SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO-AM) - The South Dakota and North Dakota Red Cross has sent at least 21 volunteers to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
Another Emergency Response Vehicle Left Sioux Falls Monday afternoon, bound for Texas.
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The Executive Director of the Eastern South Dakota Chapter of the American Red Cross (ARC) says the organization is already engaged in providing disaster support to Hurrican Harvey vicitims in Texas. Jennifer Ortman Ross says they've sent members on flights to the affected areas, and expect to have more deploying this week. Emergency Response Vehicles crewed with Chapter volunteers are rolling south from the Dakotas and Minnesota.
"Our volunteers will be working alongside other organizations, providing shelter management, providing disaster feeding operations and working at points of distribution to get much needed relief rations and supplies out to the field" said Ross.
The Chapter is currently planning to set up training sessions for those that may not have had previous Red Cross experience, but want to volunteer. She says it's far from glamourous, you'll be working long hours, staying in mass shelter spaces, and not have much free time. Volunteer deployers area asked to be available from ten days to two weeks minimum. If you think you have what it takes, and want to volunteer, call the Chapter at (605) 336-2448 anytime. Ross expects they'll be deploying personnel for the next several weeks to months while the recovery continues. If you want some more information, here's a link to the Chapter informational website http://www.redcross.org/local/south-dakota
If you'd rather donate funds toward the recovery, rather than deploy, she says that's a major need, too. Here's a link to the National ARC website, where you can make a much appreciated donation. https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation?flow=oc3&loggedIn=false