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Good360 is responding to Winter Storm Fern, a historic winter storm bringing extreme cold warnings, widespread power outages, and dangerous conditions across much of the United States. As communities face prolonged freezing temperatures and infrastructure disruptions, we are mobilizing to ensure nonprofit partners have access to critical products that support safety, warmth, and resilience.
About Winter Storm Fern
A historic winter storm is currently impacting over half of the United States, stretching across a massive 2,000-mile corridor from Texas to New England. This severe weather system brought a dangerous combination of sleet, freezing rain, and heavy snow to regions that are home to more than 200 million people.
Forecasts from our partners at AccuWeather indicate that this system is not just a typical winter event; it is expected to result in $105 billion to $115 billion in damage and economic loss. The storm involves a strong surge of Arctic air interacting with moisture from the Pacific and Gulf, creating a prolonged period of subfreezing temperatures. The greatest immediate risks involve significant ice accumulation across the South and East, which threatens to cripple infrastructure and leave communities in the dark for days.
How Good360 is Responding to Winter Storm Fern
“As this storm unfolds across multiple regions and continues to evolve, our priority is ensuring communities and nonprofit partners have access to essential products that can support safety, warmth, and resilience. We are responding now while closely monitoring conditions and emerging needs so we can quickly scale our support in the days ahead, particularly for vulnerable populations facing extended outages and extreme cold.” — Cinira Baldi, CEO of Good360
Good360 is actively responding to this crisis by assessing emerging needs and coordinating with our network of nonprofit partners to align available resources. We know that winter storms do not affect everyone equally; they hit hardest where people have the fewest resources to absorb another shock.
Last year, Good360 worked with more than 3,000 nonprofit partners in the states now affected by this winter storm.
Our response is currently focused on:
- Supporting Local Nonprofits: We are equipping partners in high-risk areas with preparedness and early response supplies. For example, we provided the Carpenter’s Shelter in Alexandria, VA, with batteries, flashlights, and blankets to support individuals experiencing homelessness who rely on the shelter for warmth and safety.
- Protecting Vulnerable Populations: We are paying special attention to communities that are disproportionately impacted, including those experiencing homelessness and families still recovering from previous disasters like Hurricane Helene. For these households, heavy snow and power outages are compounding existing hardships.
- Mobilizing Critical Equipment: We are preparing to ship generators and are coordinating closely with partners on the ground to identify where they are needed most to restore power and heat.
Current Impacts of Winter Storm Fern
The impact of Winter Storm Fern is widespread and severe. As the storm tracks across the country, it continues to disrupt daily life and threaten public safety.
- Power Outages: Nearly one million people have been left without power due to downed lines and ice accumulation. In the southern region alone, nearly 700,000 outages have been reported.
- Loss of Life: Tragically, at least 13 deaths have been attributed to the storm’s treacherous conditions.
- Travel Disruptions: Significant transportation disruptions are ongoing, with more than 9,000 flights canceled and hazardous road conditions making travel impossible in many areas.
- Infrastructure Damage: Ice accretions of one-half inch or more in the South and Southeast are causing widespread damage to trees and power infrastructure, complicating restoration efforts.
- Extreme Cold Warnings: In effect across multiple regions, power outages, travel disruptions, and infrastructure damage continue to escalate.
Immediate Relief Priorities
Communities urgently need access to power, heat, and safety equipment. Based on current assessments and forecasts, our immediate relief priorities include:
- Cash Contributions: Financial support allows us to respond immediately to evolving needs and transport critical resources efficiently.
- Emergency Power: Generators to provide life-saving power to homes and community centers.
- Heating & Warming: Blankets, heaters, and hand warmers to protect families from dangerous subfreezing temperatures.
- Lighting: Flashlights, lanterns, and batteries to provide safety during prolonged blackouts.
- Cleanup Supplies: Tools and materials to support debris removal caused by ice damage.
- Hygiene & Household Items: Basic kits for families whose homes have been damaged or who have been displaced to shelters.
