American Red Cross Volunteer Deploys To California

From American Red Cross: American Red Cross volunteer Donna Hathaway is deploying to Sacramento, California to support Red Cross relief efforts due to compromised Oroville Dam spillways which could potentially cause catastrophic flooding. Once there, Donna will serve as a disaster health services supervisor. Donna is one of close to 3,000 Red Cross volunteers in the Connecticut and Rhode Island Region of the American Red Cross, and is a responder from the Southeastern Connecticut area.

An estimated 4,800 people in northern California are in 28 Red Cross and community shelters after being forced to leave their homes due to compromised Oroville Dam spillways. At least 188,000 people have been ordered to evacuate and officials report it could be up to two weeks before they can return home.

As of noon on Tuesday, four Red Cross shelters are open, while the majority of the other shelters are being managed by other organizations, separate from the Red Cross. With each day, the Red Cross will work with its partners and community organizations to come together to support those evacuated.

The Red Cross is also working with partners to provide an array of services, including pet care and in-kind donations from the community. Services are available for people with access and functional needs. There are 130 Red Cross workers on the ground currently, with more on the way in the coming days. Ten Red Cross emergency response vehicles are on the scene supporting feeding operations. The Red Cross and its partners provided 3,600 meals on Monday, and later this week will be prepared to feed as many as 15,000 people a day.

MAKE A DONATION We are thankful to those who would like to donate items for people evacuated in California – but the Red Cross is not equipped to manage, support, and distribute donated items. Instead, our priority is to get those affected settled at emergency shelters, and to provide supplies to meet immediate needs. Right now, the best way to help is through a financial donation.

The Red Cross depends on donations to prepare for and provide immediate relief from disasters. Help people affected by California floods by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word CAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.

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