolina, call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Blood collected in the state serves Prisma Health, MUSC Health, and other South Carolina hospital systems. Appointments are usually available within days.
Book at redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. Storm evacuations can wipe out scheduled coastal drives on short notice, so donations from Upstate and Midlands donors carry extra weight during hurricane season.
Cash donations at redcross.org fund shelters, supplies, and the case management that continues after the cameras leave. Goods donations generally are not accepted for disaster response; money moves faster and matches actual needs.
Volunteering is the other high-value option. Disaster volunteers complete several weeks of training before deployment, and shelter, feeding, and case work roles all need people. Apply before hurricane season to be useful during it.
Confirm any charity's 501(c)(3) status in the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search at apps.irs.gov, review its Charity Navigator profile, and save acknowledgment letters for donations of $250 or more.
Sources: American Red Cross — South Carolina Region official site (redcross.org); our South Carolina charity guide research. Retrieved July 2026. We are not affiliated with American Red Cross — South Carolina Region and receive no compensation for this listing. Spotted an error? [email protected]
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