Local Red Cross sending help for Florence

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – As Hurricane Florence slams into the East Coast help is arriving from all over the country, including Red Cross volunteers from the Ohio Buckeye region.

Florence struck just as the new Executive Director of the Southeast Ohio chapter of the American Red Cross Matthew Riddle stepped into the role. He said Red Cross volunteers from the area are part of the 2,000 people who have deployed nationwide in response to Hurricane Florence. Riddle said among the local volunteers who have left for the Carolinas is former army medic and New Concord EMT Fire volunteer Pam Dixon.

“She came to us, she’s part of our volunteer program and with her skill set, she was sent down to Wilmington a couple days ago,” said Riddle. “So she’s there bearing the storm, ready to help volunteers. Ready to help anybody down there that needs it.”

Not only have local Red Cross volunteers left to help, but Community Ambulance in Zanesville has two crews on standby at Fort Lee in Virginia awaiting their orders from FEMA. With the remnants of Florence expected to hit Ohio Riddle said the local Red Cross volunteers have stayed behind to respond to any rain or river flooding, we could see here.

“We’re a national organization, but we have local disasters too,” said Riddle. “Our goal, in general, is to alleviate human suffering with the Red Cross and really just being able to deliver, you know, be there for someone on their worst day.”

If you are interested in helping with Hurricane Florence relief, Riddle said donations can be made through redcross.org and that you can sign up to become a volunteer through the website as well.