Local Red Cross sends volunteers to help in Florida and Alabama; Holds training to recruit new volunteers to deploy
SALEM, Ore., October 9, 2018 – As hundreds of people remain in shelters in North Carolina and South Carolina following Hurricane Florence last month, Florida and Alabama are bracing for the impact of Hurricane Michael, which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday. In order to be ready to assist in the relief efforts related to this storm, the local Red Cross Cascades Region (serving Oregon and Southwest Washington) is recruiting volunteer disaster responders. People interested in volunteering for the Red Cross as a disaster responder are encouraged to attend a training session taking place in Salem this Friday, October 12.
Seven Red Cross disaster responders from Eugene, Hillsboro, Salem, and Silverton, Oregon, and Ocean Park and Vancouver, Washington, are already either on the ground or on their way to Florida and Alabama to assist with hurricane preparations. In coordination with government and community partners, Red Cross workers are preparing strategic shelter and warehouse locations, and stocking food, cots, blankets and other relief supplies to help people in harm's way.
The local Red Cross is seeking volunteers to help with Hurricane Michael, as well as other disasters. At the volunteer training session in Salem this Friday, Red Cross staff will present an overview of disaster deployment basics, and new volunteers will have the opportunity to speak with Red Cross workers, learn about volunteer opportunities and sign up to volunteer on site. No RSVP is required.
Event Details:
Friday, October 12, 2018 – SALEM
12 – 2 p.m.
Red Cross Salem Office
675 Orchard Heights Rd NW
Salem, OR 97304
HURRICANE FLORENCE RESPONSE CONTINUES More than 2,700 trained Red Cross disaster workers are still on the ground in North Carolina and South Carolina, continuing to provide food, shelter and other relief services to people impacted by Hurricane Florence. On Monday night, more than 560 people were still in 12 shelters, primarily in North Carolina. To date, the Red Cross and partners have served more than 1.53 million meals and snacks, and distributed more than 300,700 relief items throughout the affected areas.
MAKE A DONATION The Red Cross depends on donations to provide immediate relief. Help people affected by Hurricane Michael in the U.S. by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS to make a donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.
DOWNLOAD EMERGENCY APP Everyone should download the Red Cross Emergency App to have safety information available on their mobile device, including emergency weather alerts, preparedness information and shelter locations. Red Cross apps are available in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
About the American Red Cross 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 redcross.org/Cascades or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossCasc.