Eleven disaster-trained volunteers from the American Red Cross of South Carolina are deploying to California to help people in need after a busy weekend of disasters across multiple western states.
Red Cross disaster teams have emergency shelters open in California, Arizona and Nevada after Tropical Storm Hilary’s heavy rain caused flooding, power outages and numerous rockslides. Residents were evacuated from areas like Catalina Island and towns in San Bernadino County in California. Debris from rockslides is blocking some roads, several schools are closed in the affected areas, almost 60,000 people are without power and more than 1,000 flights were canceled due to the storm.
Hilary has been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone, but the danger isn’t over. The National Weather Service warns that additional rainfall from the storm could lead to more flooding from California and Nevada north to Oregon and Idaho. Desert areas are at a particular risk for flash flooding, while many areas scarred by previous wildfires could face.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross and our partners are working tirelessly to get help to people in Hawaii as quickly as possible after the deadliest wildfires in the last 100 years. Seven disaster-trained volunteers from South Carolina are on the ground in Hawaii, ensuring residents who can’t return home have a safe place to stay, food to eat and emotional support.
The Red Cross of South Carolina stands ready to deploy more disaster-trained volunteers as needed.
YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like wildfires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER Every day, the American Red Cross sees the heartbreak of people trying to cope with more intense storms, heavier rainfall, higher temperatures, stronger hurricanes, and more devastating wildfires. As more people rely on the Red Cross for help, the need for compassionate volunteers has never been greater. This spring, consider volunteering with the American Red Cross in one of our urgently needed volunteer opportunities. Learn more at redcross.org/volunteer
CLIMATE CRISIS The climate crisis is driving extreme weather conditions across the country with the ongoing flooding in the Northeast and extreme heat in the south as examples. Some experts say with the arrival of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean, the situation may get worse. As these extreme weather disasters increase, more people need help from the Red Cross. Find out more about the Red Cross and its work on the climate crisis here.
