As multiple wildfires continue to rage in California, the Red Cross Cascades Region (serving Oregon and Southwest Washington) has deployed 15 volunteers to assist in the massive response effort. With nearly a quarter million people displaced, the Red Cross is working to provide shelter, food and comfort for those forced to leave their homes with little notice. Overnight, more than 2,100 people were cared for in 18 Red Cross and community evacuation centers across the state of California. In addition, the Red Cross has provided shelter supplies for over 7,000 people and begun mobilizing emergency supplies to serve over 15,000 households. Supplies include sifters, personal protective equipment, respiratory masks, rakes, shovels, work gloves, tarps and other resources. Also, nearly 3,900 people have registered on Safe and Well, a free Red Cross website that allows people to let their loved ones know they are safe. Fifteen Red Cross disaster responders from Bend, Grants Pass, Gresham, Gold Beach, Junction City, Medford, Newberg, Portland, Salem, Summerville, and Wolf Creek, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, are either already on the ground or making their way to California. In coordination with government and community partners, Red Crossers are preparing strategic shelter and warehouse locations and stocking food, cots, blankets and other relief supplies to help people affected by the fires. In addition, a dozen Red Cross Cascades Region volunteers continue to assist with the recovery efforts of Hurricane Michael in Florida and Hurricane Yutu in the Mariana Islands. In order to be ready to assist in the relief efforts related to these disasters, the local Red Cross Cascades Region is always looking for volunteer disaster responders. People interested in volunteering for the Red Cross as a disaster responder are encouraged to visit redcross.org/volunteer for more information.
