Operation Includes 45 from Western and Central New York Region
More than a month after devastating and historic floodwaters destroyed entire neighborhoods in Louisiana, thousands of residents are still impacted and the American Red Cross is there, making sure people get the help they need. The unnamed storm which deluged Louisiana is the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
In the last month, more than 4,200 Red Crossers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico traveled to Louisiana, where they have worked around the clock to help people affected by the flooding. Over 90 percent of these trained disaster workers are volunteers.
The ongoing relief effort includes 45 workers from the Western and Central New York Region. From the Finger Lakes Chapter, Robert Barton of the Wayne County community of Savannah is traveling to Baton Rouge later this week. While there, he will drive an Emergency Response Vehicle helping to deliver meals, water and other relief supplies. It will mark Barton’s fifth deployment in less than a year, having traveled to flooded regions of Mississippi and South Carolina, as well as two trips to Texas.
“One month ago, we launched a massive relief operation across much of Louisiana. We’ve served over a million meals and snacks – enough food for 14 times the number of people who attended the last Super Bowl. We’ve also provided more than 73,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters – and with many shelters still open, we very soon expect to surpass the number of overnight stays we provided during Superstorm Sandy,” reported Brad Kieserman, vice president, Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross. “One month in, a lot of great progress has been made, but this operation isn’t over, and we won’t leave while people in Louisiana still need our help.”
The massive Red Cross relief effort in Louisiana could cost at least $35 – 40 million, as volunteers remain on the ground to help in the difficult weeks ahead as residents recover from the devastation.
The Red Cross needs the public to join us in supporting Louisiana by making a financial donation today. People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.
In order to continue providing services locally and beyond, new volunteers are greatly needed.
To join us, visit redcross.org today to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application.
Additionally, Volunteer Information Sessions are scheduled throughout the region. The events are open to anyone interested in learning about the ways in which the Red Cross supports residents in their communities.