Over the past few weeks, residents of Southeastern states have been coping with the devastation left by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. For many, their lives are changed forever. We have been standing alongside the people of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee, helping them cope. Since Hurricane Helene made landfall, nearly 70 Nebraska-Iowa Red Cross volunteers have deployed to areas affected by the hurricanes.
Our dedicated volunteers are among the more than 1,600 American Red Cross responders providing shelter, meals, relief supplies and a shoulder to lean to make sure no one faces this disaster alone. In shelters, disaster health volunteers are caring for minor injuries and replacing things like eyeglasses and medications and mental health volunteers are providing comfort to those affected. Disaster kitchens are up and running, and dozens of Red Cross response vehicles are on the roads delivering hot meals along with water and supplies to people struggling to clean up their homes. With the help of partners, we’ve provided some 2.3 million meals and snacks, and more than 100,000 relief items like cleaning and hygiene supplies for thousands of affected families.
Our work isn’t close to being done. Alongside our partners, the Red Cross will be in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Tennessee to support those in need for weeks and months to come. In many areas, Red Crossers are supporting residential damage assessment. This critical information will be used to make plans for what support people may need.
These back-to-back storms are examples of how extreme weather is worsening and why communities are continually relying on the Red Cross for much needed support. Today, the Red Cross is responding to twice as many major disasters as a decade ago, and the number of massive billion-dollar disasters has also increased 85 percent over the same period. We can’t do this alone. Disasters this large require a team effort with communities and nonprofits coming together to coordinate recovery services to make sure people have the support they need. The Red Cross is working with dozens of partners — too many to name — across the affected states. A few examples include Children’s Disaster Services, All Hands and Hearts, Hope Worldwide and the NAACP.
Hurricane season isn’t over yet, and we need your help. If you are wanting to serve your community and others during times of disaster, we have a red vest for you. We are proud to be 90 percent run by volunteers, and that means committed folks fulfill several roles across all departments and lines of service. Volunteer opportunities are available for a wide range of skill sets and availability. Find one that’s right for you by visiting redcross.org/volunteer.
Comments