American Red Cross volunteer and Ansonia resident Missy Lundeen is deploying to South Carolina to support Red Cross relief efforts after historic and unprecedented flooding in the southeastern United States is causing widespread damage. Lundeen is traveling to South Carolina.
Once there, Lundeen will be a sheltering services associate at a Red Cross emergency shelter.
Lundeen is one of close to 3,000 Red Cross volunteers in the Connecticut and Rhode Island Region of the American Red Cross, and is a responder from the Ansonia area.
In response to the historic and unprecedented flooding in the southeastern United States, the American Red Cross is providing safe shelter and support across the Carolinas where the flooding has destroyed homes, forced evacuations and left thousands without water or power.
Over the weekend, Red Cross workers opened 35 shelters in North and South Carolina – 30 in South Carolina alone – where more than 200 people spent Sunday night. The Red Cross has mobilized nearly 400 Red Cross workers, 22 emergency response vehicles and shelter supplies to support 5,000 people in South Carolina.
Additional rain and flooding is expected over the next few days, and the Red Cross has more supplies and disaster workers standing ready if needed. For the latest news updates, you can follow @RedCrossSC on Twitter.
HOW TO HELP
People can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1 – 800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. We respond to nearly 70,000 other disasters every year, from home fires to hurricanes and more.
GIVE BLOOD NOW
aThe severe flooding has forced the cancellation of about 30 Red Cross blood drives in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia through Monday, causing about 650 blood and platelet donations to go uncollected. As flooded roadways and power outages continue, additional blood drives may be cancelled in the coming days.
The Red Cross moved blood products into the region to ensure blood would be available in the event of widespread flooding. In South Carolina, there some challenges transporting blood to hospitals with hundreds of road closures across the state. The Red Cross’ priority is to deliver emergency products and transport routine requests as conditions allow.
All eligible donors in parts of the country unaffected by flooding are encouraged to call 1 – 800-RED CROSS (1 – 800-733‑2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment to give blood.
