OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) – More than 60 Wisconsinites, including 16 from Northeast Wisconsin, are already on the ground in Texas, and dozens more Badger State volunteers are expected to join them in the coming weeks.
Due to the magnitude of Hurricane Harvey, Northeast Wisconsin Red Cross Chapter Executive Steve Hansen says they’re considering sending volunteers who have only gone through an abbreviated crash course.
“(They will still get) a four hour training program. They will be provided information regarding living conditions and what it’s like to work a 12-14 hour day as a volunteer.”
Hansen says the last time the Red Cross sent non-certified volunteers to a disaster was during Hurricane Katrina.
He notes the volunteers do not live in luxury during their two-week deployments.
“They’ll likely be in what we refer to as a ‘staff shelter,’ probably sleeping on a cot, in the same type of situation as those that we’re helping.”
Hansen explains what volunteers are currently doing in the flood-ravaged areas.
“We’ve got shelters set up all over the impacted area. They’re also working on actually doing damage assessment.”
He expects those assignments will change in the coming weeks.
“We’ll have individual volunteer case workers meeting face-to-face with impacted families, looking to provide financial assistance.”
Hansen notes volunteers will also work with emergency response feeding crews and mental health specialists.
Anyone interested in volunteering can learn more by clicking here.
As for donation totals thus far, Hansen would not provide a dollar amount but notes that phones have been ‘ringing off the hook.’
Donations can be made here.
