MIAMI (September 11, 2018) – A local Red Cross public affairs specialist has been deployed to Columbia, S.C., in preparation of Hurricane Florence making landfall on Thursday. Rebecca Torriani is part of the Red Cross’ Advanced Public Affairs Team (APAT), a select group of Red Cross staff members and volunteers who are specially trained to respond to disasters across the United States.
APAT members are on site to assist with national media interviews, story gathering and social media messaging both before and after the storm hits. APAT is responsible for getting accurate and timely information out to the public.
“Even though we’re getting ready for hurricane season in our region, we also deploy staff and volunteers to where they are most needed at a moment’s notice,” said Grace Meinhofer, Regional Marketing and Communications Director of the South Florida Region. “We are proud to be able to support our colleagues in South Carolina with the resources we have.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP: You can help people affected by Hurricanes by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. The Red Cross honors donor intent.
You can also support the Red Cross mission by becoming a Red Cross volunteer. If it weren’t for trained disaster workers who are ready to go where help is needed at a moment’s notice, the Red Cross would not be able to deliver its mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies. Sign up at redcross.org/sflvolunteer.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/southflorida or visit us on Twitter at @SFLRedCross.
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