CLEVELAND — Ohioans are stepping in to help communities across North Carolina and Florida grappling with the impacts of devastating hurricanes.
Gov. Mike DeWine just sent 40 members of the Ohio National Guard to Florida in preparation for Hurricane Milton, and the Red Cross says 40 volunteers from Northern Ohio are working in hurricane disaster zones.
"I always come down either pre-(hurricane) and set up, or after and help out," Red Cross volunteer Rick McCullough says," so, being here as one's coming in, it's a little bit scary."
McCullough lives in Niles, but for the last two weeks, he's been volunteering in Tampa following Hurricane Helene. He says he will stay through Milton to help with the devastation that comes next.
Red Cross workers are on the ground operating shelters for those forced to evacuate, providing hot meals, and helping people get vital medication.
Jim McIntyre, regional communications director for the Red Cross of Northern Ohio, says the organization needs monetary donations, more volunteers, and blood.
"Because of the devastation of Hurricane Helene, thousands of donations of blood have gone uncollected, because people can't get to blood drives when roads are washed out and bridges collapse," McIntyre told 3News.
In addition to the Ohio National Guard members and Red Cross volunteers, more than 80 members of Ohio Task Force 1 reached Orlando Monday night, after spending a week and a half helping those impacted by Helene in North Carolina.
"We'll stay inland just enough to make sure that we're safe, let the storm kind of come through," rescue team manager Josh Compton said, "and then see what we're needed after that for, you know, any sort of search and rescue operations."
You can find links to donate or participate in a blood drive with the American Red Cross here.