The American Red Cross is preparing a large response effort as Hurricane Harvey bears down on Texas and Louisiana. That includes more than a dozen volunteers from our area.
“As this hurricane strengthens, so does the threat to people in its path. This has the potential to become a very dangerous storm, and the region could see life-threatening flooding as it moves through,” said Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics for the Red Cross.
The Red Cross is mobilizing trained Red Cross disaster relief workers to support this response effort, and has more than 17 shelters ready to open and support thousands of people if needed.
Trailers full of shelter and relief supplies have been pre-positioned including cots, blankets, comfort and cleaning supplies.
More than 30 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are activated with about 20 more on alert.
Locally, 14 volunteers from the Western and Central New York Region are deploying to the Gulf Coast.
