The American Red Cross never sleeps. At least, the Red Cross hasn’t gotten much shut-eye lately as it provides care and comfort to people affected by hurricanes and wildfires on two U.S. coasts.

As volunteers wrap up relief operations in states devastated by Hurricane Debby, which slammed northern Florida in August and caused millions in property damage, a new deployment of Red Cross disaster workers has been mobilized to respond to Hurricane Francine, a Category 2 storm that smashed into the Louisiana coast yesterday. The storm brought heavy rains, damaging winds and life-threatening storm surges to parts of the region. Governors of Louisiana and Mississippi already have declared states of emergency.

According to Climate Central, Francine’s development was aided by hotter-than-average ocean temperatures that were made at least 100x more likely due to the climate crisis. The climate crisis is bringing more frequent and intense disasters that upend lives. In response, the Red Cross is providing food, shelter and recovery support on a nearly continual basis.

In advance of Hurricane Francine making landfall, the Red Cross has mobilized trained disaster responders, emergency response vehicles, and relief supplies and ready-to-eat meals to aid victims of the storm.

Esther Morell has been a Red Cross volunteer since 2021 and has deployed ten times. In the past year, Morell has aided victims of disasters in Arizona, Michigan, Texas and Hawaii.

“You’re always a little nervous when you begin a new deployment,” said Morell as she buckled into her flight from New York City to Jackson, Miss., where she was slotted to aid Hurricane Francine victims seeking relief in Red Cross shelters. “But you’re always excited to be there for people in need.”

Morell, 59, is retired and child-free, which makes deploying at a moment’s notice relatively easy.

“It’s not unusual for the Red Cross to call me in the morning and for me to be on a plane to somewhere in the afternoon. I’m ready to go at any time,” she said.

Carlos Alves, who lives in Coral Springs, Fla., is between jobs as a software salesman. He began volunteering for the Red Cross about a year ago to feel useful and “give back” to his community.

Alves has volunteered for the Red Cross installing smoke alarms and providing aid to families affected by home fires.

“I enjoy providing comfort to people going through a very tough situation when they have no home to return to or clothes to wear,” Alves said.

Alves is looking forward to deploying today to Mississippi to help set up and staff shelters for families displaced by the hurricane. He’ll leave at home a wife and cat they recently adopted.

“My wife is very supportive of my deployment. She knows I’ve been climbing the walls looking for something to do,” he said. “Now, I feel useful and have a purpose.”

The Red Cross urges everyone in Francine’s path to listen to local authorities. If you evacuated, don't return home until officials have declared that it is safe to enter your community.

To ensure people have the help they need, the Red Cross depends on public support. 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. You can make a financial donation by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767).