Tennessee Volunteers Assisting Idalia Recovery Efforts

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Relief in response to Hurricane Idalia is going to Florida and neighboring states, including from right here in the Volunteer State.

The American Red Cross has 41 volunteers from Tennessee on the ground in hurricane-stricken areas of Florida.

Some of these volunteers recently responded to the Hawaiian wildfires as well.

They will be assisting local emergency management in providing food, shelter, and medical assistance during the area’s period of recovery.

Sherri McKinney, the regional communications coordinator for the Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross said, “Once the 24-hour ban on leaving your property (in hard hit areas in Florida) is lifted, what we will do is go out into the communities. We will also assess damage in the communities to make sure that we can provide that assistance that is needed to residents so that they can get on the road to recovery.”

The Red Cross is now taking donations.

EPB is also assisting Florida power companies as they will have a long road to restoring power in the area.

EPB says they have sent two contractor crews to Sarasota, FL in the Tampa Bay area and are awaiting deployment by the Florida Power and Light company to the hardest hit areas. 

They expressed from other utilities helping them out during recent disasters such as the 2020 Easter Tornado Outbreak and look to repay the favor.

Blood Assurance says they are taking blood donations for hurricane victims as well at their locations across the area.