Volunteers are driving to Louisiana on Today (Sunday, September 6) in a Red Cross emergency response vehicle to help communities affected by Hurricane Laura. Robert Capasso and Charles Hughes are joining 37 volunteers from our region already deployed to help with relief efforts in Louisiana and Texas. They will be leaving at 12 pm. from the American Red Cross of Central Illinois offices located at 311 West John Gwynn Jr. Avenue, Peoria, Illinois 61605.
The emergency response vehicle will aid in disaster relief to mobilize supplies such as ready-to-eat meals, water and snacks, clean-up kits, and other items once it arrives in Louisiana.
Some 1,400 Red Cross workers, including 37 from the Illinois region have been mobilized to help with relief efforts in Louisiana and east Texas after Hurricane Laura devastated entire communities – as one of most powerful storms to ever hit the U.S. Volunteers are fulfilling a variety of roles including sheltering, food distribution, health and mental health services and damage assessment. More local volunteers will continue to be deployed to assist those in need.
About 21,000 people are being provided a safe place to stay by various agencies in emergency lodgings, including shelters, and in some circumstances, hotels. With the help of partners, the Red Cross has already served more than 127,000 meals and snacks and distributed some 70,000 relief items and cleaning supplies.
Access Red Cross b-roll for Hurricane Laura here.
Access Hurricane Laura photos here.
Our work is only beginning. We know that recovery from a devastating hurricane like this takes time. In the weeks ahead, we will continue to coordinate with community and government partners to assess the damage, address urgent needs and provide support to help survivors rebuild.
The Red Cross will be providing support for weeks to come as we know that recovery from a devastating hurricane like this takes time. We will continue to coordinate with community and government partners to assess the damage, address urgent needs and provide support to help survivors rebuild.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of people impacted by Hurricane Laura. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS or text the word LAURA to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
About the American Red Cross of Illinois
The American Red Cross of Illinois serves 12.4 million people in 88 counties in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri including Adams, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cook, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, De Witt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Green, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jasper, Jefferson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermillion, Warren, Washington, Whiteside, Will, Williamson Winnebago, Woodford. Iowa: Lee, Muscatine, Scott and Van Buren. Missouri: Clark, Lewis, Marion and Ralls. 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 us at Redcross.org/Illinois or visit us on Twitter @RedCrossIL.