HAMPTON ROADS, Va.— Experts says this hurricane season has the potential to be one of the busiest on record.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Prediction Center expects an "extremely active" Atlantic hurricane season with “more, stronger, and longer-lived storms than average.”
The American Red Cross will “need to be as prepared as possible for any potential impact from a hurricane or tropical storm,” said Communications Manager Kristopher Dumschat.
The Red Cross is looking for volunteers to take action and to join the team now.
“Our volunteers that we currently have are the backbone of our organization. They are what keep us running,” said Dumschat.
Hurricane season is already off to a strong start with a record-setting nine named storms compared to an average of two for early August, according to forecasters.
“Whether we're talking about big events like a hurricane or we're talking about home fires, a Red Cross volunteer is somebody that has it in their heart to step in and help somebody in need and those are the types of individuals were looking for,” said Dumschat.
All types of volunteers are needed, but people who can run disaster shelters and health care professionals who can perform screenings and protect those who are coming into relief shelters are especially in high demand.
Related: Dozens of volunteers helping Bertie County residents after tornado
“It's really just getting those volunteers trained and helping them understand how to work in a COVID environment, how to take their safety precautions, whether they're working in a shelter or going out and doing disaster assessment in highly-impacted areas,” said Dumschat.
The Red Cross says there’s always a need for volunteers that are willing to dedicate their time for disasters big and small. Additional information and applications can be found online here.
Click here for more local hurricane resources and information.
