TALLAHASSEE/FT. HOOD (WTXL/AP) - The American Red Cross in Tallahassee prepared Friday to send volunteers to Ft. Hood following devastating floods in Texas.
Volunteers working for the Red Cross's local chapter made plans to head to Texas in hopes of providing much needed relief following severe weather and flooding which has displaced residents in 20 percent of Ft. Bend County.
Storms off of southeast Texas continued to threaten worse flooding with nearly the entire eastern half of Texas under flash flood watch or warning as the effects of days of heavy rains linger in creeks and rivers.
Kathy Bland, a Disaster Services Volunteer at Red Cross Tallahassee, along with two other volunteers, arranged to leave for Ft. Hood to provide victims with food, clean kits, and shelter. They are scheduled for an approximate two-week deployment, depending on how much help is needed.
Keeping in mind the majority of local volunteers have their own families and friends to take care of, Bland explained that outside volunteers have a major role in aiding disaster relief.
"You do have supplies [in] some areas, but unless you have volunteers out there to get it out where it needs to go, its kind of a moot point", she said.
Bland also emphasized the importance of local residents being prepared for severe weather and disasters as hurricane season has officially begun.
"A lot of these folks don't have a Plan B, which is why you do have to open up shelters... sometimes it takes a little while for help to get to you", she said.
Bland reminded residents to prepare kits, first-aid, food and water for at least three days.
Red Cross Tallahassee will be collecting donations that will aid in providing disaster relief and assuring volunteers can be sent out as quickly as possible.
More information on volunteering and how to donate can be found online.
