Arthur Hopkins from New Milford is Hurricane Ida Red Cross Responder

Hurricane Ida is still strengthening and is expected to be an extremely dangerous Category 4 storm as it makes landfall along the Gulf Coast on Sunday — bringing life-threatening storm surge, dangerous winds and more than a foot of rain to a region still recovering from last year’s devastating hurricanes. 

The American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region has already deployed 11 responders in advance of the storm and anticipates a large-scale deployment effort in the wake of Hurricane Ida. Local Red Cross workers currently deployed to help include: 

  • Lori Merker-Chapman from East Hampton 
  • Larry Berman from West Hartford 
  • Cheryl MacKenzie from West Hartford 
  • Joseph Apicelli from Groton 
  • Kathleen Rook from Ashford 
  • Barbara Claire from Waterford 
  • Donna Amiano from Danbury 
  • Joseph Lynes from Westbrook 
  • Roger Simmons from Brookfield 
  • Lawrence Klobutcher from Farmington 
  • Arthur Hopkins from New Milford 
 
Local volunteers are also helping to provide support in areas impacted by disaster in other parts of the country, including the wildfires in California.
 

RED CROSS RESPONSE Alongside our partners, the Red Cross is mobilizing hundreds of trained disaster workers and relief supplies to shelter and support thousands of people in evacuation shelters from Texas to Florida. In preparation, some 500 Red Cross volunteers are on the ground ready to open shelters and support people who need a safe place to stay as Ida approaches. Hundreds more volunteers are also being mobilized to support relief efforts after landfall. 

The Red Cross is opening evacuation shelters where asked by local officials, and we anticipate more sheltering requests as evacuation orders expand. The Red Cross, state officials and other community groups are planning to open dozens of shelters to support at least 10,000 people in Louisiana alone. 

In addition to our pre-positioned supplies, the Red Cross has truckloads of additional cots, blankets and comfort kits, along with some 68,000 ready-to-eat meals arriving in Louisiana and Mississippi today. 

The Red Cross has also pre-positioned blood products ahead of the storm and stocked many of our hospitals in the areas potentially impacted to help ensure patients have continued access to lifesaving blood transfusions. 

It’s important to remember that responding to disasters is a team effort and no single organization can do it alone — this is particularly true in this current environment. 

YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single donation matters. Financial donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. 

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Submitted by New Milford, CT

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