Mainers in Florida volunteering amid Hurricane Ian
Red Cross asking for donations and volunteers as storm batters Florida
Red Cross asking for donations and volunteers as storm batters Florida
Red Cross asking for donations and volunteers as storm batters Florida
A group of Mainers were sent to Florida ahead of Hurricane Ian's landfall.
According to the Red Cross, five volunteers from Maine arrived in Florida earlier this week to help prepare shelters and resources.
Two of those volunteers are Ann and Bob Cibelli of Acton.
"We're getting cots set up and blankets and things like that," Bob Cibelli told WMTW a few hours before Ian made landfall.
The Cibellis were stationed at a high school in the Tampa area that had been turned into a shelter for more than 400 people.
"It's pretty amazing how (the Red Cross) can harness the power of volunteers across the country to fly into a disaster," Ann Cibelli said.
The Category 4 storm is expected to bring devastating winds, rain and storm surge to communities across Florida.
A Red Cross spokesperson said the organization was prepared to help as many as 60,000 people in the immediate aftermath of the storm.
The Red Cross is asking for both monetary and blood donations to aid in the storm relief efforts.
John Montes, the Red Cross regional disaster officer for New England, said monetary donations allow the organization to quickly acquire whatever resources are most needed on the ground in the wake of disasters.
"Now, we're cueing up that next wave of volunteers and once travel opens back up, we're going to send people down there," Montes said.
Information on how to donate and volunteer with the Red Cross can be found on the organization's website.