As communities across the Gulf Coast begin recovering from Hurricane Isaias, American Red Cross volunteers and staff are on the ground providing shelter, comfort and hope to those impacted. Among those answering the call is John McKinnon, Executive Director of the Southwest Florida Chapter, who deployed to Pensacola, Florida, for his first-ever disaster deployment.

Serving as an Elected Official Liaison, John is helping strengthen communication and coordination with local elected officials as the Red Cross works alongside community partners to support families affected by the storm.

Hurricane Isaias made landfall Friday night near Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 hurricane, bringing heavy rainfall, powerful winds, flooding and widespread power outages across the region.

In response, the Red Cross, working with officials and partners, opened & supported 21 evacuation centers across Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, providing a safe place for more than 1,160 people Friday night. More than 485 disaster responders from across the country are expected to support relief efforts, including damage assessment and the distribution of meals and emergency supplies.

For John, the deployment is an opportunity to serve alongside the dedicated volunteers and staff who carry out the Red Cross mission every day.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work our Red Cross teams do every day, and there’s something especially meaningful about having the opportunity to deploy and serve alongside the incredible volunteers and staff who bring our mission to life. Our hope is that Hurricane Isaias weakens and the impact is minimal. But whatever comes, the Red Cross will be there, ready to serve our communities when they need us most. It’s a privilege to be part of that mission.”

As communities begin the road to recovery, John’s first deployment is a reminder that Red Cross leadership extends beyond chapter boundaries. Whether serving neighbors in Southwest Florida or supporting communities hundreds of miles away, the mission remains the same: to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.
 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Hurricane Isaias is the first hurricane to make landfall along a U.S. coastline since Hurricane Milton in October 2024. While recent Atlantic hurricane seasons have been relatively quiet, devastating wildfires, floods and powerful storms have continued to impact communities across the country and beyond.

As families recover from Hurricane Isaias, the Red Cross needs your help. The generous support of donors makes it possible to provide shelter, meals, emergency supplies and other critical assistance to people affected by disasters.

You can help people affected by disasters like hurricanes, floods and countless other crises by making a donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting REDCROSS to 90999.

Your generosity enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country.