For the third time in just over a year, the American Red Cross is rapidly mobilizing volunteers and relief supplies to respond as another major hurricane bears down on communities in the Florida Panhandle.
As Hurricane Helene moves closer to the U.S., the Red Cross has assigned some 360 trained disaster workers, including nine volunteers from Oklahoma. They are ready to help with sheltering, feeding, government relations and disaster health services.
The Red Cross has deployed trailers of supplies and is ready to open dozens of shelters to help people in need. The Red Cross is also readying some 45,000 snacks and ready-to-eat meals, as well as emergency response vehicles.
In addition, the Red Cross has sent hundreds of blood products to Florida to ensure blood remains available for patients in areas likely to be impacted by the storm. Over the coming days, the Red Cross anticipates blood drive cancellations and lower donor turnout throughout the Southeast as communities confront dangerous weather conditions.
PLEASE HELP Right now, communities are preparing for potentially life-threatening impacts. The Red Cross urgently needs the support of the public to plan for and respond to disasters. You can help by making a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).
Red Cross volunteer and Haworth, Oklahoma, resident Steven Carter is in Florida as a government operations supervisor for the response to Hurricane Helene.
Financial donations to Red Cross Disaster Relief enables us to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. For those interested in helping people specifically affected by this storm, we ask that they write “Helene” in the memo line of a check and mail it with a completed donation form to the address on the form or to their local Red Cross chapter.
Where it is safe to do so, we encourage people to schedule a blood donation appointment on redcross.org to help restock the shelves. Through our national inventory, the Red Cross has the ability to move blood wherever and whenever it is needed most across the country.
CLIMATE CRISIS As the climate crisis worsens, the Red Cross is well practiced in preparing and responding to storms like Helene. Over the last five years, we’ve been there for 12 hurricane landfalls along the Gulf Coast.
Hurricane season is kicking into high gear as meteorologists are closely watching possible storms showing signs of forming in the Atlantic. Helene could be the start of a series of back-to-back storms that threaten the U.S.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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