Red Cross director, others deploy for hurricane relief

FINDLAY — Todd James, director of the local North Central Ohio chapter of the American Red Cross, deployed today to join Hurricane Helene relief efforts. James said he will serve as an external relations chief with Disaster Response 215 based in Greenville, SC. He's set to work there with other Red Cross staff and volunteers until Oct. 17. James will help coordinate efforts with local, state and federal partners in the area to assist families affected by flooding with their ongoing recovery needs. Hurricane Helene is one of the deadliest storms to ever hit the United States, and the American Red Cross has launched a massive response to help the displaced and affected, along with the dozens of other smaller-scale agencies across the greater region. Across the Southeast, hundreds of people are still missing, and damaged roads and bridges have cut off entire communities, making it difficult to get help to those areas, a release from the American Red Cross states. People need water, food, medicine and medical care. "With massive relief efforts underway in response to Hurricane Helene, we are working around the clock to help people and communities devastatingly impacted by this storm's path of destruction," said Trevor Riggen, president of Red Cross Humanitarian Services. "Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected, and we want you to know that you are not alone. The Red Cross and our partners will be there to provide shelter, food and comfort in the days, weeks and months ahead." More than 1,200 Red Cross disaster responders from across the country are helping people across the Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. The Red Cross has so far provided tens of thousands of overnight shelter stays, meals and snacks to area residents, and more than 200 Red Cross reunification team members are working to reconnect loved ones, the release states. James said the best way to help people via the Red Cross is by making a financial donation to the agency, which can be done by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word HELENE to 90999. Financial donations for Hurricane Helene enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster, the release states. Financial donations made to the Red Cross go toward shelter, meals, relief supplies, comfort, financial assistance and other support to those in need during disasters. Coops send lineworkers More than a dozen Ohio electric cooperatives have sent teams of lineworkers to assist with the massive power restoration efforts underway in North and South Carolina, including a local cooperative. Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative has sent crews to Laurens, South Carolina, to assist Laurens Electric Cooperative in its mission to rebuild and restore electric infrastructure in that area. Nearly 50 lineworkers from 13 Ohio electric cooperatives have answered the call for help in what's being called the worst hurricane disaster since Katrina, a release from Ohio's Electric Cooperatives states. The first mutual aid crews headed south on Saturday, and more have joined throughout the week. Lineworkers, digger and bucket trucks were all sent to assist in the effort that's expected to last weeks, even months, the release states.