Red Cross volunteers headed to help hurricane victims

Volunteers constitute about 90 percent of the American Red Cross workforce; they make it possible to respond to the almost 64,000 disasters every year.

Harvey is predicted to be a Category 3 storm.

“Well we know that we are probably going to be helping in some fashion”.

Morgan is just one of nine volunteers from Northwest Arkansas.

“Allen and Carol Becker will deploy from Minot with a Red Cross emergency response vehicle”. The group said they’re shipping disaster relief boxes with enough food to last a family four or five days. “People have come in from all over the country”.

No shelters would likely need to be set up in the Waco region, however, help is needed with the shelters expected to open in Bryan, Austin, and San Antonio. “We can’t do anything without donator dollars”.

That will go toward operations and materials.

“A truck like this serves the objective normally we feed meals immediately after an incident”, said Baltodano.

They monitor conditions and activate teams as needed.

“Lots of prayers first of all”, Salvation Army volunteer Janet Harrison said.

Texas could see up to 35 inches of rain through next Wednesday.

And he says when it’s all over, their help will continue.

“The focus right now is just trying to get people out of harm’s way”, James Hatcher with the Red Cross said.

Two volunteers from MI are already in Texas, running shelters for evacuees and getting more shelters ready.

Anyone can donate to the Red Cross by visiting redcross.org, calling 1- 800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.