Collage of local Red Cross volunteers deployed to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene.

By Alana Mauger

It’s been a week since Helene made landfall as a category 4 hurricane, and the American Red Cross is working 24/7 with dozens of partners to get people help as quickly as possible. Helen’s destruction covers more than 400 miles across the Southeastern United States. Entire communities were destroyed by fast-moving water and tens of thousands of homes have been affected.

More than 2,000 Red Crossers are on the ground in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee working tirelessly to provide shelter, food, water and health and emotional support to families struggling with the devastation left behind by Helene.

Twenty-two local Red Crossers from Southeastern Pennsylvania have stepped up to help, both in person and virtually. These volunteers have deployed to assist with sheltering, feeding, logistics, disaster health and mental health, government operations, distribution of emergency supplies, transportation and more. The region’s emergency response vehicle (ERV) was also deployed on Wednesday to help provide meals, water and supplies as families begin to clean up their homes.

With hundreds of people still reported missing across the Southeast, 7 local reunification volunteers have deployed virtually to help reconnect loved ones. As of Friday morning, the Red Cross received more than 7,000 requests for help, and that number continues to grow. If you’re searching for a loved one affected by the storm, complete the form at redcross.org/helene for the state where they live.

The Red Cross is also working to restock critically needed blood products after the cancellation of blood drives across the Southeast, causing more than 2,500 blood donations to go uncollected so far. Those outside the affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves.

Community members are also invited to step up by becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Hurricane season is far from over and the Southwest and California are forecast to have an above-normal wildfire risk this fall. Red Crossers are also needed to respond year-round to local disasters like home fires. To get started, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

Hurricane Helene is an example of how extreme weather is becoming more frequent and intense. In this case, meteorologists say Helene’s intense and far-reaching rainfall — which extended hundreds of miles from the coast — can be attributed to the climate crisis.

The Red Cross response to Hurricane Helene is massive. For an inside look at how we’re helping, check out this online story map.