Nevada Red Cross volunteers deploy to Florida in wake of Helene — PHOTOS
A veteran and a rookie from Southern Nevada are among 350 Red Cross volunteers serving in Florida as Hurricane Helene made landfall near Tallahassee, Florida, late Thursday.
Tammy Brandl of Pahrump, who has deployed 24 times, and first-time deployee Karla Brown of Henderson are headed to the Sunshine State’s Big Bend region, according to a news release.
Brandl and Brown will start off in Tallahassee and then be assigned to emergency shelters, said Nevada Red Cross spokesman Keith Paul.
Helene will be so large that Hurricane Force wind gusts 75-100 mph+ will extend well inland before landfall around 11 PM - 1 AM
This is beyond what we've seen here in modern times. pic.twitter.com/DFAoSXMp0v
— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) September 26, 2024
The governors of Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia all declared emergencies in their states.
Mandatory evacuation orders stretched from the panhandle south along the Gulf Coast in low-lying areas around Tallahassee, Gainesville, Cedar Key, Lake City, Tampa and Sarasota.
“The Red Cross has strategically placed supplies, vehicles, and relief workers in Florida to ensure a prompt response after Hurricane Helene impacts the region,” the news release stated. “Coordination with local community partners and emergency responders is underway to provide support at evacuation centers. The Red Cross is preparing about 45,000 snacks and ready-to-eat meals, as well as emergency response vehicles.
After initial training, Red Cross disaster volunteers are prepared to respond to local emergencies, like home fires, offering immediate support on-site or remotely. With experience and additional training, volunteers can deploy to major emergencies or disasters locally and nationwide. Explore local disaster volunteer opportunities at redcross.org/DAT.
Contact Marvin Clemons at mclemons@reviewjournal.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
