Local Red Cross volunteers to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew

Medford, Ore.- A Medford volunteer is among 15 traveling to the east coast to support the American Red Cross and its efforts to help those impacted by Hurricane Matthew.

The American Red Cross is preparing a large multi-state response to help people in the path of the storm. The hurricane is expected to hit Florida Thursday and continue into the weekend. As many as 3,600 people spent Wednesday night in 84 Red Cross and community shelters in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina.

Red Cross disaster responders from throughout Oregon, including Medford and Roseburg, are either on the ground in the southeast or on their way to the affected states. The Red Cross has more than 500 disaster workers and 90 response vehicles standing by in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.

The Red Cross Cascades Region is seeking additional volunteers to help with Hurricane Matthew and other disasters. A volunteer recruitment and training session is being held at the Medford office from noon to 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 13 at 60 Hawthorne St. in Medford. Anyone interested in deploying with the Red Cross to help with this relief effort and others are encouraged to attend a training session. No RSVP is required.