Red Cross Trains Island Volunteers for Hurricane Season

When hurricanes hit Hawaii, the quickest help often comes from people who already live there. The Red Cross Pacific Islands Region is training community volunteers in shelter operations this summer, preparing for an El Niño season that could bring more storms to the islands.

The 2026 hurricane season runs from June through November, and forecasters expect increased activity. El Niño weakens the trade winds that normally steer storms away from Hawaii, sometimes reversing them entirely to blow west to east.

That's why the Red Cross is building a larger volunteer base now, before any storms form. The free Shelter Hero training teaches community members how to run emergency shelters when disaster strikes their neighborhoods.

Volunteers learn practical skills like shelter registration, meal service, managing sleeping areas, and creating safe spaces for displaced families. These aren't abstract lessons but real preparations for helping neighbors during their worst days.

"This program allows community members to serve their own neighbors," said Molly Schmidt, CEO of American Red Cross Pacific Islands Region. Her team's strategy focuses on spreading trained volunteers across all Hawaiian communities.

The approach solves a critical problem during major disasters. When storms damage roads and cut off access to remote areas, outside help can't always arrive quickly enough.

The Ripple Effect

Having trained volunteers already living in every community means help is immediate, even when highways wash out or bridges fail. A shelter volunteer on the Big Island doesn't need to wait for someone from Oahu when their neighbors need a safe place to sleep.

The program creates something more valuable than disaster response infrastructure. It builds networks of trained, caring people who know their communities and can spring into action the moment crisis hits.

These volunteers become crucial lifelines during increasing natural disasters. They transform emergency shelters from chaotic spaces into organized refuges where families can find stability amid upheaval.

The Red Cross provides all training free of charge, removing financial barriers that might keep willing helpers from getting involved. Anyone who wants to serve their community during its most vulnerable moments can learn how.

Island communities have always looked out for each other, and this program channels that spirit into organized action. When the next storm approaches, trained neighbors will be ready to open shelter doors, register families, serve hot meals, and offer comfort to people who've lost everything.

Preparation today means resilience tomorrow, one trained volunteer at a time.