Palmetto SC Red Cross Volunteers Deploy to Florida, Georgia

As residents in Florida and Georgia just begin to recover after Hurricane Michael, the Palmetto SC Region of the American Red Cross is stepping in to help.

Shelter residents talk with a Red Cross volunteer
in the days after Hurricane Michael.

 As of Monday morning, 18 volunteers from South Carolina are heading to Florida or Georgia. The volunteers are deploying to help with various aspects of the Red Cross response. Some will be assisting with the sheltering effort, some will be working to coordinate the movement of needed supplies and others will be providing emotional support to those impacted by the historic storm. 

Six volunteers will be leaving from the Lowcountry chapter; four will be leaving from the Central chapter; four will be leaving from the Upstate chapter; four will be leaving from the Eastern chapter.

“When I see the images of the devastation from Hurricane Michael, my heart breaks for everyone impacted,” said Louise Welch Williams. “When Hurricane Florence impacted us, we received such generous, nationwide support from volunteers. While we are still helping people recover from Florence, our neighbors in Florida and Georgia need that same support.”

A Red Cross worker entertains 15-month-old
Cavaughn Trusty.

Over the weekend, more than 2,000 people stayed in as many as 27 Red Cross and community shelters across Florida, Georgia and Alabama. More than 1,000 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground to support relief efforts. The Red Cross has already severed 125,500 meals and snacks. The organization has pre-positioned enough shelter supplies to support some 15,000 people.