John Travolta helps in relief efforts in Florida following Hurricane Ian
Anish Vij
Featured Image Credit: @johntravolta/Instagram/MediaPunch Inc/Alamy Stock Photo
John Travolta has called upon his 4.5 million Instagram followers to help provide help to those affected by the destruction of Florida's Hurricane Ian.
On Thursday (7 October), the death toll reached triple digits to at least 100 since the storm hit south-west Florida eight days prior.
92 of the deaths were in Florida whilst five were recorded in North Carolina, three in Cuba and one in Virginia, according to reports from the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.
Among those volunteering to help in the destructed areas is Oscar nominated actor John Travolta, who took to social media today (11 October) to share his help in relief efforts following the storm. Watch below:
Advert
The 68-year-old, who was stood on a airport runway, captioned his post: "Ft. Myers Hurricane relief. Contact volunteerflorida.org."
He said: "Hi, I just got to Ft. Myers with some food and supplies for those who were affected by the hurricane and if you do want to help, you just contact volunteerflorida.org."
Thousands have flocked to praise the Grease star on his valiant efforts to help, including the likes of Donnie Wahlberg, who wrote: "So kind."
Mario Lopez also added: "Thank you so much for your care and Kindness."
Hurricane Ian happens to be the second deadliest storm to hit mainland US in the 21st century after Hurricane Katrina left 1,800 people dead back in 2005.
Ian is a Category 4 storm capable of sustained winds of 150 miles per hour. As a result, it unleashed torrents of rain, which cause intense flooding and damage.
President Joe Biden, who toured some of Florida’s hurricane-hit areas, said: "Today we have one job and only one job, and that’s to make sure the people in Florida get everything they need to fully, thoroughly recover.
"It’s going to take a hell of a long time, hopefully without any snags in the way. Later, after the television cameras have moved on, we’re still going to be here with you."
Biden also said that the rebuilding effort could take months or years.
“The only thing I can assure you is that the federal government will be here until it’s finished,” he added.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) administrator Deanne Criswell told reporters on Air Force One that the cost of rebuilding will be huge: “It will certainly be in the billions and perhaps one of the more costly disasters that we’ve seen in many years.
“There’s been less bureaucracy holding us back in this one than probably any one I’ve ever seen.”
To donate towards the cause or to get more information, you can visit volunteerflorida.org.
If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected]