Dozens of Greater Cincinnati volunteers in Florida helping with back-to-back hurricanes

Several Cincinnati organizations already have volunteers on the ground in Florida ready to help.

The American Red Cross has around 80 local volunteers down south right now from the Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton areas.

It already had volunteers there to help with the impact of Hurricane Helene.

With Florida in the path of back-to-back storms, volunteers are currently stationed safely out of Milton’s path.

Once the storm clears, volunteers will be able to come into the affected areas and get people back on their feet.

Volunteers are usually sent out for two weeks to help with the immediate impact of any storm.

While the volunteers are focused on getting people food and water, their priority is making sure there’s proper shelter and housing.

“They are in the shelters,” Don Hawkins, the American Red Cross regional communications director, said. “As people are coming in, they are helping get folks in, get settled, get somewhere where they can take a load off.”

“If you’ve ever had to go to an emergency shelter, it is chaotic and there’s a lot going on. Our folks are there to offer a friendly face and a friendly ear and welcome them in and help them just get settled,” Hawkins said.

The American Red Cross tells us the best way for you to help at home is through monetary donations.

Plus, if you’re willing and able, blood donations can make a big difference in storm recovery efforts.

“We’ve already sent hundreds of blood products down to Florida in advance of Milton making landfall because we know that there’s going to be a need for blood and a lack of ability to collect it in the area,” Hawkins said.

“We did the same thing before Helene. We do this before any big storm. We make sure that those local blood needs are going to be met,” Hawkins said.