Volunteers, 3 Disaster Relief Vehicles From Michigan to Assist Red Cross Disaster Operation in Florida
September 26, 2024
The Michigan team will provide help at shelters, deliver hot meals and relief supplies.
DETROIT (Sept. 26, 2024) – A team of volunteers and three disaster relief vehicles from the American Red Cross Michigan Region are being deployed to assist with a Red Cross disaster relief operation in Florida’s Panhandle as Hurricane Helene approaches.
As of Thursday, 16 volunteers are being deployed and that number could increase as mobilization efforts continue in the coming days. Many volunteers will assist in staffing Red Cross emergency shelters, while others will deliver hot meals and relief supplies from disaster relief vehicles in communities impacted by flooding. One disaster vehicle was funded by the DTE Foundation.
“We are grateful to our Michigan volunteers who will be providing support to our team members and people in the Florida Panhandle,” said Latoysa “Toy” Rooks, regional disaster officer for the Red Cross Michigan Region. “We are prepared to commit additional resources should the need arise, while still meeting the needs of our Michigan communities.”
Hurricane season is kicking into high gear as meteorologists are closely watching possible storms showing signs of forming in the Atlantic. Helene could be the start of a series of back-to-back storms that threaten the United States.
The Red Cross has assigned some 360 trained disaster workers, stocked truckloads of supplies and is ready to open dozens of shelters to help people who are impacted in Florida. The Red Cross has also sent hundreds of blood products to Florida to ensure lifesaving blood remains available for patients in areas likely to be impacted by Helene.
The Red Cross plays a critical role in helping families and communities recover in the weeks and months after a disaster. In the first 9 ½ months of 2024, nearly 190 Michigan Red Cross volunteers have deployed to disaster relief operations across the country and locally, including the tornadoes that struck Southwest Michigan in May and several multi-family fires.
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MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz / david.olejarz@redcross.org / 313-303-0606
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.