Hurricane Matthew slammed the south last weekend, leaving destruction from Florida through North Carolina.
Ongoing flooding in many areas is still keeping people out of their homes. It is estimated that more than 2.5 million people have been impacted by the storm.
Nationwide the American Red Cross currently has more than 3,000 staff and volunteers, plus 155 emergency response vehicles, in the affected areas. As the water recedes and more areas become accessible, additional personnel will be sent to assist with the recovery effort.
As of Tuesday evening, the Red Cross has provided 74,000 overnight shelter stays, distributed roughly 140,000 meals and snacks, and mobilized more than 100 trailers filled with emergency relief and clean-up supplies.
The American Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Region currently has 25 people and two vehicles deployed to the area. More deployments are expected in the coming days.
People wishing to help can do so in three ways:
- Estimates place the storm damage to be more than $6 million. The Red Cross is still in the process of calculating the cost of our recovery operation and donations are needed to help with the effort now underway. Those wishing to make a donation can do so by visiting redcross.org/donate.
- More than 75 blood drives have been cancelled in the impacted areas, resulting in nearly 2,500 units of blood and platelets going uncollected. Visit redcrossblood.org to locate a blood donation center near you.
- Volunteers are always needed in the local community. Consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer today. You will be trained to make an immediate impact in your local community, and you will become eligible to deploy to national disasters when they occur. Learn more by visiting redcross.org/volunteer.
Those currently deployed include:
- Lisa Lowrie (Stevens, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with disaster mental health in North Carolina
- Jane Matthews (York, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with training in North Carolina
- Jennifer Wiggin (Lancaster, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with fundraising in North Carolina
- Tom Reardon (Franklin County, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with volunteer services in North Carolina
- Tiphanie Stocks (Wellsboro, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with feeding in North Carolina
- David Baran (State College, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with feeding in South Carolina
- Steven Bixby (Ulster, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with facilities in South Carolina
- Yvonne Cooper (Williamstown, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with sheltering in South Carolina
- Lois Craven (Elizabethtown, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with information dissemination in South Carolina
- Daniel Eckenroth (Harrisburg, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with sheltering in South Carolina
- Jenny Gomez (Lancaster, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with sheltering in South Carolina
- Mary Jo Henrickson (Williamsport, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with feeding in South Carolina
- Ken Horting (Millerstown, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with feeding in South Carolina
- Duane King (Lancaster, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with government operations in South Carolina
- Sheila Morrison (Manheim, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with health services in South Carolina
- Robert Soccio (Burnham, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with feeding in South Carolina
- Gail Valora (North Bend, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with sheltering in South Carolina
- Scott Weaver (Mount Carmel, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with feeding in South Carolina
- Chris Weidenhammer (Camp Hill, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with logistics in South Carolina
- Allen White (Waynesboro, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with life, safety, and asset protection in South Carolina
- Gerald Dombard (Denver, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with sheltering in Georgia
- Bonnie Dyke (Bellefonte, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with staff wellness in Georgia
- Debbie Jones (Cogan Station, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with disaster assessment in Florida
- Paul LeVan (Lebanon, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with disaster assessment in Florida
- Nancy Noll (Bellefonte, Pa.) – Deployed to assist with training in Florida