Organizations prepare to help as Florida braces for Hurricane Ian

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

As residents in Florida prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Ian, so are organizations across the country.

The Red Cross of the Missouri and Arkansas Region and Convoy of Hope in Springfield have been preparing to provide shelter and supplies to those in Florida.

"Here in the Missouri Arkansas region we sent out about 20 people over the weekend heading down to Florida to be there in advanced to make sure they are on the ground there ready to go," Sharon Watson, of the American Red Cross of Missouri and Arkansas Region, said.

Watson said those volunteers are preparing shelters for residents.

"Trying to anticipate the best location for the shelters and then making sure we have people close who are ready to move in as soon as the storm hits and open those shelters and so they have the supplies in a safe place." Watson said.

Convoy of Hope has a warehouse filled with supplies to help those impacted by natural disasters. It receives supplies from donations made by national corporations.

The organizations said being able to see a hurricane coming allows them to be able to plan in advanced, unlike earthquakes or tornadoes.

Convoy of Hope spokesperson Ethan Forhetz said it has a number of volunteers preparing to help.

"Actually, right now we have volunteers that are gathering to fill grocery bags full of supplies that Convoy of Hope disaster service teams that can take down with us as we go down to Florida so we're ready as soon as the storm hits we go in following that." Forhetz said.

The bags Convoy of Hope sends are filled with grocery items.

"Sports drinks, water (are) very important during times like these," Forhetz said. "Snack bars things like granola bars those sort of things just to help people get by we know its not going to be their meal forever but today its going to be the meal they need."

You can donate to the American Red Cross and Convoy of Hope to help.