The American Red Cross is on the ground in California, providing help where dozens of dangerous wildfires have force tens of thousands of people to leave their homes, and preparing to shelter and support families from Texas to Florida as two different tropical storms threaten the Gulf Coast over the coming days.

12 volunteers from the Western New York Region are supporting Red Cross relief efforts in California, Texas, and Louisiana. Nine volunteers are physically supporting sheltering operations, while three are virtually supporting in operations management.

In California, Red Cross disaster workers are focused on helping to make sure evacuees have a safe place to stay, including shelters and emergency hotel lodging, where possible. Friday night, the Red Cross and our partners provided more than 3,100 people in California with refuge from the storms in either emergency shelters or emergency hotel lodgings. With the help of partners, the Red Cross has provided nearly 2,800 meals and snacks and distributed over 130 relief items including comfort kits and other supplies to people in need.

In light of the upcoming weather forecast that highlights two tropical storms moving toward the United States, the Red Cross has pre-positioned shelter and relief supplies all along the Gulf Coast, and has volunteers ready to help people in need by providing safe shelter and other support.

SHELTER HELP NEEDED There is a special need for volunteers to support sheltering efforts during disaster relief operations here at home and across the country. Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross is placing those needing a safe place to stay in emergency hotel lodging when possible. If hotel stays aren’t possible, then the Red Cross will open traditional shelters. To help keep people safe, we have put in place additional precautions and developed special training for our workforce.

We need volunteers to help staff shelter reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks to help those we serve. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available.

HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORT NEEDED If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with an active, current and unencumbered license, the Red Cross needs your support. Volunteers are needed in shelters to help assess people’s health. Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. RNs supervise all clinical tasks. Roles are also available for Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Home Health Aides, student nurses and medical students.

If you are interested in helping our community should a disaster occur, please go to redcross.org/volunteertoday or email WCNY.VSRecruitment@redcross.org. Be sure to review the CDC guidance for people who are at higher risk for severe illness, consult your health care provider and follow local guidance. Our number one priority is the health and safety of our employees, volunteers and the people we serve.

Full information on volunteer opportunities is available here.

DONATIONS NEEDED You can help people affected by disasters wildfires, storms, and countless other disasters by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every donation matters. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-REDCROSS 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 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 or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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