About a week before Hurricane Helene hit Florida and started ripping and rampaging its way across that state, into Georgia, up to South Carolina, then North Carolina, around to Virginia and Tennessee, the executives at Ford Motor Co. were already in touch with Team Rubicon, the American Red Cross and other humanitarian groups to start forming a disaster plan.
The automaker has been partnered with Team Rubicon — a veteran-led humanitarian organization that goes into communities before, during, and after disasters to help clear pathes for rescue and to rebuild — since 2016. But last year was the first time that Ford and Team Rubicon took volunteer Ford employees and started training them on disaster work such as cutting up wood, removing debris, clearing out damaged homes and more. Once trained, those volunteers could be deployed to any disaster areas where they're needed.
“We have a whole team here at Ford who is mobilizing any way to help," Mary Culler, president of Ford Philanthropy told the Detroti Free Press.
Culler said since the hurricane made landfall late on the night of Sept. 26 in northwestern Florida, many of Ford's dealership employees and Ford's suppliers' employees who live in its path have been impacted, with some losing their homes and cars.
Ford is still assessing flood damage to dealerships and vehicles in the areas hit. As of Thursday, the death toll from the hurricane surpassed 200 and nearly 1 million homes and businesses remained without power in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. Tens of thousands of residents, most in western North Carolina, remain without running water, according to a USA TODAY report .
"What we’ve been hearing is it’s catastrophic and worse than Katrina," Culler said, referring to Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005 leaving 1,392 people dead and damages estimated at $125 billion. "Obviously eastern Tennessee was impacted significantly, so we’re in contact with them and in daily contact with all of our partners. Some of them need our vehicles to power locations, others are needing funding, others need volunteers and others need people to amplify the need. We want others to recognize there are communities that really need our help.”
Other automakers also are stepping up. General Motors is donating disaster relief funds and taking other steps as is Honda North America. In Ford's case it said it is now employing its money, people and products to help, even Executive Chair Bill Ford has been involved by participating in Team Rubicon training in Arlington, Texas, earlier this week.
More: Bill Ford describes his workers' heroic acts in Turkey, and what's next
"These past few weeks have shown that more than ever, our communities need help in the wake of devastating natural disasters," Ford wrote on his LinkedIn page . "It was so meaningful to spend time in Texas this week with Ford employees and dealers being trained by Team Rubicon on how to support communities in the aftermath of a disaster."
Honda heeds the call for help
On Thursday, Honda said in a news release that it was donating $500,000 in disaster relief funds to the American Red Cross.
The Japan-based carmaker also said that Honda Aircraft is providing HondaJet to transport humanitarian relief aid to the hard-hit areas of the region. The Honda HA-420 HondaJet is a light business jet produced by Honda Aircraft in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Additionally, Honda and Acura Financial Services are offering payment extensions and lease deferrals to customers impacted by Helene. The company also is offering its employees an opportunity to join the hurricane relief effort through its matching fund and volunteer programs. Honda said it will match eligible donations on a dollar-for-dollar basis, up to $1,000. Honda said it will also provide up to $200 in grants to eligible organizations when employees volunteer.
GM goes into crisis mode
GM spokeswoman Genna Young told the Detroit Free Press that the automaker is donating $225,000 to the American Red Cross and will match up to an additional $25,000 in employee donations to aid in hurricane relief efforts.
Also, GM's OnStar has turned on Crisis Mode for all Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee residents. Crisis Mode provides complimentary in-vehicle Wi-Fi and safety services to anyone with an OnStar-equipped Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle.
Stellantis did not immediately respond to an inquiry into if it is doing anything to help in hurricane relief.
Ford dealership feeds the community
Ford Philanthropy announced Friday it is running a $300,000 Hurricane Helene donation challenge with match. That means that Ford Philanthropy will match up to $100,000 for Team Rubicon, for Red Cross and for Feeding America for a total donation potential of $600,000, Culler said.
The match is being done to encourage people to donate because there’s so much need, Culler said. Either way, she said Ford is guaranteeing the amount to the organizations. Additionally, Ford Philanthropy has given $150,000 to local groups such as Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, United Way of Citrus County in Crystal River, Florida, United Way East Tennessee Highlands in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Habitat for Humanity International.
"We have employees writing to us and dealers writing us asking, 'How can we help?' " Culler said. "Supporting these organizations with funding is important because this is a crisis that will be expensive not just in the short term, but in the rebuilding as well."
The most immediate need, she said, is food. This is where one dealership stepped up, Culler said. Dublin Ford in Dublin, Georgia partnered with Legion FC Dublin Soccer Team and Holy Smokes BBQ & Southern Heritage Bar-B-Que to provide 1,200 free meals to people on Tuesday, many of whom are still without water and power. At one point, hundreds of vehicles lined up along the roadway to get into the dealership for the food.
Ford vehicles powering homes and more
Then there is the use of Ford's vehicles, especially the F-150 hybrid trucks with onboard generators and the all-electric Ford Lightnings, to help. Ford spokesman Said Deep said the automaker is seeing a "six-time increase of Pro Power Onboard use" in the areas hit by the hurricane.
Pro Power Onboard allows Ford vehicles to be used as mobile generators to power electric tools and other devices through strategically placed outlets. It's available as an option on many Ford models, including the F-150 and F-150 Lightning.
In an email North Carolina residents Ray Harrell and Ashley Mabe wrote to their Ford dealer, which Ford shared with the Detroit Free Press, the pair said they were using their 2024 Ford F-150 Platinum Plus Powerboost Hybrid as a generator for their house after they lost power during the hurricane.
"When Hurricane Helene came through our area of North Carolina on Sept. 27 with such an unexpected force, we were caught off-guard by the storm damage and loss of power for several days!" the pair's email read. "The truck delivered a steady and reliable power source during that time, making living without electricity much more bearable."
Culler said Team Rubicon can use the Ford vehicles to power their tools and the Feeding America or World Central Kitchen can use them to keep refridgeration going to save perishable food from spoiling.
More: Ford sending trucks to power tools in flood-damaged Kentucky homes
"These are game changers honestly," Culler said. "We gave Team Rubicon 17 vehicles last year and all those are being deployed. There are Broncos, Lightnings and gasoline-powered F-150s ... some have Pro Power Onboard generators and some are just great work horses. Dealers are also taking new vehicles from their dealerships to see how they can provide power and help."
Finally, Deep said Ford Credit and Lincoln Credit are offering those impacted by the hurricane a lease or purchase on a new car with a deferred payment up to 120 days. Also, Ford Credit is offering payment deferrals to people who already finance with it and might need some breathing room on their payments.
More: 2025 Ford Expedition SUV adds Tremor off-roader, trick tailgate and more
More: UAW members rally in Sterling Heights over Stellantis job cut concerns
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Contact Jamie L. LaReau: jlareau@freepress.com . Follow her on Twitter @ jlareauan . Read more on General Motors and sign up for our autos newsletter . Become a subscriber .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford, GM, Honda step up to help Hurricane Helene victims with money, disaster volunteers
Local News
Comments / 0