Hurricane Irma Aftermath: Monroe County Needs Your Donations Delivered On Pallets

KEY WEST, FL — Hurricane Irma ravaged Monroe County earlier this week, and now officials are asking for your donation, but only if it isn't perishable ... and comes on a pallet.

The number of people wanting to give away items to the county has been "overwhelming," said a Friday afternoon news release distributed by the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force on behalf of the Monroe County Government. But officials currently don't have the infrastructure in place to accept small, individual — bagged or boxed — donations.

Small donations will only "add to traffic congestion," officials said. (For more information on Florida Keys donations and other Miami-area stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Watch: Hurricane Irma's Destructive Journey By The Numbers

Only non-perishable donations on pallets will be accepted, officials said, including bottled water, electrolyte drinks, baby goods, cleaning products, nonperishable foods and tarps.

According to floridadisaster.org, 58 percent of the county remains without power.

#HuricaneIrma Donations for Monroe County are NEEDED. The only donations at this time that can be accepted MUST BE ON PALLETS. #KeysRecovery pic.twitter.com/Q54hmbkCcU
— South Florida PIOs (@MobileJIC1) September 15, 2017

Donations will be accepted at a National Guard outpost On U.S. Route 1 between mile markers 53 and 54 on the Gulf of Mexico side.

Photo credit: Alan Diaz/Associated Press