Locals Depart to Help Wildfire, Tropical Storm Victims

More local volunteers are heading out-of-state to help victims of natural disasters, the Santa Cruz County chapter of the American Red Cross announced.

A total of 21 volunteers have been deployed in the past two weeks. They are providing services to people forced from their homes by wildfires in Colorado and Montana, and to Florida families as they clean up their communities from massive floods brought by Tropical Storm Debby.

Those traveling to Colorado to help residents impacted by wildfires include:

• Alan Mayfield of Scotts Valley will be working in public affairs, delivering crucial information to the public.
• Margaret Cunningham of Scotts Valley will work as a client caseworker, helping people affected get the resources they need.
• Ann Marie Gotti of Capitola who will help with community partnerships.
• Susan Curry of Santa Cruz will work as a client caseworker, helping people affected get the resources they need.
• Megan Darrough of Santa Cruz will work as a client caseworker, helping people affected get the resources they need.

Those traveling to Montana to help residents impacted by wildfires include:

• Nicholas Kosta of Felton will be working in Disaster Assessment and is going his first deployment.
• Tedd Parske of Boulder Creek will be working as a Logistics Supply Supervisor and is going on his 9th deployment.
• Devinder Khanna of Watsonville will be working in Sheltering and is going on her 2nd deployment.
• Patricia O’Hara of Aptos will be working as a Client Casework Supervisor and is going on her 6th deployment.
• Timothy Epps of Santa Cruz will be working as a Client Caseworker and is going on his first deployment.
• Ellen J. Dellamora of Santa Cruz will be working in Sheltering and is going on her 32nd deployment.

Tropical Storm Debby volunteers include:

• Howard Evans from San Benito County will be working in Computer Operations and is going on his 3rd deployment.
• Sallie Efsaifmorrell of Soquel will be working as a Client Caseworker and is going on her first time deployment.
• Mary Lynn Yoder of Soquel will be working as a Client Caseworker and is going on her first time deployment.
• Mark E. Willig of Felton will be working as a Client Caseworker and is going on his first time deployment.

to assist with a large wildfire relief effort in Colorado.

Nationwide, more than 1,400 Red Cross disaster workers continue to help people across the country affected by power outages, wildfires out West and flooding in Florida.

“The weeks and months to come won't be easy as families and individuals impacted by the wildfires and flooding face the enormous task of getting their lives back to normal," said said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services. "For every family who needs us, we're going to be there, for as long as they need us.”

Since early June, the Red Cross has supported families across 16 states, operating shelters, serving more than 237,000 meals and snacks and distributing almost 140,000 relief items like rakes, shovels, coolers, work gloves, cleaning supplies and hygiene kits.

To leare mor about the Santa Cruz County chapter of the America Red Cross, its programs—disaster preparedness, health and safety classes, volunteer opportunities—and how to make a financial contribution, visit www.sccredcross.org or call 831-462-2881.

Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.