Nearly twenty volunteers from the Dakotas Region have deployed to help people affected by Hurricane Dorian. The volunteers stepping up to help are from all across North Dakota, South Dakota and Northwestern Minnesota. They join more than 2,800 trained Red Cross responders from all over the country who are helping to support relief efforts.
Sunday night (September 8), 64 people remained in 1 Red Cross shelter in West Palm Beach, Florida where volunteers are providing comfort to people evacuated to the U.S. from the Bahamas. To date, the Red Cross and community organizations have provided over 38,000 cumulative overnight stays for Hurricane Dorian. Many of our local volunteers have been working in shelters, taking care of evacuees and making sure they are as comfortable as possible.
We have also deployed volunteers with specialties in Disaster Mental Health, Disaster Spiritual Care, nurses to help with people's health needs, and one of our local responders is helping to reunite families who have been separated due to the disaster.
Several local volunteers were recently deployed to West Palm Beach, Florida to care for evacuees arriving from the Bahamas. The Red Cross is working in close coordination with our partners at Palm Beach County Emergency Management to provide shelter, food, water, hygiene items, health services and emotional support. Volunteers will also reconnect families and provide referrals to those in need with the generous support available through community resources.
Get to Know the Volunteers
Carrie Odegaard is from Shelly, MN. She originally deployed to Florida and was relocated to South Carolina as the track of Hurricane Dorian changed. Carrie’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Becky Eisenbraun is from Hill City, SD and has deployed to Florida. Becky’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Judi Leonard is from Granville, ND and has deployed to Georgia. Judi’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Carol Holm is from Brookings, SD and has deployed to Florida. Carol’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Jay and Mary Lea Hennies are from Vermillion, SD and have deployed to Florida. The Hennies will be helping people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Nancy McKenney is from Rapid City, SD and has deployed to Georgia. Nancy’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Jeff Anderson is from Sioux Falls, SD and has deployed to Georgia. Jeff’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Rachel McCleary is from Aberdeen, SD and is a Red Cross board member in Eastern South Dakota. She has deployed to Georgia. Rachel’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Patti Vaska is from Sioux Falls, SD and has deployed to North Carolina. Patti is an RN and will be working in Disaster Health Services.
Ken Michaelson is from Rapid City, SD and has deployed to South Carolina. Ken’s assignment is in Information and Planning.
Charles Taylor is from Killdeer, ND and has deployed to South Carolina. Charles’ assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Charla Imrie is from Aberdeen, SD and has deployed to South Carolina. Charla’s assignment is to help people in evacuation centers and shelters.
Pete Harmon is from Hawley, MN and has deployed to South Carolina. Pete’s assignment is to help with food distribution in the affected areas.
Preston Van Loon is from Mandan, ND and has deployed to South Carolina. Preston’s assignment is in Disaster Spiritual Care.
Josh Christensen is from Grand Forks, ND and has deployed to North Carolina. Josh works for the Red Cross as a Volunteer Recruitment Specialist. He is deploying to Hurricane Dorian to work in Reunification.
Thomas Henley is from Aurora, SD and has deployed to South Carolina. Tom’s assignment is in Disaster Spiritual Care.
If you'd like to become an American Red Cross volunteer, click here to learn about opportunities and get started.
International Relief to the Bahamas
Our hearts go out to families in the Bahamas dealing with the catastrophic impacts of Hurricane Dorian. Initial aerial assessments confirm widespread devastation to the islands - that's everything from destroyed homes to contaminated water sources.
The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has announced an emergency appeal for $3.2 million to support the Bahamas Red Cross as it responds to the storm. In addition, the American Red Cross has made a contribution of $2 million to support the Bahamas relief effort and deployed a disaster response specialist to provide media support.
If you have lost contact with a US citizen traveling in the Bahamas, contact the U.S. State Department at 1-888-407-4747.
Ways to Help
