ORLANDO, Fla. – Counseling centers and hotlines were flooded with calls Sunday following a mass shooting at a popular gay nightclub in Orlando.
The shooter, Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, opened fire inside the club, killing 49 people and wounding more than 50 others before he was shot and killed in a gun battle with police. It was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
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As Orlando community members attempt to cope with their grief and come to terms with the attack, Orlando police said emotional support is available through live chat online at HFUW.org or by texting your zip code to 898-211 to connect via text.
The Heart of Florida United Way also has a Central Florida crisis hotline available 24/7 by calling 211, and the Victim Service Center of Central Florida has a counseling hotline at 407-497-6701.
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The Zebra Coalition's hotline was so overwhelmed by calls Sunday that the organization opened a new counseling phone line at 407-822-5036. Press 1 to speak to someone.
"We are working with amazing volunteer counselors to answer your calls," the coalition said in a statement.
The GLBT Community Center of Central Florida said in the coming days, weeks and months, it will continue to coordinate resources to help anyone affected.
"The Center is a safe haven for anyone that has been affected, or anyone that is experiencing grief from this senseless tragedy," the organization wrote in a statement on its website. "Call or come by if you need to talk, or just need to be near someone."
The Center is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at 946 North Mills Ave. in Orlando and offers grief counseling in English and Spanish. The Center's crisis hotline is 407-227-1446.
The Zebra Coalition said the Center anticipates it will need assistance through Wednesday from crisis care volunteers and therapists.To provide information to the Center as a clinician who can offer assistance please click here to add your information.
"When news broke of the tragedy, all of the resources from every GLBT organization in Central Florida sprung into action to organize our response," the Center said. "We stand united to provide every resource to our friends and family in the wake of this senseless act."
The central counseling center will offer services from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Church at 1901 E. Robinson St. through Wednesday.
The University of Central Florida LGBT student services director said the LGBT student hang out space, Pride Commons, will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and group counseling is available daily from 1 to 2 p.m.
Equality Florida also listed Muslim counselors: Naseema at 786-473-6017 and Sakina Issa at 407-484-2724; and a child/teen counselor: Austin Hill at 941-468-7062 on its website.
Community groups have set up a GoFundMe account to raise funds to assist the victims and their families. The fund page says 100 percent of the proceeds will go to victims and families.
Eqaulity Florida also has a GoFundMe account for the victims and their families that has raised nearly $1.5 million in less than 24 hours.