Apple Makes It Easy to Help Relieve Devastating Damages Caused by Louisiana Floods

Apple is now lending a helping hand to those affected by the disastrous flooding in Louisiana. The Cupertino-based tech company is now taking donations to the American Red Cross via iTunes and the Apple App Store.

The devastating floods, which began after a period of torrential rainfall last week, have reportedly killed 13 people. Additionally, over 60,000 homes were damaged, displacing a countless number of Louisianians, according to NPR. At the peak of the floods, more than 10,000 people took shelter at Red Cross and other community shelters. Around 4,000 people were left with nowhere to go.

The Red Cross called the Louisiana flooding “the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy.” And The Red Cross has mentioned they “urgently need the public to support relief efforts in Louisiana by making a financial donation today.” The foundation estimates the relief effort will cost around $30 million.

The American Red Cross donation button lets you easily make a donation — as of right now you can contribute $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 or $200 to support the organization’s Louisiana flood relief operations. The full amount of each donation will go directly to the Red Cross, and all donations are processed as iTunes or App Store purchases — but Apple did note that givers would not be able to use any existing iTunes credit in their accounts, MacRumors reported.

This isn’t the first time that Apple has used its various platforms to help disaster relief efforts. The company also solicited similar donations after Superstorm Sandy ravaged parts of the East Coast in 2012, and in the aftermath of earthquakes in Japan and Haiti. And just this May, Apple took donations to support those affected by the wildfires around Fort McMurray, in Alberta, Canada.

To donate, head to iTunes, or the App Store, or visit redcross.org.