Utahns volunteer with American Red Cross to aid hurricane evacuees in Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla. — As Hurricane Ian moves across Florida, so do the evacuees being affected by the storm. The American Red Cross has gathered hundreds of volunteers from across the nation to help at evacuation shelters throughout Florida. And scattered among the volunteers are a few from Utah. 

“At the moment we have nine of our volunteers on the ground in Florida. They are part of 500 from across the world sent ahead of the storm that is hitting Florida,” said Benjamin Donner, the executive director of the American Red Cross of Central and Southern Utah. He spoke with KSL NewsRadio’s Dave and Dujanovic.

Donner said that the volunteers are safe. Volunteers are in buildings that are designed to be shelters for people that are fleeing for safety from the storm. They are out of harm’s way. Away from the storm swells and away from the water that rushes down the streets carrying cars and other debris. 

Fleeing the Florida hurricane

Before the storm made landfall on Wednesday, there were already 13,000 evacuees that had fled to the American Red Cross Shelters in Florida. According to Donner, they are expecting upwards of 60,000 people that need shelter from the storm. The American Red Cross was preparing for this.

According to the American Red Cross along with the 500 trained volunteers, they also gathered thousands of items to help. Blankets and first aid kits are stocked at the shelters and emergency vehicles are stationed across the state. They have also sent blood to Florida for anybody that should need it.

This was all done before the storm hit, so they knew it would be ready when the time came. 

To aid in the relief from Hurricane Ian, along with the Utahns that are on the ground in Florida, you can donate to the American Red Cross. 

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