Hurricane Florence was still wrecking North Carolina, days after the storm came ashore. The state got nearly 3 feet of rain, and flooding in some places is still worsening.

Thousands of residents are living in shelters and thousands more are in hotels or staying with family and friends. The state’s governor urged them to stay where they are.

“I know for many people this feels like a nightmare that just won’t end,” Gov. Roy Cooper said. “I know it was hard to leave home, and it is even harder to wait and wonder whether you even have a home to go back to.”

The death toll from the storm is currently at 37; 27 of those are in North Carolina. The city of Wilmington was mostly an island Wednesday, surrounded by floodwaters.

The destruction and death won’t equal what Katrina brought to Gulf Coast states in 2005, but it will be one that North Carolina remembers — and gauges other storms by — for years to come.

Mississippians were involved in rescue efforts in the North Carolina/Virginia areas, and no doubt there will be some from the Magnolia State who volunteer for the massive task of recovery.

If you want to help recovery efforts there, officials say to be careful who you choose to donate to. National organizations like the Red Cross, United Way and Salvation Army are taking donations, as well as local organizations.

The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is managed by the state’s government. The state has also compiled a list of volunteer organizations at www.ncvoad.org.

No matter who you decide to donate to, do your homework to make sure donations will be used in a way that you approve of. Your diligence will ensure the money gets in the hands of those who need it.