Two volunteers are driving to Tennessee tomorrow (Monday, September 30) in an emergency response vehicle (ERV) to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

Phil Bloom and Tom R. are scheduled to depart at 9:00 a.m. (ET) from the American Red Cross office located at 1212 E. California Road in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They are joining hundreds of Red Cross disaster workers, including sixteen from the Indiana Region who have already been deployed to assist with relief efforts.

Hurricane Helene has caused massive destruction across the Southeast, leveling entire communities, destroying homes and businesses, damaging hospitals, schools, power lines and roadways. In many areas, people have no food, no power, no connectivity and little fuel to fill their vehicles.

The Red Cross has deployed over 45 emergency response vehicles from various regions, including Indiana, to provide assistance where it’s needed most. Red Cross disaster responders are on these vehicles, traveling through impacted communities to assess the damage and distribute meals and relief supplies.

You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).

This storm has also canceled blood drives throughout Georgia and the Carolinas, causing more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected. We encourage those outside the affected areas to schedule a blood donation appointment by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves.

About the American Red Cross Indiana Region:
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its six chapters: Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). 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/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @indianaredcross.