AUSTIN, Texas — Central Texas emergency management and first responders have already been sent out to the areas hit hardest by Hurricane Helene to assist with storm recovery. Now some agencies are looking for more volunteers to help.
According to the American Red Cross, more than 20,000 volunteers from across the country have been deployed to Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas.
Central & South Texas Region branch CEO Marty McKellips said 35 of those volunteers are from the Central Texas area.
She said people were deployed a week before Helene hit to prepare for the incoming storm.
As of now, volunteers have been acting as shelter workers to ensure those evacuating have a warm place to stay, eat and that they have power to charge their devices.
McKellips said they’ve also deployed disaster mental health workers to help people through the traumatic storm and those assessing damage in the area.
She said volunteers have seen a lot.
“There’s a lot of suffering, but there's a lot of teamwork,” she said.
McKellips said deployed volunteers are under a 14-day commitment, so some are set to return home soon. She also said the American Red Cross needs more volunteers to deploy, as Hurricane Milton looms on the horizon.
“We expect the recovery to take weeks and months, so if people would like to volunteer, they can go to redcross.org and there's a volunteer application on there. We're offering training classes there that you can get registered and certified in one day. Then we can deploy you,” McKellips said.
Anyone older than 18 can apply, as long as they’re able to deploy for two weeks. The American Red Cross will pay for transportation to the site, provide shelter and will cover food and drinks.
The American Red Cross is hosting two one-day training classes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 12.
The link to sign up to volunteer is here.