Red Cross Volunteers Face Surge in Disasters as Minnesota Responders Aid Six States in Two Months

(KNSI) – Red Cross volunteers from northern Minnesota have had an unusually busy summer, responding to natural disasters across multiple states as the organization adapts to what officials call a new reality of year-round emergencies.

Between June 1st and July 31st, the Red Cross of Northern and Central Minnesota called up 126 volunteers to aid in six disaster zones. Their efforts spanned flooding in Texas, wildfires in Canada, and storm damage across the Dakotas and Minnesota.

The devastation hit close to home in north-central Minnesota communities. Volunteer Public Information Officer Nate Russell got a firsthand look at the damage in Bemidji. “Just driving around downtown Bemidji, you could see trees were uprooted almost everywhere,” Russell recounts. “Some of the heaviest damage was on the Leech Lake Ojibwe reservation.”

Crews had to wait for roads to be cleared before they could help residents living in damaged homes. Many people went without power for days. Once access was restored, volunteers were able to set up temporary shelters for displaced families.

Mike Hoffman recently volunteered in both Bemidji and Willmar to help flood and storm victims. He described the experience as deeply rewarding. “They are so appreciative,” Hoffman said. “Just to get a bottle of water or some snacks or food – because maybe their house is destroyed or flooded and they can’t get there – they are thankful. We are able to help provide some immediate needs to help put their mind at ease.”

Russell says the Red Cross has been responding to more disasters over the last two years, and he doesn’t expect that pattern to change. “I know that we’re shifting our model from acute to chronic, that’s the big buzzword in our agency,” Russell explained. “We’re going from seeing very severe, short disasters to almost year-round disasters.”

The statistics support this trend. Across the nation, the Red Cross responds to an emergency every eight minutes. Ninety percent of those calls come from victims of home fires.

Those interested in volunteering to help disaster victims during their most difficult times can find more information by clicking here.

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