Missouri Red Cross sends volunteers to California as widespread flooding continues
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Volunteers from across the Missouri and Arkansas region have been deployed to California as heavy rain continues to fall.
As of Friday, 18 volunteers from the Missouri and Arkansas region -- including four from the Central and Northern Missouri Chapters -- have been deployed to California.
Volunteers will assist with shelter operations, dispersing food, disaster assessment and health services.
According to the Red Cross, it has mobilized relief supplies and trained disaster workers across the more than 400 miles of California impacted by the storms. Missouri and Arkansas volunteers are joined by more than 380 trained Red Cross disaster workers.
The Red Cross is working with other partners to provide more than 3,400 shelter stays in 65 shelters. More than 10,200 meals and snacks have been distributed, and at least 600 people sought refuge in the shelters.
Rebecca Gordon -- Executive Director of the Central and Northern Missouri chapters -- said volunteers could be deployed for a few weeks.
"We look to see about two weeks of deployment, but as the disaster is unfolding, that'll ebb and flow," Gordon said. "We call it disaster cycle services. So we kind of cycle in as the need ebbs and flows and changes.
"It is entirely likely that we will be deploying more in the coming weeks and days," Gordon said.
Gordon added that Red Cross chapters across the country work hand-in-hand.
"We had Red Crossers from all across the county that came in to help us in our time of need (in reference to the 2022 St. Louis flood)," Gordon said. "And so now, we're returning that favor by deploying out to those communities."
The Red Cross is in need of volunteers for both local and large-scale disaster responses. Gordon also said they are in need of both monetary donations and blood donations.
"Ninety percent of our workforce is volunteers and so we couldn't do the things that we do without those volunteers," Gordon said.
More information on how you can help, including becoming a volunteer can be found online.
