Nearly 40 Red Cross volunteers from Oregon and Southwest Washington have deployed across the country this week, assisting those in need. Local Red Cross volunteers in Roseburg supported the immediate response when a gunman opened fire on the campus at Umpqua Community College. They provided comfort and support for friends and neighbors immediately following the incident, helping to set up a reception area for students, faculty, staff and first responders at the fairgrounds. In this safe and supportive environment, affected community members received blankets, something to eat or drink, and updates from authorities. In the following days, trained Red Cross disaster and licensed mental health volunteers have been deployed to support the local community. Currently 25 volunteers and staff are in Roseburg to work with local officials, provide mental health outreach, offer victim assistance, and provide water and snacks at public gatherings and vigils. The Red Cross is working with community organizations to provide mental health assistance at the Ford Family Foundation (1600 NW Stewart Parkway) and Umpqua Community College student cafeteria (1140 Umpqua College Rd.). On Monday, seven Cascades Region volunteers from Camas, WA., to Klamath Falls, OR., boarded flights to South Carolina where flooding has destroyed homes, forced evacuations and left thousands of residents without water or power. More than 700 people spent Monday night in more than 20 Red Cross shelters in South Carolina where they found a safe and dry place to sleep, food to eat, health services and emotional support. Nearly 500 Red Cross workers, 23 response vehicles and shelter supplies for 5,000 people have been mobilized for South Carolina. Additional rain and flooding are expected over the next few days, and the Red Cross has more supplies and disaster workers standing ready if needed. Meanwhile, three Red Cross volunteers from Portland remain in northern California in the aftermath of the wildfires. Red Cross and partner organizations are providing food and relief supplies in neighborhoods that have been reopened as residents begin their recovery. Red Cross caseworkers are meeting one-on-one with people to help them plan their recovery and connect them with community resources. In some situations, the Red Cross is providing direct financial support to people who need extra help. “Recovering from a disaster takes time and a diverse network of organizations and services to make sure people have the help they need,” says Amy Shlossman, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross Cascades Region. “The Red Cross is there–and we’ll continue to be there in the months ahead.”
