Hurricane Milton Relief Efforts: These companies are helping affected communities

A number of companies are supporting Florida communities facing another devastating hurricane by donating to relief organizations and sending vital supplies to affected areas.

Hurricane Milton, the second hurricane to devastate Florida in just a few weeks, made landfall Wednesday evening. Hurricane Helene ravaged Florida late last month before hitting Georgia, Tennessee, the Carolinas and Virginia, killing more than 200 people.

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These are the companies working to support affected communities:

CVS Pharmacy

CVS stores are receiving additional emergency supplies such as water, batteries and first aid products. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/Getty Images)

CVS said it is contacting patients via text, email and phone to remind them to refill and pick up prescriptions. Caremark, the pharmacy benefits manager, is also allowing pharmacy requests for one-time emergency refills of a 10-day supply of medications for plan members in affected areas, the company said.

All patients taking specialty medications will be contacted to discuss alternative delivery options if needed, CVS said. Patients scheduled for vaccination will also be contacted via email or text message if changes need to be made to their appointment.

In addition, branches will receive additional emergency supplies such as water, batteries and first aid products. CVS said its stores are complying with all local evacuation orders and that with mandatory closures, stores will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.

However, if a store is closed for more than a day, CVS said phone lines will be redirected to a nearby open CVS Pharmacy to help patients access their prescriptions.

Home Depot

Home Depot stores and parking lots typically serve as bases for first responders. (Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Home Depot said it is prepositioning trucks full of supplies outside the hurricane impact zone so the company can get there with essential products as quickly as possible. So far, over 500 truckloads of essential supplies have been sent to potentially affected areas in storm preparation.

Ahead of the storm, the company deploys priority products such as generators, water, tarps, flashlights, plywood and batteries. According to the company, the pre-deployed trucks will immediately respond with relief supplies such as gas cans, generators, garbage bags, cleaning supplies and chainsaws.

More than 100 employees across the company are involved in shipping these vital supplies to affected communities.

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Its stores and parking lots typically serve as a base for first responders, and its command center serves as a communications hub so the company can respond to community needs.

Home Depot also committed $2 million to support Helene's disaster relief efforts.

Walmart

Walmart said it is currently working to prepare its employees for the Milton route, including providing evacuation assistance to those in mandatory evacuation zones. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images / Getty Images)

Since Hurricane Helene hit the mainland last month, Walmart has opened parking lots for stores and clubs across Appalachia and the Southeast to serve as charging stations and allow residents to get a hot meal and water. Storm victims can also shower and even do their laundry in many parking lots.

The company plans to offer the same services in parking lots in all communities affected by Milton after the storm passes. In the meantime, the company is currently working to prepare its employees for the Milton route, including providing evacuation assistance to those in mandatory evacuation zones.

Sam's Club

Walmart, Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation have already committed $10 million to support time-critical relief efforts in affected communities in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images/Getty Images)

Like its parent company Walmart, Sam's Club is working to prepare workers for the storm's path, including providing evacuation assistance to those in mandatory evacuation zones.

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The company said it is also preparing its facilities for the storms and sending additional emergency supplies and water.

Walmart, Sam's Club and the Walmart Foundation have already committed $10 million to support time-critical relief efforts in affected communities in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, and North and South Carolina.