SOUTH CAROLINA, April 7, 2025 – Twelve disaster-trained volunteers from the American Red Cross of South Carolina are deploying to support disaster relief operations across the Midwest and South. Dangerous tornadoes and severe flooding have forced residents to evacuate. With people forced from their homes, the Red Cross is working alongside our partners to provide safe shelter, food, emotional support and health services. 

“I’ve been volunteering for 33 years,” said Karen Anson, a Red Cross volunteer from Little River, SC who recently deployed to Kentucky. “When you’re out on a large disaster everyone works together to get the job done, it’s just a good feeling.”

Before the storms, the Red Cross worked closely with community partners and emergency management to preposition supplies and prepare for flooding. This is an evolving situation with hazardous road conditions and the threat of flash flooding continues this week across multiple states. The Red Cross is coordinating closely with other community partners to ensure people have the help they need as the full scope of this disaster continues to come to light.

The Red Cross is on the ground across the affected states, working with state and local officials to help people impacted by these storms. More than 770 disaster workers are helping from all across the country, including some 40 emergency shelter teams who are ensuring people have a safe place to stay. As many as 80 emergency response vehicles are positioned or on stand-by to travel to the impacted areas, and more than a dozen tractor trailers carrying relief supplies have been mobilized.  

The Red Cross of South Carolina stands ready to deploy more disaster-trained workers to help our neighbors in need.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER The American Red Cross asks you to consider giving the gift of your time this year and resolve to help people in need as a volunteer in South Carolina. Depending on your interests, the Red Cross offers a variety of volunteer opportunities — from supporting a family after a fire in their home, helping a member of the military during an emergency, or helping us ensure blood is available for patients who need it. The need to help has never been greater. Join us to provide relief and hope when it matters most. Visit redcross.org/volunteer and get started today. 

To ensure people have the help they need, the Red Cross depends on public support. Please click, text or call to support Red Cross Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters like fires and countless other crises. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. 

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/SouthCarolina or follow us on social media @RedCrossSC.