American Red Cross sends additional crews to California to aid in storm recovery
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
ABC News has reported at least 17 people dead as a result of the severe storms that have passed through California. ABC News has also shared numerous photos of flooding in several parts of California, including a photo of a sinkhole in the road that swallowed two vehicles.
Reports say, four people escaped the sinkhole, two suffered from minor injuries.
To help California in recovery from the storms, American Red Cross has deployed 18 volunteers from across the Missouri and Arkansas region, including four volunteers from the Central and Northern Missouri Chapters were sent to help with a number of disaster services.
Once the volunteers arrive in California, Red Cross says they will assist with shelters, distributing food, disaster assessments, and health services. The Red Cross, along with other disaster partners, has hosted more than 3,000 shelter stays in 65 shelters and has distributed more than 10,000 meals.
The Red Cross says they are expecting their crews to be deployed for several days. "We look to see about two weeks of deployment, but as the disaster is unfolding, that'll ebb and flow. We call it disaster cycle services. So we kind of cycle in as the need ebbs and flows and changes," said Rebecca Gordon, Executive Director of the Central and Northern Missouri chapters.
Gordon also said as days go on, they anticipate sending more volunteers out west. "It is entirely likely that we will be deploying more in the coming weeks and days," Gordon said.
According to the Red Cross, as of Thursday, 600 people were seeking shelter. The Red Cross also said they are 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.
