Red Cross Volunteers head to California

A team of Red Cross volunteers from Iowa is in southern California, helping some of the thousands of residents impacted by the wildfires to recover. Emily Holley, spokeswoman for the Red Cross’ Nebraska-Iowa region, says three Iowans are among the 350 agency volunteers and staffers who are responding to the disaster, where damage may exceed 150 billion dollars.

At least two dozen people died in the fires and some 12 thousand structures were lost, as tens of thousands of LA area residents fled their homes, many seeking refuge in shelters. Holley says Red Cross volunteers are well trained in a wide scope of skills — from preparing meals for hundreds to addressing survivors’ mental health.

In recent months, the state’s Red Cross volunteers have responded to historic flooding and tornadoes in Iowa, and they’ve also been deployed to states from Florida to North Carolina that saw significant hurricane damage.

Iowans who’d like to help can make a donation by visiting RedCross.org or by calling 1-800-Red Cross.