PORTLAND, Ore. — The southeast portion of the country continues to face destruction and chaos, thanks to multiple hurricanes, starting with Hurricane Helene just a couple of weeks ago, and most recently, Hurricane Milton.
While multiple groups and organizations are on the ground trying to help those affected by the hurricanes, Red Cross volunteers are also flying in from around the country to help out as well.
At the end of September, there were only around 17 volunteers from Oregon and Southwest Washington, or the Cascades region, who were deployed to various states hit by Helene.
Now that Hurricane Milton has swept through Florida, bringing mass destruction, there are over 60 Red Cross volunteers that have been deployed from this region alone.
The number of all Red Cross volunteers deploying to assist is much higher, according to the Red Cross’s Regional CEO Priscilla Fuentes.
“We have about 1,900 people on the ground right now, and they are looking to almost double that. So if that can kind of give you a picture of what the great need is for people to step up and deploy, and go and help people who've been impacted, that can kind of paint the picture for you,” said Fuentes.
“Last night, the American Red Cross and our partners sheltered over 80,000 people in response to Hurricane Milton. We recognize there's a lot of people that are also going to continue coming to our shelters after we wake up and see the devastation that's been caused by Hurricane Milton,” she continued.
On Friday, the Red Cross will host a volunteer recruitment and all-day training session at their Portland location at 3131 North Vancouver Avenue. The training will go from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The goal is to inform, train and gain new recruits. Prior experience is not required, and the training is free.
“It's a one-day opportunity. You get everything you need to know and all the information and training that you need, and then you can get on a plane and go and help people,” said Fuentes.
Like many other volunteers who already have the training, Derek Chinn has been deployed and is flying to Miami on Friday.
Chinn is also the executive director of the Southwest Washington chapter of the Red Cross, but he has never been deployed until now.
“I don't know what I'll be encountering, but I'm eager to go and help, recognizing there are a lot of people who have been impacted,” he said. “It's the opportunity to just care for folks.”
American Red Cross Hurricane Response Training
When: Friday, Oct. 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: Portland Red Cross Blood, Platelet and Plasma Donation Center, 3131 North Vancouver Avenue, Portland, OR 97227
Those interested can sign up here, or just show up to the location to participate.
This is the only Portland session planned, but Fuentes said they are planning to have more in the future in other parts of the state eventually.