Patricia Cozetto and Karen Cattrell boarded flights at 6 AM Tuesday to Northern California to help with disaster assessment, even as another round of severe storms battered the state.
TAMPA, Fla. – January 10, 2023 – The American Red Cross is on the ground in California where severe storms continue to hit the state this week after the recent string of dangerous weather which has already caused flooding, power outages and forced thousands of evacuations.
More than 200 trained Red Cross disaster workers are helping with more on the way, including several from Central Florida.
Today, five local volunteers are traveling (by air) to Sacramento to support relief operations for at least two weeks.
As of Monday, more than 123,600 customers remained without power as the new storms near, threatening to take down more power across the state again. Over 34 million people are under flood watches and the National Weather Service (NWS) reports the region could see nearly half a foot of rain in some areas and six feet of snow in the mountains. The NWS warns of more power outages, rapid water rises, landslides, major river flooding and avalanches.
HOW TO HELP People can help by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
The American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands serves 19 Florida counties through five chapters: Florida’s Space Coast (Daytona Beach), Greater Orlando, Mid-Florida (Winter Haven), Southwest Florida (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay; and the Virgin Islands territories of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, visit redcross.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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