Red Cross Response Continues as Swath of Ida Damage Grows

Local volunteers and vehicles dispatched to impacted regions

September 3, 2021 —The American Red Cross is working around the clock with our partners to provide help to people struggling with the heartbreaking damage left behind by Hurricane Ida. From the Gulf Coast to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, Ida has left a path of lives lost, destruction of homes and buildings, devastating flooding, power outages, torrential rain and tornadoes.

Shelters are set up in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas as well as in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and New York for people who have fled their homes because of flooding and other damage brought about by Hurricane Ida and the aftermath of the storm.

The American Red Cross is in these states, working side-by-side with our partners to provide shelter and comfort for people in need. Locally, the Central & Southern Ohio Region currently has approximately 40 volunteers positioned around the country helping those impacted by Hurricane Ida; the wildfires out west; the flash flooding in Tennessee and other disasters. Those numbers continue to grow each day as volunteers depart our region to help with disaster relief and recovery.

Two of our regional Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) are already in Louisiana—one from Dayton, one from Columbus. Two more Emergency Response Vehicles from our region are expected to leave this weekend for the trip to the Gulf Coast. One vehicle will depart from Cincinnati, the other from the Zanesville area. These vehicles are used in mobile feeding operations and distribution of water and other emergency supplies.

Families are struggling to cope with the devastation left behind by Ida. Every single financial donation will make a difference in someone’s life. To help people affected by Hurricane Ida, visit redcross.org or call 1-800- RED CROSS. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.