Wildfires Rip Thru The West, Red Cross Begs Volunteers For Help

When Mother Nature hits us with drought, high winds, higher temperatures, and raging wildfires, the best counterpunch to that strong right cross is the Red Cross! Right now hundreds of trained American Red Cross disaster volunteers are helping 24-7 in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California to support people affected by wildfires throughout the western states.

Red Cross Is Looking For Help

Northwest Red Cross Region CEO Alex Dieffenbach says, “July has already been an incredibly busy month for the Red Cross with hundreds of disaster workers responding to help people whose lives were turned upside down by wildfires and other disasters ....we need your help now. Please consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer, giving blood, or making a donation to help people affected by disasters today.”

The Red Cross says it plans to build additional local capacity during this month. Volunteers will not only help individuals in need as well as build community resilience so the organization is looking for individuals with health care backgrounds to help deliver critical services. The Red Cross says its most urgently needed volunteer positions are listed at http://redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Gimme Shelter

As recently as four days ago the Red Cross established an open shelter here in Yakima at the SummitView Church of Christ for people affected by the fire on the Yakima Training Grounds and surrounding area.

It was just one of more than a dozen open shelters and evacuation centers up and down the west coast where displaced people could grab a cot, meal, water, snacks, and receive services.

If Possible, Give Blood

Finally, as I sat down to write this I received a text alerting me to a SEVER BLOOD SHORTAGE with a request to donate if possible by the end of this month. I pass that along to you too. As the Red Cross says - We encourage eligible individuals to give blood or platelets to help ensure a sufficient blood supply.

LOOK: The most expensive weather and climate disasters in recent decades

Stacker ranked the most expensive climate disasters by the billions since 1980 by the total cost of all damages, adjusted for inflation, based on 2021 data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The list starts with Hurricane Sally, which caused $7.3 billion in damages in 2020, and ends with a devastating 2005 hurricane that caused $170 billion in damage and killed at least 1,833 people. Keep reading to discover the 50 of the most expensive climate disasters in recent decades in the U.S.