Local Red Cross looking for volunteers

American Red Cross logo
American Red Cross logo

With hurricane season fewer than one month away, the Texas Gulf Coast region of the American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to aid in potential storm recovery.

The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was highly active, and some organizations are predicting that the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season could follow suit. According to a Colorado State University hurricane forecast for 2021, Texas has a 75% probability of “named storm impact.”

“When disaster strikes a community, managing it is a community effort,” Greg Sowell, Nacogdoches County Judge, said in a news release. “A volunteer force that is well-trained and organized is vital to any emergency operation. The Red Cross is a wonderful way to get involved.”

The Red Cross is seeking all types of volunteers, but there are two high-priority positions they specifically want to fill — shelter and disaster response volunteers.

Shelter team volunteers could be assigned to tasks including reception, registration, feeding, dormitory and information collection. The disaster-response position requires team-oriented people capable of providing immediate and compassionate care through a virtual setting. However, an on-scene presence also could be required.

For those interested in volunteering, visit https://www.redcross.org/local/texas/gulf-coast/volunteer.html.

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