FLORIDA, USA — The American Red Cross is now working to get more volunteers in Florida to help.
The organization's volunteers headed south and learned that 83,000 Floridians were in evacuation shelters once Hurricane Milton made landfall. So now, the organization is trying to meet the needs of the communities hit by the two most recent hurricanes.
The American Red Cross is working with local officials to ensure everyone in those shelters gets what they need. Officials said they sent 2,500 volunteers to help, but said they needed an additional 1,500 volunteers.
"Those communities are just now getting to start a long rebuilding process and we're gonna be there with them through that, in addition to helping everyone that has just been impacted by Milton," said Don Hawkins, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross Southern and Central Ohio.
"I would say that we are stretched thin, but we have a bend don't break mentality."
Across southern and central Ohio, 80 Red Cross volunteers have been sent to help. Hawkins said if you have two weeks open to volunteer, they would like you to sign up so they can begin the training process.
Hawkins added that they need volunteers with different skill sets. This could be people in communications and mental health professionals.
Hawkins said their biggest need is for shelter volunteers who can spend 14 days down there and can do physical work.
Hawkins said it will also be helpful to have compassion as volunteers will be helping people who may have lost everything in the storms.