Five volunteer relief workers from the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) traveled to flood regions in Texas and Oklahoma this July to help provide food, shelter and other assistance to individuals and families driven from their homes by devastating flooding caused by major storms in those areas.

ARC/GNY volunteer Leah Lubin and ARC/GNY volunteer partner Fred Leahy were deployed to flood regions in Texas. Fred worked as a government liaison, helping to coordinate the varied regional services for the benefit of flood survivors, while Leah conducted on-the-ground assessments of homes and buildings in affected areas outside of San Antonio and Fort Worth immediately following the storm.

ARC/GNY volunteers Arturo Guzman, Katherine Kakela and Margo Sanchez were deployed to hard-hit northeastern Oklahoma. Arturo, a Disaster Action Team (DAT), helped conduct disaster assessments of neighborhood structural damage in small towns outside of Oklahoma City. Katherine, an AmeriCorps volunteer, worked at a Red Cross shelter, providing individuals and families with a nutritious meal, safe place to stay and other assistance; and volunteer Margo Sanchez assisted disaster survivors experiencing emergency health issues.

All five joined American Red Cross outreach teams of disaster workers who actively assessed the damage and emerging needs of affected communities. Those compassionate outreach teams continued working one-on-one with individuals and families as they began their first steps toward recovery after these destructive floods.

At the American Red Cross in Greater New York, local disaster volunteers can become part of the national network of volunteers across the country who deploy to disasters outside their local chapters. The Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) system enrolls local volunteers interested in reaching beyond their own neighborhoods, helping people in other states when disaster strikes. The Chapter is looking for additional disaster volunteers interesting in becoming part of this DSHR system. If you are interested, please contact Jesse Ratner at 212-875-2477.