ATLANTA Sept. 25, 2024— American Red Cross volunteers from Georgia are deploying across the state as Hurricane Helene intensifies and heads towards landfall along the Florida Panhandle. Ahead of the storm, the Red Cross is mobilizing hundreds of trained workers across the Southeast and prepositioning emergency response vehicles, truckloads of relief supplies and ready-to-eat meals to be ready to help.
“The Red Cross mission is to prevent and alleviate human suffering so it’s important that we’re there to help the communities before landfall and post-landfall during a hurricane,” said Jill Deskins, Regional Volunteer Services Officer for the Red Cross of Georgia who has deployed to Tallahassee, Florida, to help in storm response.
According to the National Hurricane Center, Hurricane Helene is expected to increase in speed today through Thursday, bringing the center of the storm across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and to the Florida Big Bend coast by Thursday evening. Helene's fast-forward speed could allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, across Georgia and into the southeastern United States. The Red Cross is preparing to respond and urges Georgians to get ready now.
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Download the free Red Cross Emergency App for real-time weather alerts, open shelters and expert advice on emergency situations. The Emergency App includes an “I’m Safe” feature that helps people check on loved ones. Search “American Red Cross” in app stores, or go to redcross.org/apps.
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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