GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – As people in six states deal with the aftermath of a string of deadly tornadoes from over the weekend, volunteers from our area are preparing to lend a hand.
“Here in Wisconsin, we are geared up and ready to help. We started to get some calls in over the weekend, and as of [Monday], we’ve actually deployed five volunteers,” said Northeast Wisconsin Red Cross Executive Director Steve Hansen. “We certainly anticipate that number to increase over time…As the event gets larger, we will upscale our resources. That’s when those calls tend to come out to the entire country and our Red Cross offices are contacted and we do our call-down systems to deploy volunteers.”
Typical volunteer deployment is about 2-3 weeks. But with an operation this large, Hansen expects to send more than just one group to the impacted communities.
“We fully expect that we will continue to push people out this week and then on into the coming months,” Hansen told WTAQ News.
However, if you’re hoping to fly out and get hands-on with those in need, you might have to wait. Preparing volunteers to take on the tasks of a disaster can take a while.
“We will do an interview, put them on a training program, and get them prepared to go out for the next disaster. It’s highly unlikely we’d be able to send somebody out for this disaster unless they’re already registered [and trained],” Hansen explained.
But volunteer help isn’t the only thing the Red Cross is looking for. Hansen says there are a number of different needs and ways to help out.
“This is a large operation, there are a lot of people who need Red Cross assistance. So a financial donation would be greatly appreciated,” Hansen said. “Blood supply has been down for the past couple of months, and now that this disaster has happened, chances are that a number of blood drives are going to be canceled. And we’re going to have to make up for those blood drives.”
“People lost loved ones, their homes, everything is just gone for them.” Steve Cunanan from the @KYRedCross shared the damage his community is facing after tornadoes ripped through. Learn how we’re responding & how you can help: https://t.co/FgkRTL4vtu
— American Red Cross (@RedCross) December 13, 2021
You can find applications and register for volunteering or donations at RedCross.org.
