9 Pacific Northwest Volunteers Deploy to Help Storm Victims

While families across Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina and Mississippi shivered without power, help arrived from the Pacific Northwest. Nine Red Cross volunteers from Oregon and Washington deployed this week to support communities devastated by severe winter storms that have claimed over 50 lives.

The volunteers are running shelters, distributing emergency supplies, and serving hot meals to thousands displaced by the freezing temperatures. At the storm's peak, the Red Cross operated over 200 shelters housing 4,000 people seeking warmth and safety.

Robert Rhoden and Thomas Maier spoke to reporters during their Atlanta layover on the way to Mississippi. "I'm feeling really happy to be able to volunteer and support individuals that need the help," Maier said, his excitement visible despite the serious mission ahead.

Rhoden explained their purpose simply. "It's really about getting them through the worst day of their lives, potentially, and we're the beginning of helping them to recover."

James Leffler already arrived in South Carolina, where he found entire communities paralyzed by ice. "About a day after the ice storm happened, then everybody started showing up at shelters," he reported. With temperatures dropping to 8 degrees and no power, families had no choice but to seek help.

The Ripple Effect

The winter storms created an unexpected crisis far from the ice and snow. The Red Cross had to cancel 500 blood drives, meaning 15,000 units of blood couldn't be collected when donors couldn't reach donation centers.

Rebecca Marshall, communications director for the Red Cross Cascades Region, emphasized that blood donations are desperately needed. The organization started the year already 35% behind their blood supply goals due to holiday schedules and a tough flu season.

Pacific Northwest residents can support the deployed volunteers by donating blood locally. Every donation helps hospital patients nationwide who still need care despite the weather chaos disrupting normal collection schedules.

These nine volunteers prove that helping hands can reach across thousands of miles when neighbors need them most.