More than a month after Hurricane Ian devastated large areas of Florida, hundreds of people remain in shelters and thousands more are depending on the American Red Cross and other organizations for food, water and other support.

Ian destroyed or caused major damage to more than 12,000 Florida homes, and this number is expected to increase as residential assessments continue. Relief organizations, including the Red Cross, are striving to help people who don’t have homes to return to.

In one of the largest disaster damage assessments the Red Cross has ever undertaken, Red Cross teams are conducting nearly 200,000 door-to-door detailed residential assessments, including how many homes have been affected and the extent of that damage. The critical information from this project will be used to plan what support — including financial assistance — families may need in the coming weeks and months. It will also be shared with other nonprofits and government agencies involved in Hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

Red Cross workers have already connected with hundreds of families to help them plan for the future and make housing arrangements and are still working with people in shelters. These arrangements will look different for each person. For example, some people may choose to live with friends or family while they rebuild. Others will move into new apartments. And some will be helped through transitional sheltering or other housing programs offered by government agencies and other community organizations. Depending on individual circumstances, this may include financial assistance from the Red Cross.

Ian is a major disaster that is bigger than any one group can manage on its own. The Red Cross will be part of the solution — but not the only solution — to help families recover. See photos and read the full story at redcross.org